The Kailash temple of Verul, more usually called the temple of Ellora, is built after 753 by king Dantidurga of Maharashtra. This is one of the most famous holy sites in India. Dantidurga's capital was in Karnataka.

Raja Raja, 985-1014, Chola ruler of southern India, was a good administrator and a respected ruler. He built many temples in South India, the most famous being the Brihadishvara temple at Thanjavur. Rajendra Chola, the son of Raja Raja, achieved several military victories including the conquest of Ceylon and the Malay Peninsula. He also expanded the Chola kingdom to north as well.

The Arabs invade and conquer the Indus valley between 721 and 745 AD. Further Arab advances are stopped by the Turkish dominated kingdom of Ghazna in Afghanistan. However, Islam becomes the most important religion in northern India.