The Chalukyas were a South Indian dynasty that ruled in the Deccan, and are considered to be natives of the Karnataka region. The Chalukya Kingdom was established in the 6th century AD by Pulakeshin-I. He founded Vatapi, which is modern Badami in Bijapur district, and made it his capital.
Pulakeshin II was the greatest ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. He ruled from AD 608 to 642. In this long reign, he consolidated his authority in Maharashtra and conquered large parts of the Deccan. His greatest achievement was his victory in the defensive war against Harshvardhan in AD 620.
In AD 641, the Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang visited the kingdom, and said that his nobles served him with perfect loyalty. Pulakeshin was succeeded by his son Vikramaditya who was also as great a ruler as his father was. His great grandson Vikramaditya II was also a great warrior. In AD 753, the Chalukyas were overthrown by a chief named Dantidurga, who laid the foundation of the next great empire of Karnataka and Maharashtra, that of the Rashtrakutas.
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