4 Unknown Facts About The Chola Dynasty - You Didn't Know

The Chola Dynasty was one of the most powerful empires in India's history. The dynasty was known for its rich culture and impressive achievements.


The Kaveri River Valley, which flows southeast through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and the southern Deccan Plateau to the Bay of Bengal, served as the capital of the Chola Empire. At its height, the Chola Empire ruled over the Maldives in addition to southern India and Sri Lanka.

To facilitate a rich cultural exchange in both ways, it seized important marine trading stations from the Srivijaya Empire in what is now Indonesia. It also dispatched diplomatic and commercial missions to China's Song Dynasty (960 - 1279 CE).

Earliest Records Of The Chola Kingdom

History has forgotten the Chola Dynasty's beginnings. However, the kingdom is mentioned in early Tamil literature and on one of the Ashoka Pillars (273 - 232 BCE). Additionally, it can be found in Ptolemy's Geography and the Greco-Roman Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (c. 40–60 CE) (c. 150 CE). Tamils make up the majority of the ruling family's ethnicity.


The Cholas saw a fall about the year 300 CE when the Pallava and Pandya Kingdoms expanded their control across the majority of the Tamil heartlands of southern India. Under the new authority, they probably acted as sub-rulers, but they still enjoyed enough prestige that their daughters frequently wed into the Pallava and Pandya households.


The Beginning Period Of Chola In Mediaeval Times

The Cholas grasped their opportunity when conflict broke out between the Pallava and Pandya kingdoms in around 850 CE. When Thanjavur (also known as Tanjore) was taken by King Vijayalaya, he abdicated his Pallava suzerainty and made it his new capital.


This signalled the beginning of the Chola era in the Middle Ages and the height of Chola's dominance.

thanjavur 850 CE

Aditya I, the son of Vijayalaya, later conquered the Pallava Kingdom in 897 CE and the Pandyan Kingdom in 885. In 925, his descendant conquered Sri Lanka, and by 985, the Chola Dynasty ruled over all of southern India's Tamil-speaking areas.

The empire was subsequently expanded by the following two monarchs, Rajaraja Chola I (r. 985–1014 CE) and Rajendra Chola I.


Some Fact About The Chola Dynasty

1. The Most Powerful Empires In India's History

The Chola dynasty was one of the most powerful empires in India's history. They were a Tamil dynasty that ruled over parts of south India from the 9th to the 13th centuries.


The Cholas were renowned for their great wealth and military might, and they were able to expand their empire significantly. They also left a lasting legacy, with many impressive temples and other buildings still standing today.

2. Its Impressive Architecture And Art.
The Chola dynasty was known for its impressive architecture and art. One of the most famous examples of their art is the Brihadeeswarar Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple was built in the 11th century and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

It is the largest temple in India and is noted for its intricate carvings and towering gopuram.

3. Military Prowess.

The Chola dynasty was known for its military prowess. The Cholas were a well-organized and disciplined people, and they were able to conquer a large area of southern India. Their military was also very advanced for its time, and they were able to defeat the more powerful kingdoms in the region.


4. Dissolved By The British

The Chola dynasty was a powerful Hindu dynasty in southern India that was ultimately dissolved by the British. The British were able to conquer the Cholas with their superior military technology and organization.


The Chola dynasty was a major force in southern India for over two centuries and played a significant role in the development of Hinduism and Indian art. The Chola Dynasty is a fascinating part of Indian history.


The dynasty's achievements are still celebrated today and its culture is still revered. The Chola Dynasty is a reminder of the great things that India is capable of.


Nobody is quite sure when the first Chola monarchs in southern India rose to power, but the Chola Dynasty was undoubtedly formed by the third century BCE because Ashoka the Great named them on one of his stelae. In addition to outlasting Ashoka's Mauryan Empire, the Cholas ruled for more than 1,500 years.


Written By: Nivetha

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