21 Facts About Cholas

The power and the prestige the Cholas had amoung political powers in South, South-eastern, and eastern Asia at its peak is evident through their expeditions to the Ganges, naval raids on cities of the Srivijaya empire based on the island of Sumatra, and their repeated embassies to China.

However, the Chola influence on Srivijava would last until 1070, when the Cholas began to lose almost all of their overseas territories.

Cholas succeeded in building the greatest thalassocratic empire in the history of India, thereby leaving a lasting legacy.

The Cholas are mentioned in Ashokan Edicts as one of the Mauryan Empire's neighbors to the South (Ashoka Major Rock Edict No 13), who, thought not subject to Ashoka, were on friendly terms with him.

The Cholas continued to rule over a diminished territory in the neighbourhood of Uraiyur, but only in a minor capacity.

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Cholas integrated his empire into a tight administrative grid under royal control, and at the same time strengthened local self-government.

Besides, Cholas regularly fought with the Eastern Gangas of Kalinga.

Cholas defeated Hoysala generals fought under Veera Ballala II at Karuvur.

Subsequently, the Cholas lost control of the island of Lanka and were driven out by the revival of Sinhala power.

Cholas led successful expeditions to the north as attested by his epigraphs found as far as Cuddappah.

Cholas defeated two Pandya princes one of whom was Maravarman Sundara Pandya II and briefly made the Pandyas submit to the Chola overlordship.

Cholas was sent by the Maharajah to establish a base for expeditionary forces, but he rebelled and established his own independent rajahnate.

From 900 to 1100, the navy had grown from a small backwater entity to that of a potent power projection and diplomatic symbol in all of Asia, but was gradually reduced in significance when the Cholas fought land battles subjugating the Chalukyas of the Andhra-Kannada area in South India.

Cholas excelled in foreign trade and maritime activity, extending their influence overseas to China and Southeast Asia.

The Cholas, being in possession of parts of both the west and the east coasts of peninsular India, were at the forefront of these ventures.

Cholas continued the temple-building traditions of the Pallava dynasty and contributed significantly to the Dravidian temple design.

Cholas pronounced that the great temples of Shiva and the Ranganatha temple were to be the Kuladhanam of the Chola emperors.

Cholas prayed before him before his embarking on war to regain the territories in and around Kanchi and Arcot from the waning Rashtrakutas and while leading expeditions against both Madurai and Ilam.

The period of the story lies within the interregnum during which the Cholas were in decline before Vijayalaya Chola revived their fortunes.

The Cholas are featured in the History of the World board game, produced by Avalon Hill.

Cholas were the subject of the 2010 Tamil-language movie Aayirathil Oruvan, and the 2022 movie "Ponniyin Selvan: I".