Which of the following Chola kings conquered the island of Sri Lanka (then known as Dhamaratta or Illam) and made it a province of the Chola empire?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Rajaraja I launched a powerful naval campaign that conquered northern Sri Lanka, annexing it as a province named Mummudi-cholamandalam within the expanding Chola empire. Other rulers like Rajendra I expanded into Southeast Asia, while Parantaka and Kulottunga operated in different political contexts. This conquest facilitated maritime trade dominance across the Indian Ocean. Rajaraja I constructed the magnificent Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur.