The Colas c23.61

c23.61

Gaṅgaikoṇḍa-cōḻapuram is mentioned in the inscriptions of the reign rather less frequently than one might expect, ¹³⁰ but there is no doubt that it was the capital of the kingdom. The more ancient cities of Tanjore and Uṟaiyūr still occupied a prominent position and, together with Āyirattaḷi, constituted subsidiary capitals, the capture of which gave Māṟavarman Sundara Pāṇḍya I the practical mastery of the Cōḻa kingdom. Vikramaśōḻapuram is mentioned early in the reign as another royal residence.¹³¹ A record of the thirty-fifth year casually mentions the king’s stay at Madura, perhaps a reference to the third Pāṇḍyan campaign of Kulōttunga.¹³²