Karkota dynasty
The Karkota Dynasty (c. 625 − 855 CE) ruled over the Kashmir valley and some northern parts of the Indian subcontinent during 7th and 8th centuries. Their rule saw a period of political expansion, economic prosperity and emergence of Kashmir as a centre of culture and scholarship.
Karkota Dynasty | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
625–855 | |||||||||||
◁ ▷ Heartland of the Karkota Dynasty around Srinagara, with neighbouring polities, circa 700 CE. | |||||||||||
Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
Historical era | Classical India | ||||||||||
• Established | 625 | ||||||||||
• Disestablished | 855 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Today part of | Afghanistan India Pakistan Bangladesh |
The Karkota rulers constructed several shrines to Vishnu in their dominions. They however also allowed Buddhism to flourish under them. Stupa, Chaitya and Vihara can be found in the ruins of their capital. Martand Sun Temple in the Anantnag district were built by Lalitaditya. It is the oldest known Sun temple in India and was also one of the biggest temple complexes at the time.
Avanti Varman ascended the throne of Kashmir in 855, establishing the Utpala dynasty and ending the rule of Karkota dynasty.