Kalachuri dynasty

Kalachuri dynasty
c. 550 CE–c. 625 CE
Silver coin of king Krishnaraja (r. c. 550-575) of the Kalachuri dynasty, on the model of the Western Satraps.
India in 565 with Kalachuri dominion
Capital	Mahishmati
Common languages	Sanskrit
Religion	Hinduism
Government	Monarchy
King
• 550–575	Krishnaraja
• 600–625	Buddharaja
History
• Established	c. 550 CE
• Disestablished	c. 625 CE
Preceded by Succeeded by Vakataka dynasty Garha Kingdom Chalukya dynasty
Today part of	India

The 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.