Pallava Dynasty

Dynasty Level 2 ★ Major power

c. 275 CE – c. 897 CE

Tamil dynasty of Kanchi; Mahabalipuram's shore temples and rathas.

🗺 See on map in 601 CE

Capital: Kanchipuram
Region: South
Duration: 622 years
Main period: Post-Gupta / Early Medieval

Changing extent

c. 275 CE — ~180 km radius
c. 600 CE — ~280 km radius: Mahendravarman I & Narasimhavarman I

Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).

Rulers

Simhavishnu King
c. 575 CE – c. 600 CE
Mahendravarman I King
Rock-cut temples; Mattavilasa Prahasana.
c. 600 CE – c. 630 CE
Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla) King
Captured Vatapi; Mahabalipuram.
c. 630 CE – c. 668 CE
Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) King
Shore Temple; Kailasanatha, Kanchi.
c. 695 CE – c. 728 CE
Nandivarman II King
c. 731 CE – c. 796 CE
Aparajita King
Last Pallava, defeated by Aditya Chola.
c. 885 CE – c. 897 CE

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 Ancient and Early Medieval India

Upinder Singh · Pearson

The most complete modern textbook on ancient India, rich in sources, maps and archaeology.

UPSC Mains General reading

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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

Amazon ↗Flipkart ↗

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

Amazon ↗Flipkart ↗

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 ↗

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 Pallava Dynasty for a significant part of its history.

Anuradhapura Kingdom ★

Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017

Kushan Empire ★

Northwest · c. 30 CE – c. 375 CE

Gupta Empire ★

Gangetic Plain · c. 240 CE – c. 550 CE

Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty ★

North · c. 500 CE – c. 647 CE

Chalukyas of Badami ★

Deccan · c. 543 CE – c. 753 CE

Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari ★

West · c. 650 CE – c. 1194

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

Early Pandyas (Sangam era)

South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE

Early Cholas (Sangam era)

South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE

Early Cheras (Sangam era)

South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE

Western Kshatrapas

West · c. 35 CE – c. 415 CE

Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri

Deccan · c. 225 CE – c. 340 CE

Kalabhra Interregnum

South · c. 250 CE – c. 600 CE

Vakataka Dynasty

Deccan · c. 250 CE – c. 500 CE

Kadamba Dynasty

South · c. 345 CE – c. 525 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

Alchon Huns (Hunas)

Northwest · c. 460 CE – c. 560 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

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