The Pandyas are one of the four Tamil dynasties (the other three being Chola, Chera & Pallava) that rule South India until the 15th century CE.

They initially rule their country Pandya Nadu from Korkai, a seaport on the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and in later times move to Madurai.

Pandyan is well known since ancient times, with contacts, even diplomatic, reaching the Roman Empire.

During the 13th century CE, Marco Polo mentions it as the richest empire in existence.

The Pandyan empire is home to temples including Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, and Nellaiappar Temple built on the bank of the river Thamirabarani in Tirunelveli.

The Pandya kings are called either Jatavarman or Maravarman Pandyan.

From being Jains in their early ages, they become Shaivaits after some centuries of rule.The Pandyas of Southern India are believed to have been founded at least five to six centuries before the Christian Era with a very strong possibility of a more ancient date of establishment.

Their recorded existence and mention are found in records dating to as early as 550 BCE.

Emperor Augustus of Rome at Antioch knew of the Pandyan of Dramira and received a Pandyan ambassador with letters and gifts from this ancient Tamil Kingdom.

Strabo described an ambassador to emperor Augustus Caesar from a South Indian King called Pandyan.

The country of the Pandyas, Pandi Mandala, was described as Pandyan Mediterranea by Periplus and Modura Regia Pandyan by Ptolemy.

The early Pandyan Dynasty of the Sangam Literature fades into obscurity upon the invasion of the Kalabhras.

The dynasty revives under Kadungon in the early 6th century, pushes the Kalabhras out of the Tamil country and rules from Madurai.

They again go into decline with the rise of the Cholas in the 9th century and are in constant conflict with them.

The Pandyas ally themselves with the Sinhalese and the Cheras in harassing the Chola empire until they find an opportunity for reviving their fortunes during the late 13th century.The Later Pandyas (1216–1345) enter their golden age under Maravman Sundara Pandyan and Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (c. 1251), who expands the empire into Telugu country, conquers Kalinga (Orissa) and invades and conquers Sri Lanka.

They also have extensive trade links with the Southeast Asian maritime empires of Srivijaya and their successors.

During their history, the Pandyas are repeatedly in conflict with the Pallavas, Cholas, Hoysalas and finally the Muslim invaders from the Delhi Sultanate.

The Pandyan Kingdom finally becomes extinct after the establishment of the Madurai Sultanate in the 16th century.The Pandyas excel in both trade and literature before the Christian Era.

They control the pearl fisheries along the South Indian coast, between Sri Lanka and India, which produce some of the finest pearls in the known ancient world.

Traditionally, the legendary Sangams are held in Madurai under their patronage, and some of the Pandya Kings are poets themselves.