Running into nearly 8000 verses that are unequally distributed among eight books or sections, the Rajatarangini is an account of the royal dynasties that ruled the kingdom of Kashmir from its putative origins to the poet's own time: In other words, it narrates nearly two millennia of the ancient and early medieval ...

Rajatarangini, historical chronicle of early India, written in Sanskrit verse by the Kashmiri Brahman Kalhana in 1148, that is justifiably considered to be the best and most authentic work of its kind. It covers the entire span of history in the Kashmir region from the earliest times to the date of its composition.

The greatest ruler of the dynasty was Lalitaditya Muktapida who ruled from 724 to 761 CE. His accession to the throne marked an era of glory and prosperity, which Kashmir failed to regain even after centuries. His prolonged wars for expansion like those of Alexander earned him the title of Alexander of Kashmir.

The Karkota dynasty (c. 625 − 855 CE) ruled over the Kashmir valley and some northern parts of the Indian subcontinent during 7th and 8th centuries. Their rule saw a period of political expansion, economic prosperity and emergence of Kashmir as a centre of culture and scholarship.