1000 Years of Naval Expedition of Emperor Rajendra Chola – I Denomination of ₹ 1000 Proof -Folder Packing – FGCO001930

Naval Expedition of Emperor Rajendra Chola – I

Rajendra Chola (reigned from 1014 to 1044 CE) is considered one of the greatest Chola emperors of South India, who changed the course of Indian history. During his reign, the Chola Empire established its power and cultural influence not only in South India but also across the seas. Around 1025 CE, he launched successful naval expeditions to Southeast Asia. This was the first major naval expansion of its kind by any Indian ruler, which strengthened Indian trade, culture, and religious influence in Southeast Asia.

The purpose of these expeditions was not colonization, but to secure trade routes, expand maritime power, and promote cultural exchange. To commemorate this victorious campaign, he assumed the title ‘Gangaikonda Chola’ and established a new capital at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, where he built a magnificent Shiva temple – which remains a living symbol of Chola architecture even today. It was his foresight that made the Chola Empire not only a center of political power but also of cultural and spiritual strength.

This year, the 1000th anniversary of his historic naval expedition is being celebrated at Gangaikonda Cholapuram – where traditional recitations of Shaiva scriptures by Oduvars, discourses by Adheenams, and participation of Southeast Asian scholars are commemorating this legacy. This commemorative coin is not only a tribute to Rajendra Chola, but also demonstrates how a Tamil emperor carried Sanatana Dharma and Indian culture across the seas and united all of South Asia through a shared cultural thread.