Kalachuri dynasty

House of Kalachuri
Silver coin of King Krishnaraja (r. 550-575)
Parent house	House of Haiheya (claimed)
Country	Principality of Mahishmati Cadet branches: Kingdom of Dahala Kingdom of Ratnapura Kingdom of Kalyani
Founded	550
Founder	Krishnaraja
Final ruler	Buddharaja (main line) Mohansingh (cadet branch)
Dissolution	625 (main line) 1758 (cadet branch)
Cadet branches	House of Kalachuri–Tripuri House of Kalachuri–Kalyani House of Kalachuri–Ratnapura

The Kalachuri dynasty, also known as Kalachuris of Mahismati, or the Early Kalachuris, was an early medieval Indian dynasty that ruled present-day Maharashtra, as well as parts of mainland Gujarat and southern Madhya Pradesh. Their capital was located at Mahishmati. Epigraphic and numismatic evidence suggests that the earliest of the Ellora and Elephanta cave monuments were built during the Kalachuri rule.

The origin of the dynasty is uncertain. In the 6th century, the Kalachuris gained control of the territories formerly ruled by the Guptas, the Vakatakas and the Vishnukundinas. Only three Kalachuri kings are known from inscriptional evidence: Shankaragana, Krishnaraja, and Buddharaja. The Kalachuris lost their power to the Chalukyas of Vatapi in the 7th century. One theory connects the later Kalachuri dynasties of Tripuri and Kalyani to the Kalachuris of Mahishmati.