• The Chalukyas rule reigned during the 6th century and the 12th century in the parts of Southern and Central India.

The Three Chalukyas

• Badami Chalukyas were the earliest Chalukyas.
• The capital at that time was Badami (Vatapi) in Karnataka where the Chalukyas reigned from mid-6th They declined after the death of their greatest king, Pulakesin II in 642 AD.
• Eastern Chalukyas was formed after the death of Pulakesin II.
• The capital at that time was Vengi. The Eastern Chalukyas reigned till the 11th century.
• Western Chalukyas were the descendants of the Badami Chalukyas, they emerged in the late 10th century and ruled from Kalyani (modern-day Basavakanlyan).

Founder of Chalukya Dynasty and Rulers

• Jayasimha was the first ruler of the Chalukyas.

Pulakesin I (543 AD – 566 AD)

• Founder of the empire (capital – Vatapi)
• Performed Ashwamedha.

Kirtivarman I (566 AD – 597 AD)

• Son of Pulakesin I
• Conquered Konkan and northern Kerala.

Mangalesha (597 AD – 609 AD)

• Brother of Kirtivarman I.
• Conquered the Kadambas and the Gangas.
• He was killed by his nephew Pulakesin II.

Pulakesin II (609 AD – 642 AD)

• The birth name of Pulakesin II was Eraya which is obtained from the Aihole inscription dated 634 that was written by his court poet Ravikirti in Sanskrit language using the Kannada script.
• Pulakesin II is the greatest of the Chalukya kings as he extended the rule of the Chalukya dynasty to most parts of the Deccan i.e. Southern India.
• Foreign Traveller, “Xuanzang” visited his kingdom and praised Pulakesin II as a good and authoritative king because even though Pulakesin II was a Hindu, he was tolerant of Buddhism and Jainism and conquered almost the entire south-central India.
• The most important war for which Pulakesin II is famous is that he stopped Northern king Harsha in his tracks while he was trying to conquer southern parts of the country and had defeated the Pallava king Mahendravarman I.
• However, Pulakesin II was defeated and killed by Mahendravarman’s son and successor Narasimhavarman I in a series of battles he had with the Pallavas, post which Badami remained under Pallava control and the death of Pulakesin II saw a lapse in Chalukya power.
• The Pallava rule remained for the next 13 years.
• He had received a Persian assignment.
• This was depicted in an Ajanta cave painting.
• Other information from old scripts shares that he had also maintained diplomatic relations with the King of Persia Khusru II.

Vikramaditya I (655 AD – 680 AD)

• Vikramaditya I was the son of Pulakesin II who looted Kanchi, the capital of the Pallavas.

Kirtivarman II (746 AD – 753 AD)

• Great-great-grandson of Vikramaditya I and was the last of the Chalukya rulers.
• He was defeated by the Rashtrakuta king, Dantidurga.

Administration and Society

• The Chalukyas had great maritime power along with a well-organized army.
• Though the Chalukya kings were Hindus, they were tolerant of Buddhism as well as Jainism, and Kannada plus Telugu literature saw great developments during the rule of the Chalukya dynasty.
• Along with this, Sanskrit along with the local languages thrived which is mentioned in an inscription dated the 7th century mentioning Sanskrit as the language of the elite whereas Kannada was the language of the masses.

Architecture:

• They built cave temples depicting both religious and secular themes.
• The temples also had beautiful mural paintings.
• The temples under the Chalukyas are a good example of the Vesara style of architecture.
• Vesara style is a combination of Dravida and Nagara styles.
• Aihole temples:Lady Khan temple (Surya Temple), Durga temple, Huchimalligudi temple etc.
• Badami temples
• Pattadakkal Temples: It is well known for rock-cut temples.