Battle of Kandalur Salai

Battle of Kandalur salai
Capture of Kandalur salai
Part of Chola Expansions under Rajaraja I (late 10th century CE)

Inscription of Chola emperor Rajaraja from Suchindram, Kanyakumari (15th regnal year)
Datec. 988 CE
Location
Kandalur, south Kerala
Result Decisive Chola victory
Territorial
changes
Fall of Kandalur salai and annexation by Cholas
Belligerents
Chola Empire
Commanders and leaders
  • Bhaskara Ravi "Manukuladitya" (?)
Units involved
  • Chera Army (?)
  • Chera Navy (?)
Casualties and losses
Unknown Destruction of Kandalur Salai

The battle of Kandalur salai (c. 988 CE), also spelled Kanthaloor salai, was a naval engagement of the Cholas under Rajaraja I (985—1014 CE) against the "salai" at Kandalur in south Kerala. The exact location of Kandalur—somewhere south Kerala—is a subject of scholarly debate. The above (988 CE) event is sometimes assumed to be identical with the "conquest of Vizhinjam by a general of Rajaraja [I]", before the "burning of Lanka", described in the Tiruvalangadu Grant/Plates.

The phrase "Kandalur salai kalamarutta" is again used as a title with distinction of three other Chola emperors also (Rajendra, Rajadhiraja and Kulottunga).