Ancient India

The Vakatakas, a forgotten empire: Tracing the history of a once-powerful kingdom that mysteriously faded away

The Vakatakas, now almost forgotten in popular ancient Indian narrative, were a powerful dynasty that ruled for almost three centuries, having close ties with the Guptas.

Holi in ancient India: From Kama Sutra to the Vedas, playing with colours has always been part of Holi festivities

Holi is one of the few surviving spring festivals that were celebrated in ancient India, though it's difficult to say when it began

Ancient India's political history is based on violence: Historian Upinder Singh on new book

Historian Upinder Singh challenges the idea of a nonviolent India in a compelling new book

Panel on Sanskrit recommends laboratories to find out if Vedic sacrifices can induce rainfall

In its latest attempt to project a scientific base to a component of ancient Indian culture, the second Sanskrit commission has recommended laboratories for corroborating traditional beliefs

Excavation reveals UP's Chandayan village holds key to later Harappan phase

When workers found human remains at Chandayan village, no one had any idea that it could be the first ever habitation from the later phase of Harappan civilisation.

Harsh Vardhan defends paper which spoke of aeroplanes in ancient India

Defending a paper presented at the Indian Science Congress which claimed existence of aeroplanes in India thousands of years ago, Dr Harsh Vardhan asked the Indian scientific community not to be ashamed of the country's ancient history.

Vyamanika Shastra is a big fat hoax: Claims of aviation in ancient India debunked 40 years ago

According to the report, one of the scientist, H S Mukunda found that the Vyamanika Shastra was based on a figment of imagination of a man who lived in the 20th century and not an ancient sage as was claimed in the session.