The kingdom of Pallavas with its headquarters at Kanchi was the most important kingdom in the south. In the 6th century A.D. Sinhavishnu was the powerful king of this kingdom. He is said to have annexed the Chola country and defeated all his southern neighbours, including the king of Ceylon.
In the beginning of the 8th century A.D. a serious conflict was going on between the Pallavas and the Chalukyas in which the latter ultimately came out victorious and established their rule iu Kanchi.
Thus while the Arabs were conquering Sind, the Chalukyas were ousting the Pallavas from the kingdom of Kanchi. In the sixth century the Chalukyas emerged as a power in the Deccan. Pulakesin was the greatest king of the Chalukya dynasty.