Chola

As per the traditions, the Chola Country or Cholamandalam was the area bound on the North by the Pennar, South by the Vellaru River, at Eastern Coast of Bay of Bengal from Nellore and Pudukottai to west until Coorg. Its most ancient capital was Uraiyur, near the Trichurapalli in Tamil Nadu. Therefore, the heartland was the fertile valley of the river Cauvery.

The Chola dynasty is one of the longest ruling dynasties of South India, and it existed from 300 BC until late 13th century AD, though the territorial limits kept varying from time to time. This period of around 1500 years can be divided into 4 parts as follows:

• Early Cholas
• Dark Period
• Medieval Cholas
• Later Cholas

Early Cholas

The Early Cholas refer to the Chola Kingdom of the Sangam Age from 300 BC to 200 AD. Most of the information about this, we have in the form of Sangam Literature, legends and religious texts of Buddhism and Jainism. Most siginificant ruler of the early Cholas is Karikala Chola. Read about Early Cholas Here.

Dark Period

After this early Chola Kingdom fell, there is a dark period, in which they existed but insignificantly.

Medieval Cholas

The rise of the Medieval Cholas is from 850 AD when Vijayalaya Chola of Thanjaur re-established the Chola Power in South India. These Chola Kings ruled till 1070 AD and the Cholamandalam flourished. The important rulers of these Cholas included:

• Vijayalaya Chola
• Aditya Chola I
• Parantaka Chola I
• Rajaraja Chola I
• Rajendra Chola –I
• Rajadhiraja Chola
  
• Rajendra Chola II
  
• Virarajendra Chola
  

Read about Medieval Cholas Here

Later Cholas

From 1070 AD till 1279 AD, is the period assigned to the later Cholas. During this time, the Chola Empire reached its Zenith and became the “Most Powerful Country” of the world. These Cholas colonized the South East Asian Countries and had the most powerful army and navy of the world at that time. The siginificant rulers of Later Cholas were as follows:

• Kulotthunga Chola-I
• Vikrama Chola
• Kulotthunga Chola II
• Rajaraja Chola II
• Rajadhiraja Chola II
• Kulothunga Chola III
• Rajaraja Chola III
• Rajendra Chola III

Read about Later Cholas Here