kingdom · South Asia
Karkota dynasty
Origins
According to Kalhana's Rajatarangini, Durlabhavardhana founded the dynasty around 625, succeeding the last king of the Gonanda dynasty through marriage. Xuanzang visited Kashmir during his reign and described a powerful kingdom with many Buddhist monasteries.
Rule and society
Lalitaditya Muktapida, who ruled in the 8th century, led campaigns into the Punjab, Kannauj and beyond, defeating Yashovarman of the Varman dynasty of Kannauj, and sent envoys to Tang China. He founded the city of Parihaspora and built the Martand Sun temple, whose ruins still dominate the valley. Kashmir became a centre of Sanskrit poetry and philosophy, and Jayapida later patronised scholars and poets at his court. Irrigation and saffron supported the economy.
Decline and legacy
Later Karkota kings were weak and dominated by ministers and court factions. In 855 Avantivarman took the throne, founding the Utpala dynasty.
Lineage
On the connections map
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- Varman dynasty of Kannauj was conquered by Karkota dynasty736 CE – 740 CE
Cite this page
- APA
- The Epoch Institute. (2026). Karkota dynasty. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/karkota-dynasty
- MLA
- “Karkota dynasty.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/karkota-dynasty. Accessed .
- Chicago
- The Epoch Institute. “Karkota dynasty.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/karkota-dynasty.
- Harvard
- The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Karkota dynasty’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/karkota-dynasty (Accessed: ).
Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻