Q. Who founded the Navsari branch of the Chalukya dynasty in present-day Gujarat and Maharashtra?
Answer: Dharashraya Jayasimhavarman
Notes: Dharashraya Jayasimhavarman founded the Navsari branch of the Chalukyas. His 685 CE inscription records land grants in the Nashik region, reflecting the dynasty's influence in ancient Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Chalukyas were significant rulers in western India during the early medieval period.