Cholas

The Cholas were a Tamil dynasty centered in the Tamil country of present-day Tamil Nadu, India. They rose from early Tamil polities in the Sangam era and became one of South India’s longest-ruling dynasties, with a history spanning from the early centuries CE to the late medieval period.

Origins and early period: In Sangam literature and contemporary inscriptions, the Cholas appear as one of the principal Tamil powers. Karikala Chola, traditionally dated to the early centuries CE, is credited with expanding Chola influence and with building the Kallanai (Grand Anicut) on the Kaveri River, one of the oldest dam structures still in use.

Imperial Cholas: The imperial period (roughly the 9th to the 13th centuries) marks the dynasty’s peak. Rajaraja Chola I (c. 985–1014) extended authority across the Tamil region and into Sri Lanka, while his son Rajendra Chola I (c. 1014–1044) projected power across the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia. The Cholas built urban centers and monumental temples, notably the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, and maintained a strong navy to control coastal trade routes and maritime domains.

Culture and administration: The Cholas fostered Tamil literature, sculpture, and temple architecture, commissioning inscriptions in Tamil and Sanskrit. They developed a centralized administrative system with provincial governance and revenue networks, and sustained extensive maritime trade networks across the Indian Ocean.

Decline and legacy: By the 13th century, the Chola polity declined under pressure from rival Tamil powers and shifting political dynamics. The last ruler, Rajendra III, reigned until about 1279, after which the dynasty ceased to be a major independent power. The Chola legacy endures in temple architecture, sculpture, and Tamil cultural traditions, with sites like the Brihadisvara Temple standing as enduring monuments.