Rashtrakuta Empire

Empire Level 2 ★ Major power

c. 753 CE – c. 982 CE

Deccan empire of Amoghavarsha; built the Kailasa temple at Ellora.

🗺 See on map in 868 CE

Capital: Manyakheta
Region: Deccan
Duration: 229 years
Main period: Tripartite Struggle

Approximate extent.

Rulers

Dantidurga King
Founder.
c. 735 CE – c. 756 CE
Krishna I King
Kailasa temple, Ellora.
c. 756 CE – c. 774 CE
Dhruva Dharavarsha King
c. 780 CE – c. 793 CE
Govinda III King
c. 793 CE – c. 814 CE
Amoghavarsha I King
Kavirajamarga; Manyakheta.
c. 814 CE – c. 878 CE
Krishna III King
Victory at Takkolam over the Cholas.
c. 939 CE – c. 967 CE

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

Key events

Year	Event	Place
c. 753 CE	Dantidurga founds Rashtrakuta power	Ellora region
c. 757 CE	Kailasa temple, Ellora begun	Ellora
c. 850 CE	Amoghavarsha's Kavirajamarga Earliest extant Kannada literary work.	Manyakheta
c. 916 CE	Indra III sacks Kannauj The Pratiharas were temporarily driven out of Kannauj.	Kannauj
949 CE	Battle of Takkolam Krishna III defeats the Cholas. The Rashtrakutas defeated the Cholas and occupied Tondaimandalam.	Takkolam

Sites & monuments

Ellora Caves

Religious monument · c. 600 CE

Includes the monolithic Kailasa temple.

📚 Recommended reading on the Rashtrakuta Empire

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 ↗

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Contemporaries

Powers that coexisted with the Rashtrakuta Empire 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

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

Chola Empire ★

South · c. 848 CE – 1279

Western Ganga Dynasty

South · c. 350 CE – c. 1000

Northeast · c. 350 CE – c. 1140

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

Turk Shahis

Northwest · c. 665 CE – c. 822 CE

Kalachuris of Tripuri

Central · c. 675 CE – 1212

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