The Later Cholas The cholas are one among the popular and well-known Tamil monarchs in the history of South India. The elobrate state structure, the extensive irrigation network,the vast number of temples they built,their great contributions to art and architecture and their overseas exploits have given them a pre-eminent position in histoty. Revival of the Chola rule The ancient Chola kingdom reigned supreme with the kaveri delta forming the core area of its rule and with Uraiyur(present-day Thiruchirapalli)as its capital. It rose to prominence during the reign of Karikala but gradually declined under his successors. In the 9th century Vijalaya, ruling over a small territory lying north of the kaveri,revived the chola Dynasty. He conquered Thanjavur and made it his capital. Later Rajendra 1 and his successors ruled the empire from Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the newly built capital. (Rajendra Cholan)... Rajaraja 1 (A.D.(CE) 985-1014) was the most powerful ruler of Chola empire...