Chalukya dynasty

The Chalukya dynasty was a classical Indian dynasty that ruled large parts of the Deccan between the 6th and 8th centuries from its capital at Vatapi, modern Badami in Karnataka. Founded by Pulakeshin I around 543, the Badami Chalukyas rose as the Kadamba kingdom of Banavasi declined and soon controlled the country between the Narmada and Kaveri rivers. Their greatest ruler, Pulakeshin II, defeated the Pallavas and the northern emperor Harsha, sent envoys to the Sasanian court and extended Chalukya power across the peninsula. The dynasty is remembered for its patronage of architecture: the cave temples and structural shrines at Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal experiment with the Dravidian and Nagara styles and are among the foundations of South Indian temple building. Kannada and Sanskrit literature flourished at court. After Pulakeshin II's death in 642 the Pallavas sacked Vatapi, and although the Chalukyas recovered, their power was eclipsed in the mid-8th century by the Rashtrakutas, who deposed the last Badami ruler in 753. Related branches later ruled in Vengi and Kalyani, and the dynasty remained a reference point for later Deccan kingdoms.