Indian history · Kings and empires

Harshavardhana (606–647 CE): Thanesar to Kannauj, Xuanzang's Account, Banabhatta and the Defeat by Pulakeshin II — Exam Notes

After the Guptas, north India split into rival kingdoms. Harshavardhana, a young prince from Thanesar in present-day Haryana, reunited much of it in the early 7th century. We know him unusually well, because his court poet wrote his biography and a Chinese pilgrim stayed at his court. This guide gives the facts exams ask about Harsha, his wars and his times.

By PunjabExams Editorial Team · Updated 29 October 2026 · 6 min read · How we prepare guides

Life at a glance

Becoming king

Harsha's father Prabhakaravardhana made Thanesar a strong kingdom by fighting the Hunas. After his death, disaster struck in quick succession:

1. Grahavarman, the Maukhari ruler of Kannauj and husband of Harsha's sister Rajyashri, was killed by Devagupta of Malwa, and Rajyashri was imprisoned.
2. Harsha's elder brother Rajyavardhana defeated Devagupta but was treacherously killed by Shashanka, king of Gauda (Bengal).
3. Rajyashri escaped into the Vindhya forests; Harsha found her, according to Banabhatta, just as she was about to enter a funeral pyre.

In 606 CE, at the age of about sixteen, Harsha became king. The Harsha era is counted from this year. He later took over the kingdom of Kannauj as well, and made Kannauj his capital, uniting the two kingdoms.

Wars and the extent of his empire

• Harsha campaigned against Shashanka, but Gauda was conquered only after Shashanka's death.
• He brought much of north India — Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, parts of Bengal and Odisha — under his control or overlordship. Many rulers were feudatories rather than directly governed subjects.
• He held the title Sakalottarapathanatha — "lord of all the north".

Defeat by Pulakeshin II

Harsha's attempt to expand south was stopped on the banks of the Narmada by Pulakeshin II, the Chalukya king of Badami (Vatapi), around 618–619 CE (some historians date it to the 630s). The victory is recorded in the Aihole inscription composed by Pulakeshin's court poet Ravikirti. The Narmada remained the southern limit of Harsha's power.

Xuanzang's account

The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) travelled in India from about 630 to 645 CE. His travel record, Si-Yu-Ki ("Records of the Western World"), is a key source for the period.

• He studied at Nalanda for several years under the teacher Shilabhadra, and described it as a great university with thousands of students and strict entrance tests.
• He praised Harsha as a just, hard-working and generous ruler who toured his kingdom constantly.
• He described land revenue as one-sixth of the produce, light taxes and harsh punishments for crime.
• He noted that roads were not always safe — he was himself robbed.

His biographer, Hui Li, wrote the "Life of Hiuen Tsang", another important source.

The Kannauj assembly

Harsha held a great religious assembly at Kannauj in honour of Xuanzang, where scholars debated the merits of Mahayana Buddhism. Kings who were his feudatories, including Bhaskaravarman of Kamarupa (Assam), attended.

The Prayag assembly

Every five years, Harsha held a great assembly at Prayag (Allahabad), at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna, where he gave away all the wealth accumulated in his treasury to Buddhists, Brahmins, the poor and the needy. Xuanzang attended the sixth such gathering. It is often linked with the tradition of the Kumbh gatherings at Prayag.

Banabhatta and literature

• Banabhatta, Harsha's court poet, wrote the Harshacharita — a biography of Harsha in ornate Sanskrit prose — and the romance Kadambari.
• Harsha himself is credited with three Sanskrit plays: Ratnavali, Priyadarshika and Nagananda (the last on a Buddhist theme).
• He patronised Nalanda generously.

Religion

Harsha's family worshipped Shiva and the Sun. In later life he leaned towards Mahayana Buddhism, under Xuanzang's influence, while continuing to honour all faiths, as the Prayag assemblies showed.

Administration

• The king toured personally to hear complaints.
• Officials were often paid with land grants rather than cash, which strengthened local landlords — a sign of the growing feudal character of the period.
• Inscriptions such as the Banskhera and Madhuban copper plates record his land grants; the Banskhera plate carries his signature.

After Harsha

Harsha died in 647 CE without an heir, and his empire collapsed quickly. For the next three centuries, the struggle for Kannauj among the Pratiharas, Palas and Rashtrakutas — the tripartite struggle — dominated north Indian politics.

Exam traps

• Xuanzang visited Harsha; Fa-Hien visited Chandragupta II; I-Tsing came later in the 7th century.
• Banabhatta wrote the Harshacharita; Ravikirti wrote the Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin II.
• Harsha's original capital was Thanesar; his later capital was Kannauj.

Key points to remember

• Pushyabhuti dynasty; king in 606 CE (Harsha era); capitals Thanesar → Kannauj.
• Rival Shashanka of Gauda; defeated by Pulakeshin II on the Narmada (Aihole inscription).
• Xuanzang — Si-Yu-Ki; studied at Nalanda; Kannauj and Prayag assemblies.
• Banabhatta — Harshacharita, Kadambari; Harsha's plays Ratnavali, Priyadarshika, Nagananda.
• Died 647 CE; then the tripartite struggle for Kannauj.

Practice questions

1. Q1. Harshavardhana's original capital was:

   • (a) Kannauj
   • (b) Thanesar
   • (c) Pataliputra
   • (d) Ujjain
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Thanesar — He ruled first from Thanesar, later from Kannauj.

2. Q2. Who defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada?

   • (a) Pulakeshin I
   • (b) Pulakeshin II
   • (c) Shashanka
   • (d) Mahendravarman I
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Pulakeshin II — Pulakeshin II of Badami stopped Harsha, as recorded in the Aihole inscription.

3. Q3. The Harshacharita was written by:

   • (a) Kalidasa
   • (b) Banabhatta
   • (c) Harisena
   • (d) Kalhana
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Banabhatta — Banabhatta, Harsha's court poet, wrote it.

4. Q4. Which play is NOT attributed to Harshavardhana?

   • (a) Ratnavali
   • (b) Nagananda
   • (c) Priyadarshika
   • (d) Mudrarakshasa
   Show answer

   Answer: (d) Mudrarakshasa — Mudrarakshasa is by Vishakhadatta.

5. Q5. Xuanzang studied at Nalanda under the teacher:

   • (a) Nagarjuna
   • (b) Shilabhadra
   • (c) Dharmapala
   • (d) Vasubandhu
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Shilabhadra — Shilabhadra was the head of Nalanda at the time.

6. Q6. The king of Gauda who killed Harsha's brother Rajyavardhana was:

   • (a) Devagupta
   • (b) Shashanka
   • (c) Bhaskaravarman
   • (d) Grahavarman
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Shashanka — Shashanka of Gauda (Bengal) killed Rajyavardhana.

Frequently asked questions

When does the Harsha era begin?

In 606 CE, the year of Harsha's accession.

What happened at the Prayag assembly?

Every five years Harsha gave away the wealth of his treasury to monks, Brahmins and the poor at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna.

What was the tripartite struggle?

The three-way contest for Kannauj among the Pratiharas, Palas and Rashtrakutas after Harsha's death.

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