The Pallava dynasty (early fourth century - late ninth century CE) rules northern Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh of present day India with their capital at Kanchi.

They establish themselves as a notable rising power in the region in third-fourth century and by the beginning of the seventh century CE, the Pallavas along with the Chalukyas of Badami and the Pandyas of Madurai, emerge to be the three major states of southern India.

The term pallava means creeper, and is a Sanskrit version of the Tamil word tondai.

The Pallavas are a local tribe with their authority in the Tondainadu.

The Pallavas gain prominence after the eclipse of the Satavahana dynasty, whom the Pallavas served as feudatories.

They attack and wipe out the weakened Chola state, and reduce the Cholas into a marginal role in South India.

The Gupta emperor Samudragupta is known to have brought the Pallavas under their sway.

The early Pallavas came into conflict with the Kadambas, the rulers of northern Karnataka and Konkan in the fourth century CE.

Soon Pallavas recognize the Kadamba authority over them.

The revolt led by the Kalabhras affects the Pallavas and it is put down by the allied efforts of Pallavas, Pandyas and Chalukyas.

After the Kalabhra upheaval, the long struggle between the Pallavas and Chalukyas of Badami for supremacy in peninsular India begins.

Both try to establish control over the Krishna-Tungabhadra doab.

Although the Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II almost reaches the Pallava capital, his second invasion ends in failure.

The Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman occupies Vatapi and defeats the Pandyas, Cholas and Cheras.

The conflict resumes in the first half of the eight century with multiple Pallava setbacks.

The Chalukyas overrun them completely in 740 CE, ending the Pallava supremacy in South India.Kanchi, the Pallava capital, is a city of temples and Vedic learning under them.

The Pallavas also grant numerous villages free of taxes to the Brahmanas.

In the early centuries of the Common Era, the Pallavas establish colonies in Sumatra, present day Indonesia.