Who founded the city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

CSIR-CLRI Junior Stenographer Official Paper (Held On: 07 Jan, 2024)

Answer 1

The correct answer is Rajendra - I.

Key Points

Rajendra - I
- Rajendra - I was a prominent Chola emperor who ruled from 1014 to 1044 CE.
- He is credited with founding the city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram around 1025 CE.
- The city commemorated his victorious military expedition to the Gangetic plains.
- He shifted the Chola capital from Thanjavur to Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
- This city remained the Chola capital for approximately 250 years.
- Rajendra - I also built the Brihadisvara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Additional Information

Raja Raja - I
- Raja Raja - I was the father of Rajendra - I and ruled from 985 to 1014 CE.
- He was known for his conquests and the construction of the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur.
- While he expanded the Chola empire, he did not found Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
Kulothungan - I
- Kulothungan - I was a Chola emperor who ruled from 1070 to 1122 CE.
- He succeeded the descendants of Rajendra - I and his reign was a period of consolidation.
- He lived much later and was not involved in the founding of Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
- Inscriptions from his time mention Gangaikonda Cholapuram as an existing city.
Karikalan
Karikalan was an early Chola king, likely from the 1st or 2nd century CE.
He is known for his military achievements and the Kallanai dam.
He lived centuries before the founding of Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
He was not connected to the establishment of this city.
The imperial Chola period, to which Rajendra - I belonged, began with the revival under Vijayalaya in the 9th century CE.