Vakataka Dynasty

The Vakataka Empire was a royal Indian dynasty that originated from the Deccan in the mid-third century CE. Their state extended from the southern edges of Malwa and Gujarat in the north to the Tungabhadra River in the south as well as from the Arabian Sea in the western to the edges of Chhattisgarh in the east.

They were the most important successors of the Satavahanas in the Deccan and contemporaneous with the Guptas in northern India.

The rock-cut Buddhist viharas and chaityas of Ajanta Caves (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) was built under the patronage of Vakataka Emperor Harishena.

The founder of the dynasty was Vindhyasakti (250-270). The next ruler was Pravarasena I (270-330), who maintained the realm as a great power, he was the first Vakataka ruler, who called himself a Samrat (universal ruler) and conducted wars with the Naga kings.