South India States and Capitals Analysis (6th to 12th Century)

The question asks us to identify the pair that is not correctly matched among the South Indian states and their capitals from the 6th to 12th century. Let's analyze each option to determine the correct and incorrect matches.

Pallava Dynasty and Kanchipuram Capital

• The Pallava dynasty was a significant South Indian power that ruled from the 3rd to 9th centuries CE.
• Their capital city was indeed Kanchipuram, also known as Kanchi. Kanchipuram was a prominent center of learning, trade, and religion during the Pallava rule.
• Therefore, the pair "Pallava - Kanchipuram" is correctly matched.

Pandya Dynasty and Madurai Capital

• The Pandya dynasty was one of the three ancient Tamil dynasties (Chera, Chola, and Pandya). They ruled parts of South India from ancient times, with a notable period of prominence from the 6th to 13th centuries.
• Their historical capital city was Madurai, which remained an important center throughout their rule.
• Therefore, the pair "Pandya - Madurai" is correctly matched.

Chera Dynasty and Puducheri Capital

• The Chera dynasty was another ancient Tamil dynasty, primarily ruling the regions of modern-day Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu. They had multiple capital cities throughout their long history, including Vanchi (identified by some as Karur) and Tiruvanjikkulam.
• Puducherry (Pondicherry) has a history primarily associated with colonial powers, particularly the French, and was not a capital of the ancient or medieval Chera kingdom.
• Therefore, the pair "Chera - Puducheri" is not correctly matched. This is the incorrect pair.

Chola Dynasty and Tanjvur Capital

• The Chola dynasty was one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of South India. They rose to prominence during the 9th to 13th centuries, establishing a vast empire.
• Thanjavur (Tanjore) became the splendid capital of the Imperial Cholas, especially under emperors like Rajaraja I and Rajendra I.
• Therefore, the pair "Chola - Tanjvur" is correctly matched.

Hoysala Dynasty and Dwarasamudra Capital

• The Hoysala Empire was a powerful Kannada dynasty that ruled much of present-day Karnataka from the 10th to the 14th centuries.
• Their capital city was Dwarasamudra, which is now known as Halebidu and is famous for its intricate Hoysala architecture.
• Therefore, the pair "Hoysala - Dwarasamudra" is correctly matched.

Summary of State-Capital Pairs

Based on the analysis, the pair "Chera - Puducheri" is the one that is not correctly matched. The Chera kingdom's historical capitals were not Puducherry.