Epigraphic and numismatic evidence suggests that the earliest of the Ellora and Elephanta cave monuments were built during the Kalachuri rule.

In the 6th century, the Kalachuris gained control of the territories formerly ruled by the Guptas, the Vakatakas and the Vishnukundinas.

For example, Bhandarkar argues that according to the Puranic tradition, the Haihayas took help from foreign-origin tribes such as the Shakas, the Yavanas, and the Khasas.

[citation needed] Krishnaraja (r. c. 550-575) is the earliest known Kalachuri ruler, and probably established the dynasty with its capital at Mahishmati.

Therefore, it is not certain if Krishnaraja's rule extended over this entire territory, or if these coins traveled to distant places after his death.

They imitate the design of the coins issued by the earlier dynasties including the Western Kshatrapas, the Traikutakas, and the Guptas.

[1] A Brahmi script legend describing the king as a devotee of Shiva (Parama-maheshvara) surrounds the Nandi figure on his coins.

[9] An inscription of his son Shankaragana also describes him as a devotee of Pashupati (an aspect of Shiva) since his birth.

[14] This suggests that Shankaragana invaded the Malwa kingdom of the Later Gupta king Mahasenagupta, who likely moved to Vidisha during this period.

Another inscription, found at Sankhera and issued by Shankaragana's military officer Shantilla from his "victorious camp" at Nirgundipadraka (in present-day central Gujarat).

[14][12] During Buddharaja's reign, the Chalukya king Mangalesha attacked the Kalachuri kingdom from the south.

[15] This suggests that Budharaja had taken control over Malwa in 608 that had earlier been under the rule of the Later Gupta king Devagupta who was defeated by Rajyavardhana of Kannauj.

[16] According to one theory, Mangalesha could not consolidate his gains against the Kalachuris because of rebellions, first by his subordinate Svamiraja and then by Pulakeshin II.

[14] Buddharaja probably lost his sovereignty during a second Chalukya invasion, by Mangalesha,[17] or by his nephew Pulakeshin II.

[18] By 630 CE, the Nashik area - formerly part of the Kalachuri kingdom - was under Chalukya control, as Pulakeshin's inscription records his village grants in this region.

Based on this, some scholars have theorized that the Maitraka king Shiladitya I alias Dharmaditya conquered Malwa from Buddharaja.

This inscription describes Taralasvamin as a devotee of Shiva, and his father Maharaja Nanna as a member of the "Katachchuri" family.

[11] Silver coins of Krishnaraja have been found along the Konkan coast, on the Salsette Island (now part of Mumbai) and in the Nashik district.

[10] According to numismatist Shobhana Gokhale, these low-value coins may have been used to pay the wages of the workers involved in the cave excavation.