kingdom · South Asia

Tomara dynasty of Delhi

736 CE – 1152 CE (approx.) · capital Dhillika

The Rajput dynasty traditionally credited with founding Delhi as Dhillika and building its first citadel, Lal Kot.

Origins

Bardic tradition says Anangapala I founded Dhillika, the first city of Delhi, in 736. Historically, the Tomaras appear in the 9th and 10th centuries as chiefs in the Haryana region, probably feudatories of the Gurjara-Pratihara. Their rule at Delhi is attested mainly by later inscriptions and literary sources.

Rule and society

Anangapala II is credited with building the fortified citadel of Lal Kot in the 11th century, the oldest identifiable city of Delhi, and an inscription on the Iron Pillar names him. Surajkund, a stepped reservoir near Delhi, is traditionally attributed to a Tomara king. They ruled a modest kingdom and were repeatedly attacked by the Ghaznavids.

Decline and legacy

In the mid-12th century the Tomaras were defeated by Vigraharaja IV of the Chahamanas of Shakambhari, who took Delhi; Tomara chiefs continued there as Chahamana vassals until the Ghurid conquest of 1192.

Few sources survive for this state; details are uncertain.

Connections (2)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Tomara dynasty of Delhi. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/tomara-dynasty-of-delhi
MLA
“Tomara dynasty of Delhi.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/tomara-dynasty-of-delhi. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Tomara dynasty of Delhi.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/tomara-dynasty-of-delhi.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Tomara dynasty of Delhi’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/tomara-dynasty-of-delhi (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻