Capital
Thanjavur (Tanjaur), later Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Founder
Vijayalaya Chola (Medieval)
Duration
c. 431 years (Medieval period)
Category
Empire
Timeline
848 CE
Vijayalaya Chola
Vijayalaya captures Thanjavur and establishes the Medieval Chola dynasty.
985 CE
Raja Raja Chola I
The greatest Chola emperor begins his reign.
1010 CE
Brihadeeswarar Temple
Raja Raja completes the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur.
1014 CE
Rajendra Chola I
Rajendra Chola succeeds and expands the empire eastward and overseas.
1025 CE
Srivijaya Expedition
Rajendra Chola launches a naval invasion of the Srivijaya Empire in Southeast Asia.
1035 CE
Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Rajendra founds his new capital and builds the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple.
1279 CE
Decline
The Chola Empire falls to the Pandyas.
Geography
Map of Empire
Forts
Battlefields
Temples
Trade Routes
Governance
Administration
Highly organized bureaucratic system with autonomous village assemblies (Sabha, Ur, Nagaram); excellent record-keeping on palm leaves and copper plates
Prosperity
Economy
Maritime trade with China, Southeast Asia (Sri Vijaya), Arabia, and Rome; thriving agriculture with advanced irrigation (Kaveri delta); textile and bronze exports
Currency: Gold, silver, and copper coins (Kahavanu) with tiger emblem
Defense
Military
Powerful navy (the first Indian navy to project force overseas); large army with elephant corps; conquest of Sri Lanka, Maldives, and parts of Southeast Asia
Design
Architecture
Brihadeeswarar Temple (Thanjavur) — UNESCO World Heritage; Gangaikonda Cholapuram; Airavatesvara Temple; exquisite bronze Chola sculptures (Nataraja)
Heritage
Culture
Classical Tamil literature flourished; development of Tamil temple architecture; patronage of Bharatanatyam; Saiva (Nayanmars) and Vaishnava (Alvars) Bhakti movements
Legacy
Achievements
Built the tallest temple tower in the world at the time (Brihadeeswarar, 66m)
Naval domination of the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian expeditions
Mastery of bronze casting — the Chola Nataraja is among the finest sculptures in the world
Efficient local self-government through village assemblies
Conquest of Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and the Srivijaya Empire in SE Asia under Rajendra Chola
Excellence in irrigation engineering — massive canals and tanks (Kallanai Dam)
Sunset
Decline
Internal revolts, weakening central authority, the rise of the Pandya kingdom, and invasions by the Hoysalas and the Delhi Sultanate under Malik Kafur (1310 CE)
Connections
Related Kingdoms
Sources
Historical References
Thanjavur Temple Inscriptions
Thousands of inscriptions detailing Chola administration, economy, and society.
Periya Puranam
Tamil hagiographical text of the Chola period.
Brihadeeswarar Temple
UNESCO World Heritage monument — pinnacle of Chola architecture.
The Cholas
Definitive academic history of the Chola dynasty.
Chola Bronzes
World-renowned bronze sculptures, especially the Nataraja.