Test: Northern India - 1 - UPSC

The Tripartite Struggle for Kanauj was between the Pratiharas of Central India, the Palas of Bengal, and the Rashtrakutas of Deccan. All these dynasties wanted to establish their supremacy over Kanauj and the fertile Gangetic Valley.

Gopala (765-769 A.D.) was the founder of the Pala Dynasty. He ruled over Northern and Eastern India and expanded the Pala Dynasty, extending his power over Magadha.

Dharmapala, the son of Gopala, was a steadfast Buddhist and founded the famous Vikramasila University atop a hill near the Ganga in Magadh and several monasteries.

Mihirabhoja was the most powerful Pratihara king. During his period, the empire expanded from Kashmir to Narmada and from Kathiawar to Bihar. He was a devotee of Vishnu and took the title "Adivaraha."

Rajyapala was the last Pratihara king, and after his reign, the vast empire was reduced to Kanauj.

The Pratiharas stood as a fortification of India's defense against the hostility of the Muslims from the days of Junaid of Sind (725 A.D.) to Mahmud of Ghazni.

Dharmapala, the son of Gopala, restored the Nalanda University and set aside 200 villages for its expenses.

Al-Masudi visited Gujarat from Baghdad in 915 A.D. and wrote about the Pratihara kingdom.

Dantidurga founded the Rashtrakuta kingdom with its capital at Malkhed, near Solapur. He dominated northern Maharashtra.

Govinda III annexed Kanauj, Malwa, and turned South to defeat Lankan rulers, expanding the Rashtrakuta empire.