Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Travancore
Kingdom
Level 2
1729 – 1949
Kerala kingdom of Marthanda Varma, who defeated the Dutch at Colachel.
- Capital
- Padmanabhapuram, later Thiruvananthapuram
- Region
- South
- Duration
- 220 years
- Main period
- Maratha Empire & Regional Powers
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Marthanda Varma Maharaja1729 – 1758Defeated the Dutch at Colachel.
- Chithira Thirunal Maharaja1931 – 1949Temple Entry Proclamation, 1936.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1741 | Battle of Colachel Travancore defeats the Dutch East India Company. Travancore defeated the Dutch, ending Dutch ambitions in Kerala. |
Colachel |
Personalities
Raja Ravi Varma
1848 – 1906
Painter of Indian mythological subjects in oils
Sree Narayana Guru
1856 – 1928
Kerala reformer who preached 'One caste, one religion, one God'
📚 Recommended reading on the Travancore
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Textbook
India and the Contemporary World I & II (Classes 9–10)
Nationalism in Europe and India, the French Revolution and the making of a global world.
Textbook
History of Modern India
The old-NCERT modern India classic, from the decline of the Mughals to independence.
We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. See all recommended books →
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Travancore for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 220 years
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Overlap: 40 years
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Overlap: 97 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 220 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 220 years
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Overlap: 86 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 220 years
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Overlap: 128 years
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Overlap: 129 years
Maratha Empire ★
Deccan · 1674 – 1818
Overlap: 89 years
Nawabs of Bengal ★
East · 1717 – 1765
Overlap: 36 years
Hyderabad State (Nizams) ★
Deccan · 1724 – 1948
Overlap: 219 years
Sikh Empire ★
North · 1799 – 1849
Overlap: 50 years
Kingdom of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1816 – 2008
Overlap: 133 years
British Raj (Crown Rule) ★
Pan-Indian · 1858 – 1947
Overlap: 89 years
Kingdom of Bhutan ★
Himalaya · 1907 – present
Overlap: 42 years
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Overlap: 37 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 220 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 220 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 220 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 220 years
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Overlap: 220 years
Gorkha Kingdom
Himalaya · 1559 – 1768
Overlap: 39 years
Dutch East India Company (VOC) in India
Coastal · 1605 – 1825
Overlap: 96 years
Dutch Coromandel (Pulicat)
Coastal · 1610 – 1825
Overlap: 96 years
Bhutan under the Zhabdrung (Druk Desi)
Himalaya · 1616 – 1907
Overlap: 178 years
Danish India
Coastal · 1620 – 1869
Overlap: 140 years
Danish Tranquebar
Coastal · 1620 – 1845
Overlap: 116 years
Fort St George, Madras
Coastal · 1639 – 1858
Overlap: 129 years
Dutch Chinsurah
Coastal · 1656 – 1825
Overlap: 96 years
Dutch Ceylon
Sri Lanka · 1658 – 1796
Overlap: 67 years
Dutch Malabar (Cochin)
Coastal · 1663 – 1795
Overlap: 66 years
French India
Coastal · 1668 – 1954
Overlap: 220 years
Bombay (English East India Company)
Coastal · 1668 – 1858
Overlap: 129 years
Chandernagore
Coastal · 1673 – 1950
Overlap: 220 years
Pondichéry
Coastal · 1674 – 1954
Overlap: 220 years
Carnatic (Nawabs of Arcot)
South · 1692 – 1855
Overlap: 126 years
Gaekwad State (Baroda)
West · 1721 – 1949
Overlap: 220 years
Rohilkhand
Gangetic Plain · 1721 – 1774
Overlap: 45 years
Mahé
Coastal · 1721 – 1954
Overlap: 220 years