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Chalukya Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty

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Chalukya Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty

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The Chalukya dynasty was a Classical Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three related yet individual dynasties. The earliest dynasty, known as the Badami Chalukyas, ruled from Vatapi (modern Badami) from the middle of the 6th century.
The Pallava dynasty was an Indian dynasty that existed from 275 CE to 897 CE, ruling a portion of southern India. They gained prominence after the eclipse of the Satavahana dynasty, whom the Pallavas served as feudatories. The article Chalukya Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty is very useful in General Awareness/GK Sections. The artcle Chalukya Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty is one of the most important topic in sveral competetive exams. The main aim of the article Chalukya Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty is to provide some key points related to Chalukya Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty.

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Chalukya Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty - Dynasty - Chalukyas:
Chalukyas were the Karnataka rulers and their History can be classified into three eras:
  • The early western era (6th - 8th century), the era which belongs to Chalukyas of Badami (Vatapi);

  • The later western era (7th - 12th century), the era which belongs to Chalukyas of Kalyani;

  • The eastern Chalukya era (7th - 12th century), the era which belongs to Chalukyas of Vengi.

  • Pulakeshin I (543-566) was the first indOeppenenindaepnpt ruler of Badami dynasty.

  • The capital of his kingdom was Vatapi in Bijapur.

  • Pulakeshin I was succeeded by Kirthivarma I (566-596).

  • After his untimely death, his brother Mangalesha (597-610) was made the caretaker ruler as the son of Kirthivarma I - Prince Pulakesin II was a baby.

  • Mangalesha made several failed attempts to kill the prince but was killed himself by the prince and his friends.

  • The most famous king of the Chalukyan dynasty was Pulakeshin II (610-642), the son of Pulakeshin I.

  • Pulakeshin II was a contemporary of Harshavardhana. He defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada and his reign is remembered as the greatest period in the history of Karnataka.

  • The rise of the Eastern Chalukyan Era was started by Pulakeshin II brother Kubja Vishnuvardana after conquering the Kosalas and the Kalingas.

  • By 631, the Chalukyan Empire was at its peak. It extended from sea to sea.

  • Their fall began when Pulkeshin II was defeated and killed by the Pallavas under the able leadership of Narsimhavarma I.

  • The Pallavas attacked their capital Badami & captured it.

  • Under the leadership Of V]ikramaditya I (655-681) the Chalukyas rose to power once again.
  • Vikramaditya I defeated his contemporaries Pandya, Pallava, Cholas and Kerala rulers to establish his supremacy over the Chalukyan Empire in the southern region.

  • Vikramaditya I was succeeded by Vikramaditya II (733-745) who also defeated the Pallava king Nandivarma II to capture a major portion of the Pallava kingdom.

  • The fall of the Chalukyan Empire started with Vikramaditya II‘s son, Kirtivarma II (745), who was defeated by the Rashtrakuta ruler, Dhantidurga, who went on to establish the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
Chalukya Dynasty and Pallava Dynasty - Dynasty - Pallavas:
  • After the decline of the Satavahana dynasty, the Pallava dynasty, founded by Shivaskandavarman emerged in South India.

  • Kanchi was the capital of the Pallava dynasty.

  • Some leaders who are worth mentioning are Simhavarama I, Sivaskandavarma I, Veerakurcha, Shandavarma II, Kumaravishnu I, Simhavarma II, and Vishnugopa.

  • The decline of the Pallavas started after Samudragupta defeated Vishugopa.

  • The Pallavas kingdom was re-established by Simhavishnu, the son of Simhavarma II, who ended the Kalabhras‘ dominance in 575 AD and re-established his kingdom.

  • Vikramaditya I was defeated by Parameshwaravarma I in 670 and restricted the advance of the Chlukyan king.
  • Eventually, Parameshwaravarma I was defeated by the combined armies of the Chalukyas, the Pandyas ( lead by their ruler Arikesari Maravarma) and another prominent enemy of the Pallavas.

  • Narasimhavarma II, a peace-loving ruler, succeeded Parameshwaravarma I after he died in 695. The famous Kailashanatha temple at Kanchi is built by Narasimhavarma II.

  • After the accidental death of his elder sons in 722, Narasimhavarma II too died grieving.

  • Parameshwaravarma II the youngest son of Narasimhavarma II, came to power in 722 after the death of his father.

  • The Pallava kingdom was in a state of disarray after the death of Parameshwaravarma II in 730 as he had no heirs to the throne.

  • After some brief infighting for the throne among the family, Nandivarma II came to power.

  • Nandivarma then went on to marry the Rashtrakuta princess Reeta Devi and re-established the Pallava kingdom.

  • Dantivarma (796-846) succeeded Nandivarma II who ruled for 54 long years.

  • Rastrakuta king Dantidurga defeated Dantvarma and was succeeded by Nandivarma III in 846.

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1. Which of the following pallava kings assumed the title of “Vatapikonda” after defeating and slaying the great chalukyan king Pulekesin-II?
    A. Narasimhavarman I B. Mahendra Varman I C . Parameshwar Varman I D . Nandi Varman

Answer: Option A
2. Chalukya temples (Jain temples) at Dilwara are situated in?
    A. Madhya Pradesh B. Uttar Pradesh C . Rajasthan D . Haryana

Answer: Option C
3. Chalukya and Chola was related to which of the following empire?
    A. Rajput Empire B. Maratha Empire C . Vijaynagara Empire D . Sikh Empire

Answer: Option C
4. Which among the following chalukyan king performed ‘Ashwamedha yajna’?
    A. Pulakesin I B. Pulakesin II C . Vishnuvardhan D . Kirtivarman I

Answer: Option A
5. Which among the following Pallava king wrote the famous burlesque ‘Mattavilasa Prahasana’?
    A. Mahendra Varman I B. Narasimhavarman C . Narasimhavarman II D . Parameshwar Varman

Answer: Option A
6. During the reign of which Pallava ruler began the long drawn struggle between the Pallavas and the Chalukyas ?
    A. Mahendravarman I B. Simhavishnu C . Narasimhavarman I D . Mahendravarman II

Answer: Option A
7. Which one of the following inscriptions related to the Chalukya king, Pulakesin II?
    A. Maski B. Hathigumpha C . Aihole D . Nasik

Answer: Option C
8. What was the capital of Pallava Dynasty?
    A. Kanchipuram B. Tiruchchirapalli C . Tanjore D . Chennai

Answer: Option A
9. Consider the following statements. 1) Aihole inscription is a eulogy written by Ravikirti, court poet of Pulakesin II. 2) Chalukyan power was overthrown by Rashtrakutas. Which of the following statement/s is/are correct?
    A. Only 1 B. Only 2 C . Both 1 and 2 D .Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: Option C
10. Consider the following statements about the Chalukya rule and Identify the incorrect statement:
    A. The last Chalukya ruler was defeated by the Rashtrakutas founder B. The last Chalukya ruler was defeated by the Pallavas founder C . Kirtivarman II was the last of the rulers of the Chalukyas. D . The successor of Pulakesin II was Vikramaditya

Answer: Option B