The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s2.267

c5.s2.267

Chera—It comprised the present kingdom of Mysore, Coimbatore, Salem, i Malabar, Travancore and Cochin. Chera is a corruption of Kerala. The period fro third to the seventh century A. D., appears to have been the most flourishing in th tory of this kingdom. In Asoka’s Edicts, it is called Keralaputra. Its ancient capita Skandapura situated at a short distance to the west of Guzzelhati Pass (*JRAS*, 1846, p. 11) in the Coimbatore district. According to Ptolemy, who lived in the second century A.D., its capital was Karoura or Karur, called also Vanji, situated near Cranganore on the left bank of the Amarâvati, a tributary of Kâverî; its larger capital was Tâlkâḍ (Dr. Burnell's *South Indian Palæography*, p 33). Tâlkâḍ or Dalavanapura is situated on the left or north bank of the Kâverî, 28 miles south-west of Mysore city, and about 30 miles east of Seringapatam: its ruins are even now called Tâkâḍ. It was the capital of the Gangâ Vamśis from the third to the ninth century A. D., and then of the Cholas and Hoysala Ballalas who, however, removed the capital from Tâlkâḍ to Dvârâvatî or Dorasamudra, now called Halebid, in the Hassan district of Mysore in the 10th century. It was taken by the Râjâ of Mysore in 1634. For an account of the Chera kings, see *Ind. Ant.*, I, 360, *J.R.A.S.*, 1846, pp. 1-29.