Indian History

Image Credit  Manyakheta was the capital of the Rashtrakuta dynasty which ruled large parts of southern India from 753 to 973. The capital city was founded by Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha I (Nrupatunga Amoghavarsha) who transferred regnal capital from Mayurkhandi (in the Bidar district of Karnataka)  to Manyakheta. He had embellished the new capital with beautiful buildings in order to "match the city of Indra's heaven, Amaravati."  Today Manyakheta is modern Malkhed village in Sedam taluk in Gulbarga (modern Kalaburagi) district in Karnataka. In 972-73 Manyakheta was sacked by Harsha Siyaka of the Paramara dynasty. After the downfall of the Rashtrakuta dynasty in 973, it became the capital of the Kalyani Chalukyas who had supplanted the Rashtrakutas. During the rule of Satyasraya belonging to the Chalukyas of Kalyani , Manyakheta was sacked in 1008 by Rajendra Chola I (reigned 1014–1044) during the reign of  Raja Raja Chola  .  Someshvara I Aha...

The Rashtrakutas were the feudatories of the Chalukyas of Badami or Vatapi, also known as early Chalukyas. Their kingdom was founded by Dantidurga or Dantivarman who overthrew the Chalukya dynasty about 753. After him, his uncle Krishna I became the next ruler whose accession to the Rashtrakuta throne proved to be the final nail in the coffin for the Chalukyas of the Badami. Kailasnatha Temple , the crowning achievement of Ellora, was excavated on the instructions of Krishna I . Krishna I was succeeded by his eldest son Govinda II who, in turn, was dethroned by his younger brother Dhruva Dharavarsha who ruled from c. 779 to 793-94. He decisively intervened in the  tripartite struggle for the supremacy of Kannauj in north India and defeated both the Pala king Dharampal and Pratihara ruler Vatsaraja. After these victories he added the emblem of Ganga and Yamuna to his imperial insignia.  Next Rashtrakuta ruler was Dhruva’s illustrious son Govinda III (A.D. 793-814), who fought a...