Historical Chronology

Explore the civilizational flow of India through its imperial eras. Filter by region or search for specific dynasties and capitals.

Indus–Saraswati Era

c. 3300–1300 BCE

Northwest & North

Early Harappan Phase

c. 3300–2600 BCE Early Ravi Phase

Mature Indus–Saraswati Civilisation

c. 2600–1900 BCE Harappa

Late Harappan Phase

c. 1900–1300 BCE Various (Lothal, Hulas)

Vedic Civilisation

c. 1500–600 BCE

Pan-North

Early Vedic Period

c. 1500–1000 BCE Sapta-Sindhu region

Later Vedic Period (Kuru-Panchala)

c. 1000–600 BCE Indraprastha

The Mahajanapadas

c. 600–322 BCE

North & Central

Magadha (Haryanka & Shishunaga)

c. 544–345 BCE Rajgir

Nanda Empire

c. 345–322 BCE Pataliputra

Vajji Confederacy

c. 6th–4th century BCE Vaishali

Western

Avanti Kingdom

c. 6th–4th century BCE Ujjain

The Mauryan Era

322–185 BCE

Pan-India

Maurya Empire

322–185 BCE Pataliputra

Northwest

Indo-Greek Kingdoms

c. 2nd–1st century BCE Taxila

Post-Mauryan Transitions

185 BCE – 320 CE

North & West

Shunga Empire

c. 185–73 BCE Pataliputra

Kushan Empire

c. 1st–3rd century CE Purushapura (Peshawar)

Western Kshatrapas

c. 1st–4th century CE Ujjain

Deccan

Satavahana Empire

c. 1st century BCE – 3rd century CE Pratishthana (Paithan)

Historical Golden Age (Guptas)

c. 320–550 CE

North & Central

Gupta Empire

c. 320–550 CE Pataliputra

Vakataka Empire

c. 3rd–5th century CE Nandivardhana

Early Classical South

c. 300 BCE – 600 CE

Tamilakam

Early Cholas, Cheras & Pandyas

c. 300 BCE – 300 CE Puhar

Pallava Empire

c. 275–897 CE Kanchipuram

Imperial Kannauj (Harsha)

606–647 CE

North

Harsha (Pushyabhuti) Empire

606–647 CE Kannauj

Early Medieval Regional Empires

c. 600–1000 CE

North & West

Gurjara-Pratihara Empire

c. 8th–11th century Kannauj (major)

Tomaras (Delhi region)

c. 9th–12th century Dhillika/Delhi (trad.)

East

Pala Empire

c. 750–1174 CE Gaur / Pataliputra (varies by ruler)

Deccan

Badami Chalukyas

543–753 CE Vatapi (Badami)

Rashtrakuta Empire

753–982 CE Manyakheta (Malkhed)

Northeast

Kamarupa Kingdoms (continuing)

c. 4th–12th century Varies

High Medieval India

c. 1000–1350 CE

North & West

Chahamanas of Shakambhari (Chauhans)

c. 6th–12th century Ajmer

Paramaras of Malwa

c. 9th–14th century Dhar

Chaulukyas (Solankis) of Gujarat

c. 942–1244 CE Anhilwara

Kalachuris of Tripuri

c. 7th–13th century Tripuri

Deccan

Western Chalukyas (Kalyani)

973–1189 CE Kalyani

Seuna (Yadavas) of Devagiri

1187–1317 CE Devagiri

Kakatiya Dynasty

1163–1323 CE Warangal

South

Imperial Cholas

848–1279 CE Thanjavur

Hoysala Empire

1026–1343 CE Belur

Sultanate Era & Southern Zenith

1206–1565 CE

North & Central

Delhi Sultanate

1206–1526 CE Delhi

South

Vijayanagara Empire

1336–1646 CE Vijayanagara (Hampi)

Deccan

Bahmani Sultanate

1347–1518 CE Gulbarga

Musunuri Nayaks & Reddi Kingdom

14th–15th century Warangal

East

Gajapati Empire (Odisha)

1434–1541 CE Cuttack

Bengal Sultanate

1342–1576 CE Gaur

West

Gujarat Sultanate

1407–1573 CE Ahmadabad

Malwa Sultanate

1392–1561 CE Dhar

Northeast

Ahom Kingdom

1228–1826 CE Charaideo

Mughal Supremacy & Deccan Sultanates

1526–1687 CE

Mughal Empire

Foundation & Expansion (Babur to Akbar)

1526–1605 CE Agra

High Mughal Era (Jahangir to Shah Jahan)

1605–1658 CE Agra

Deccan Sultanates

Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)

1490–1686 CE Bijapur

Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)

1512–1687 CE Golconda

Ahmednagar Sultanate (Nizam Shahi)

1490–1636 CE Ahmednagar

Berar & Bidar Sultanates

1490–1619 CE Ellichpur

Maratha Swarajya, Sikh & Rajput Resistance

1674–1849 CE

Marathas

Chhatrapati Shivaji's Swarajya

1674–1680 CE Raigad

Maratha Confederacy (Peshwa Era)

1713–1818 CE Pune

Sikh Sovereignty

The Sikh Misls (Confederacy)

1716–1799 CE Amritsar

Sikh Empire (Maharaja Ranjit Singh)

1799–1849 CE Lahore

Rajputs

Mewar (Sisodia Clan)

728–1947 CE (peak resistance 16th-17th C) Chittorgarh

Colonial Period & Independence Movement

1818–1947 CE

Pan-India

British East India Company (Rule)

1757–1858 CE Calcutta

British Raj (Crown Rule)

1858–1947 CE Calcutta

Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind)

1943–1945 CE Port Blair (formal)

Princely States

Hyderabad State (Asaf Jahi)

1724–1948 CE Hyderabad

Travancore State

1729–1949 CE Thiruvananthapuram

Maratha Princely States (Gwalior, Indore, Baroda)

19th–20th Century Gwalior

Jammu & Kashmir (Dogra)

1846–1947 CE Srinagar