Question

The Chola dynasty reached its zenith during the reign of which Chola king?

• A. Kulothunga Chola
• B. Rajendra Chola I
• C. Sundara Chola
• D. Parantaka Chola

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Rajendra Chola I

Rajendra Chola I (1014-44 AD):

• Rajendra Chola I was the son of the Great Chola King RajaRajaChola I
• Rajendra continued his father's policy of aggressive conquests and expansion.
• He capably holded all the territories conquested by his father and expanded it furthermore.
• Because of this the Chola dynasty reached its zenith during his reign.
• He is considered one of the greatest rulers and military generals of south India. 
• Apart from reaching northwards to river Ganga and moving overseas to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, he also invaded the Southeast Asian territories.
• He conquered the whole of Ceylon or Sri Lanka.
• He defeated the kings of Sumatra in a naval campaign and annexed a part of Sumatra's kingdom to his kingdom.
• He defeated Jayasimha II of the western Chalukyas and consequently, the river Tungabhadra was recognized as the boundary between the Cholas and Chalukyas.
• He conquered several trans-Ganga Kingdoms and assumed the title of 'Gangaikonda Chola'.
• He founded the city Gangaikondacholapuram and constructed the famous Rameshwaram temple in the city.
• He also excavated a large irrigation tank called Cholagangam on the western side of the city.
• He assumed many titles, the most important ones being Mudikondan, Gangaikondan, Kadaram Kondan and Pandita Cholan.
• He built a shiva temple at Gangaikondacholapuram.