• The Chandella dynasty of Bundelkhand was founded by Nannuka. They ruled much of the Bundelkhand region in Central India for around 500 years, from the 9th to the 13th centuries AD. During this period, the Bundelkhand region was commonly known as Jejakabhukti.
• The Chandella dynasty, ruling the eastern part of Madhya Pradesh in the Bundelkhand region, was one of the 36 Rajput clans. Their capital cities included Mahoba and Khajuraho. The kingdom saw steady expansion under early kings like Jayashakti.
• The capital city of Chandels was Khajuraho which was later changed to Mahoba. Kalinjar was their important fort.

• Paramardi, the last independent Chandella ruler, was defeated by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1203 AD. Following his defeat, the Chandella dynasty weakened significantly, leading to the emergence of new dynasties such as the Bundelas in Orchha and the Baghels in the Bandhavgarh region.
• Dhanga, one of the greatest rulers of the Chandella dynasty, took the title of Maharajadhiraja and is renowned for his conflicts with Mahmud of Ghazni. During Dhanga’s reign, several temples in Khajuraho were constructed, showcasing remarkable architectural achievements.
• Vidhyadhara, another notable ruler, successfully resisted attacks from Muhammad Ghazni and fortified the defenses of Gwalior and Kalinjar forts.
• The last significant ruler of the Chandellas was Parmal. In 1182 CE, Parmal was defeated by Prithviraj Chauhan, and later, in 1203 CE, Qutb-ud-din Aibak captured Kalinjar from him.
• Other important rulers were Yahovarman Dhanga and Kirtivarman. Peramal was the last Chandella king.

Paramaras

• The Paramara dynasty of Malwa, founded in 820 CE by Upendra, arose on the ruins of the Pratiharas. The most significant king of this dynasty was Raja Bhoja (1018-1060 CE). In 1043 CE, he joined a confederacy of Hindu chiefs and, after conquering the Muslim territories of Hansi, Thanesar, and Nagarkot, they besieged Lahore. Bhoja sought to regenerate Hindu society and fought against the Muslims. Apart from being a great warrior, he was an accomplished scholar. He established a Sanskrit college called Bhojshala at his capital and authored several notable works, including:
• Ayurveda Sangraha
• Yukti Kalpataru
• Samranga Sutradhara (dealing with architecture)
• Bhoja was also a prolific builder, reputed to have constructed 104 temples and a beautiful lake known as Bhojpur Lake. The power of the Paramara dynasty waned with Raja Bhoja’s death, marking the end of their dominance. He was likely the last independent king of the Paramaras.

Additional Key Points about the Paramara Dynasty:

• Succession and Lineage: The Paramaras were successors of the Rashtrakutas, who controlled Malwa from the early ninth century with their capital at Dhar. Upendra (also known as Krishnaraja) founded the Paramara dynasty. They belong to the Agnivanshi lineage.
• Branches of the Dynasty: Other branches of the Paramaras ruled in Rajputana, including regions such as Mount Abu and Bhinmal, but the Paramaras of Malwa (Dhar) were the most powerful.
• Rise to Power: Initially, the Pratiharas were in charge of Malwa. The Paramaras took advantage of the Pratiharas’ fading strength and rose to power in Malwa in the latter part of the 10th century.
• End of the Dynasty: The last known Paramara king, Mahalakadeva, was defeated and killed by the forces of Delhi’s Alauddin Khalji in 1305 CE. However, epigraphic evidence suggests that the Paramara rule continued for a few years after his death.
• Cultural Contributions: The Paramaras were well-known for their patronage of Sanskrit poets and scholars. Bhoja, in particular, was a renowned scholar. Most Paramara kings were Shaivites who built several Shiva temples while also patronizing Jain scholars.