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Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari
Dynasty
Level 2
★ Major power
c. 650 CE – c. 1194
Rajput dynasty of Prithviraj Chauhan.
- Capital
- Shakambhari / Ajmer
- Region
- West
- Duration
- 544 years
- Main period
- Regional Kingdoms & Ghaznavid/Ghurid Expansion
Approximate extent.
Rulers
- Vigraharaja IV Kingc. 1150 – c. 1164
- Prithviraj III (Prithviraj Chauhan) King1177 – 1192Won at Tarain in 1191, lost in 1192.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1191 | First Battle of Tarain Prithviraj Chauhan defeats Muhammad of Ghor. Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad of Ghor, who retreated wounded. |
Tarain |
Personalities
📚 Recommended reading on the Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari
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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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An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
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History of Medieval India
The go-to single volume on the Sultanate, Mughals and regional kingdoms.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari 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
Chalukyas of Badami ★
Deccan · c. 543 CE – c. 753 CE
Gurjara-Pratihara Empire ★
North · c. 730 CE – c. 1036
Pala Empire ★
East · c. 750 CE – c. 1161
Rashtrakuta Empire ★
Deccan · c. 753 CE – c. 982 CE
Chola Empire ★
South · c. 848 CE – 1279
Ghaznavid Empire ★
Northwest · c. 977 CE – c. 1186
Polonnaruwa Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1070 – 1232
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Western Ganga Dynasty
South · c. 350 CE – c. 1000
Kamarupa
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
Later Guptas of Magadha
East · c. 490 CE – c. 750 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
Tomaras of Delhi
North · c. 736 CE – c. 1152
Abbasid Caliphate — Sindh province
Northwest · c. 750 CE – c. 854 CE
Thakuri Kingdom of Nepal
Himalaya · c. 750 CE – 1200
Chera Perumals of Makotai
South · c. 800 CE – c. 1124
Paramara Dynasty
Central · c. 800 CE – 1305
Hindu Shahis
Northwest · c. 822 CE – c. 1026
Chandela Dynasty
Central · c. 831 CE – 1315
Habbarid Emirate
Northwest · c. 854 CE – c. 1011
Utpala Dynasty of Kashmir
North · c. 855 CE – c. 1003
Chaulukyas (Solankis) of Gujarat
West · c. 940 CE – 1244
Western Chalukyas of Kalyani
Deccan · c. 973 CE – c. 1189
Lohara Dynasty of Kashmir
North · c. 1003 – c. 1171
Hoysala Empire
South · c. 1026 – 1343
Soomra Dynasty
Northwest · c. 1026 – 1351
Sena Dynasty
East · c. 1070 – 1230
Eastern Ganga Dynasty
East · c. 1078 – 1434
Gahadavala Dynasty
Gangetic Plain · c. 1089 – c. 1197