Chalukyas of Badami

Dynasty Level 2 ★ Major power

c. 543 CE – c. 753 CE

Deccan power under Pulakeshin II, who halted Harsha on the Narmada.

🗺 See on map in 648 CE

Capital: Vatapi (Badami)
Region: Deccan
Duration: 210 years
Main period: Post-Gupta / Early Medieval

Approximate extent.

Rulers

Pulakeshin I King
Founder.
c. 543 CE – c. 566 CE
Kirtivarman I King
c. 566 CE – c. 597 CE
Mangalesha King
c. 597 CE – c. 609 CE
Pulakeshin II King
Defeated Harsha on the Narmada; Aihole inscription.
c. 610 CE – c. 642 CE
Vikramaditya I King
c. 655 CE – c. 680 CE
Vikramaditya II King
Took Kanchi; Virupaksha temple, Pattadakal.
c. 733 CE – c. 744 CE
Kirtivarman II King
Overthrown by Dantidurga.
c. 746 CE – c. 753 CE

Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.

Key events

Year	Event	Place
543 CE	Pulakeshin I fortifies Vatapi	Badami
c. 618 CE	Pulakeshin II defeats Harsha on the Narmada The Narmada became the southern limit of Harsha's empire.	Narmada river
634 CE	Aihole inscription of Ravikirti	Aihole

Sites & monuments

Badami Cave Temples

Religious monument · 578 CE

Pattadakal

Religious monument · c. 740 CE

UNESCO group of monuments.

Personalities

active c. 634 CE

Composer of the Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin II

📚 Recommended reading on the Chalukyas of Badami

Reference

A History of South India

K. A. Nilakanta Sastri · Oxford University Press

The classic survey of the south, from prehistory to the fall of Vijayanagara.

UPSC Mains State PSC General reading

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Textbook

Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)

NCERT · NCERT

The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.

NCERT basics UPSC Prelims SSC State PSC

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Textbook

Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)

NCERT · NCERT

Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.

NCERT basics UPSC Prelims UPSC Mains SSC State PSC

Amazon ↗Flipkart ↗

Textbook

An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)

NCERT · NCERT

The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.

NCERT basics UPSC Prelims State PSC

Amazon ↗Flipkart ↗

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 Chalukyas of Badami for a significant part of its history.

Anuradhapura Kingdom ★

Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017

Pallava Dynasty ★

South · c. 275 CE – c. 897 CE

Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty ★

North · c. 500 CE – c. 647 CE

Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari ★

West · c. 650 CE – c. 1194

Kalabhra Interregnum

South · c. 250 CE – c. 600 CE

Western Ganga Dynasty

South · c. 350 CE – c. 1000

Northeast · c. 350 CE – c. 1140

Licchavi Kingdom of Nepal

Himalaya · c. 400 CE – c. 750 CE

Maitraka Dynasty

West · c. 475 CE – c. 776 CE

Rai Dynasty of Sindh

Northwest · c. 489 CE – c. 632 CE

Later Guptas of Magadha

East · c. 490 CE – c. 750 CE

Maukhari Dynasty

Gangetic Plain · c. 550 CE – c. 606 CE

Gauda Kingdom (Shashanka)

East · c. 590 CE – c. 626 CE

Pandya Kingdom (First Empire)

South · c. 590 CE – c. 920 CE

Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi

Deccan · c. 624 CE – c. 1075

Karkota Dynasty of Kashmir

North · c. 625 CE – c. 855 CE

Brahmin Dynasty of Sindh (Chach)

Northwest · c. 632 CE – c. 712 CE

Turk Shahis

Northwest · c. 665 CE – c. 822 CE

Kalachuris of Tripuri

Central · c. 675 CE – 1212

Umayyad Caliphate — Sindh province

Northwest · c. 712 CE – c. 750 CE

Guhilas of Medapata

West · c. 728 CE – 1303