Reference
A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India
The most complete modern textbook on ancient India, rich in sources, maps and archaeology.
Pallava Dynasty
Dynasty
Level 2
★ Major power
c. 275 CE – c. 897 CE
Tamil dynasty of Kanchi; Mahabalipuram's shore temples and rathas.
- Capital
- Kanchipuram
- Region
- South
- Duration
- 622 years
- Main period
- Post-Gupta / Early Medieval
Changing extent
Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Simhavishnu Kingc. 575 CE – c. 600 CE
- Mahendravarman I Kingc. 600 CE – c. 630 CERock-cut temples; Mattavilasa Prahasana.
- Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla) Kingc. 630 CE – c. 668 CECaptured Vatapi; Mahabalipuram.
- Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) Kingc. 695 CE – c. 728 CEShore Temple; Kailasanatha, Kanchi.
- Nandivarman II Kingc. 731 CE – c. 796 CE
- Aparajita Kingc. 885 CE – c. 897 CELast Pallava, defeated by Aditya Chola.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| c. 275 CE | Pallava rule begins at Kanchi | Kanchipuram |
| 642 CE | Narasimhavarman I captures Vatapi Pulakeshin II was killed and Narasimhavarman took the title Vatapikonda. |
Badami |
| c. 700 CE | Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram | Mahabalipuram |
Sites & monuments
Mahabalipuram
Religious monument · c. 630 CE
Shore Temple and rathas.
Personalities
Bodhidharma
active c. 500 CE
Indian monk credited with founding Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China
Appar (Tirunavukkarasar)
active c. 620 CE
Nayanar saint who converted Mahendravarman I to Shaivism
📚 Recommended reading on the Pallava Dynasty
Reference
A History of South India
The classic survey of the south, from prehistory to the fall of Vijayanagara.
Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
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📄 Research papers
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
How feudal was Indian feudalism?
The case for 'Indian feudalism' after the Guptas: land grants, decline of trade and dependent peasants.
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
Was there feudalism in Indian history?
The best-known critique of the feudalism model; read it alongside R. S. Sharma's reply.
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
Politics, violence and war in Kāmandaka's Nītisāra
Ideas of kingship, power and war in the Nītisāra, an early medieval text on statecraft.
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Pallava Dynasty for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Anuradhapura Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
Overlap: 622 years
Kushan Empire ★
Northwest · c. 30 CE – c. 375 CE
Overlap: 100 years
Gupta Empire ★
Gangetic Plain · c. 240 CE – c. 550 CE
Overlap: 275 years
Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty ★
North · c. 500 CE – c. 647 CE
Overlap: 147 years
Chalukyas of Badami ★
Deccan · c. 543 CE – c. 753 CE
Overlap: 210 years
Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari ★
West · c. 650 CE – c. 1194
Overlap: 247 years
Gurjara-Pratihara Empire ★
North · c. 730 CE – c. 1036
Overlap: 167 years
Pala Empire ★
East · c. 750 CE – c. 1161
Overlap: 147 years
Rashtrakuta Empire ★
Deccan · c. 753 CE – c. 982 CE
Overlap: 144 years
Chola Empire ★
South · c. 848 CE – 1279
Overlap: 49 years
Early Pandyas (Sangam era)
South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 25 years
Early Cholas (Sangam era)
South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 25 years
Early Cheras (Sangam era)
South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 25 years
Western Kshatrapas
West · c. 35 CE – c. 415 CE
Overlap: 140 years
Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri
Deccan · c. 225 CE – c. 340 CE
Overlap: 65 years
Kalabhra Interregnum
South · c. 250 CE – c. 600 CE
Overlap: 325 years
Vakataka Dynasty
Deccan · c. 250 CE – c. 500 CE
Overlap: 225 years
Kadamba Dynasty
South · c. 345 CE – c. 525 CE
Overlap: 180 years
Western Ganga Dynasty
South · c. 350 CE – c. 1000
Overlap: 547 years
Kamarupa
Northeast · c. 350 CE – c. 1140
Overlap: 547 years
Licchavi Kingdom of Nepal
Himalaya · c. 400 CE – c. 750 CE
Overlap: 350 years
Alchon Huns (Hunas)
Northwest · c. 460 CE – c. 560 CE
Overlap: 100 years
Maitraka Dynasty
West · c. 475 CE – c. 776 CE
Overlap: 301 years
Rai Dynasty of Sindh
Northwest · c. 489 CE – c. 632 CE
Overlap: 143 years
Later Guptas of Magadha
East · c. 490 CE – c. 750 CE
Overlap: 260 years
Maukhari Dynasty
Gangetic Plain · c. 550 CE – c. 606 CE
Overlap: 56 years
Gauda Kingdom (Shashanka)
East · c. 590 CE – c. 626 CE
Overlap: 36 years
Pandya Kingdom (First Empire)
South · c. 590 CE – c. 920 CE
Overlap: 307 years
Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi
Deccan · c. 624 CE – c. 1075
Overlap: 273 years
Karkota Dynasty of Kashmir
North · c. 625 CE – c. 855 CE
Overlap: 230 years
Brahmin Dynasty of Sindh (Chach)
Northwest · c. 632 CE – c. 712 CE
Overlap: 80 years
Turk Shahis
Northwest · c. 665 CE – c. 822 CE
Overlap: 157 years
Kalachuris of Tripuri
Central · c. 675 CE – 1212
Overlap: 222 years
Umayyad Caliphate — Sindh province
Northwest · c. 712 CE – c. 750 CE
Overlap: 38 years
Guhilas of Medapata
West · c. 728 CE – 1303
Overlap: 169 years
Tomaras of Delhi
North · c. 736 CE – c. 1152
Overlap: 161 years
Abbasid Caliphate — Sindh province
Northwest · c. 750 CE – c. 854 CE
Overlap: 104 years
Thakuri Kingdom of Nepal
Himalaya · c. 750 CE – 1200
Overlap: 147 years
Chera Perumals of Makotai
South · c. 800 CE – c. 1124
Overlap: 97 years
Paramara Dynasty
Central · c. 800 CE – 1305
Overlap: 97 years