Which Chola king defeated Mahipala I? Write about the climax of the Pala rule

a. Defeat of Mahipala:

By far the greatest achievement of Rajendra I, the Chola emperor, was the defeat inflicted upon the Pala King Mahipala I. It was in memory of this victory that Rajendra I assumed the title GangaH’onda.

b. Climax of the Pala Rule:

The climax of the Pala Empire was reached during the rule of Devapala.

In 810, after the death of Dharmapala, Devapala became the heir to the throne of Bengal Apart from participating in the struggle for supremacy over Kanauj, he waged war against Kamrup (Assam) and Orissa.

It is said that the ruler of Kamrup offered submission to Devapala. Hearing the news of attack by Devapala the king of Orissa fled away.

The Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas also suffered defeat at the hands of Devapala. As a result of the military activities of Devapala the Pala Empire reached its greatest extent.

At the time of Devapala’s death the boundary of the Pala Empire was as follows: from the Himalayas to the Vindhyas in the ;outh, and from Kamboja in the west to Kamrup in the east.

Through conquests Devapala was able to make the Pala Empire one of the greatest in India. Sulaiman, the Arabian traveller, made a reference to the military achievements of Devapala in his travelogue.

Devapla maintained relations with distant countries.

The Sailendra king of Sumatra (in south-east Asia) Balaputradeva requested Devapala to endow five villages to build a Buddhist monastery at Nalanda. Devapala was also a patron of art and literature.

He made liberal contributions to the Nalanda University. The Pala Empire declined immediately after the death of Devapala.