Important Battles in Indian History Ancient, Medieval, Modern

Unravel India's history through its defining battles—clashes that forged empires, shaped cultures, and redrew boundaries. From ancient conquests to modern wars, explore the conflicts that changed the course of the nation.

Table of Contents

Let's Connect with Counselor

India has witnessed numerous battles that shaped its political, social, and cultural landscape. From the early dynasties to colonial rule, each era saw decisive conflicts that influenced history. This article presents a list of important battles in Indian history, covering ancient, medieval, and modern periods.

List of All Battles in Indian History

Following is the list of all the important battle in the Indian History:

Battle	Year	Opponents/Key Figures	Outcome/Significance
Battle of the Ten Kings	c. 14th century BCE	King Sudas (Bharata tribe) vs. Ten-tribe coalition	Victory for Sudas; solidified Bharata dominance.
Battle of Hydaspes	326 BCE	Alexander the Great vs. King Porus (Puru)	Alexander won; Porus retained his kingdom as a vassal.
Kalinga War	261 BCE	Emperor Ashoka (Maurya Empire) vs. Kalinga	Ashoka won; massive casualties led to his conversion to Buddhism.
Battle of Pataliputra	185 BCE	Pushyamitra Shunga vs. Brihadratha (Mauryan Empire)	Fall of the Mauryan Empire; Shunga dynasty established.
First Battle of Tarain	1191 CE	Prithviraj Chauhan vs. Muhammad Ghori	Prithviraj won but failed to secure a long-term advantage.
Second Battle of Tarain	1192 CE	Prithviraj Chauhan vs. Muhammad Ghori	Ghori won; marked the beginning of Islamic rule in North India.
Battle of Chandawar	1194 CE	Muhammad Ghori vs. Jaichand of Kannauj	Ghori won; consolidated Islamic rule in North India.
First Battle of Panipat	1526 CE	Babur vs. Ibrahim Lodhi (Delhi Sultanate)	Babur won; established the Mughal Empire in India.
Battle of Khanwa	1527 CE	Babur vs. Rana Sanga (Mewar)	Babur won; solidified Mughal dominance in North India.
Battle of Chausa	1539 CE	Sher Shah Suri vs. Humayun	Sher Shah won; temporarily ended Mughal rule.
Second Battle of Panipat	1556 CE	Akbar vs. Hemu (Hemu Vikramaditya)	Akbar won; re-established Mughal rule.
Battle of Haldighati	1576 CE	Maharana Pratap (Mewar) vs. Mughal forces (led by Man Singh I)	Stalemate; Rajput resistance against Mughal expansion.
Battle of Talikota	1565 CE	Vijayanagara Empire vs. Deccan Sultanates	Vijayanagara defeated; decline of the empire.
Battle of Plassey	1757 CE	British East India Company (Robert Clive) vs. Siraj-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Bengal)	British won; marked the beginning of British colonial rule in India.
Third Battle of Panipat	1761 CE	Maratha Empire vs. Durrani Empire (Ahmad Shah Abdali)	Marathas defeated; halted their expansion into North India.
Battle of Buxar	1764 CE	British East India Company vs. Mughal Empire, Nawab of Bengal, and Nawab of Awadh	British won; solidified control over Bengal and Bihar.
Anglo-Mysore Wars	1767–1799 CE	British East India Company vs. Kingdom of Mysore (Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan)	British won; Tipu Sultan killed in 1799; Mysore annexed.
Anglo-Maratha Wars	1775–1818 CE	British East India Company vs. Maratha Empire	British won; Maratha power crushed; British supremacy established.
First Anglo-Sikh War	1845–1846 CE	British East India Company vs. Sikh Empire	British won; partial control over Sikh territories.
Second Anglo-Sikh War	1848–1849 CE	British East India Company vs. Sikh Empire	British won; Punjab annexed.
Indian Rebellion of 1857	1857–1858 CE	Indian sepoys and rulers vs. British East India Company	British suppressed the revolt; marked the end of the Mughal Empire and direct British Crown rule in India.
Battle of Imphal and Kohima	1944 CE	British Indian Army vs. Japanese forces	British-Indian victory; halted Japanese advance into India during World War II.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948	1947–1948 CE	India vs. Pakistan (over Jammu and Kashmir)	Ceasefire; Kashmir divided between India and Pakistan.
Sino-Indian War	1962 CE	India vs. China (over border disputes in the Himalayas)	Chinese victory; territorial losses for India.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965	1965 CE	India vs. Pakistan (over Kashmir)	Stalemate; Tashkent Agreement signed.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971	1971 CE	India vs. Pakistan (over East Pakistan/Bangladesh)	Indian victory; creation of Bangladesh.
Kargil War	1999 CE	India vs. Pakistan (in Kargil district, Jammu and Kashmir)	Indian victory; Pakistan withdrew from occupied positions.

Top 10 Battles in Indian History

These ten battles had a lasting impact on India’s history, shaping its political and cultural development.

Battle	Year	Key Participants	Outcome
Battle of Hydaspes	326 BCE	Alexander the Great vs. King Porus	Alexander defeated Porus but allowed him to rule under Greek oversight.
Kalinga War	261 BCE	Ashoka (Mauryan Empire) vs. Kalinga	Ashoka’s conquest led to his transformation and the spread of Buddhism.
Second Battle of Tarain	1192 CE	Muhammad Ghori vs. Prithviraj Chauhan	Muhammad Ghori’s victory marked the rise of Islamic rule in northern India.
Battle of Panipat	1526 CE	Babur vs. Ibrahim Lodi	Babur’s victory established the Mughal Empire in India.
Battle of Talikota	1565 CE	Vijayanagara Empire vs. Deccan Sultanates	The Vijayanagara Empire fell, reshaping South India’s power dynamics.
Battle of Haldighati	1576 CE	Maharana Pratap (Rajputs) vs. Akbar (Mughals)	Mughals won strategically, but Rajput resistance continued.
Battle of Plassey	1757 CE	British East India Company vs. Siraj-ud-Daulah	British dominance in Bengal was established, paving the way for colonial rule.
Battle of Buxar	1764 CE	British East India Company vs. Mughal Empire, Nawab of Awadh, and Nawab of Bengal	British victory strengthened their control over India.
Revolt of 1857	1857 CE	Indian rebels vs. British East India Company	The rebellion was unsuccessful but sparked future independence movements.
Battle of Kohima and Imphal	1944 CE	British-Indian forces vs. Japanese forces	British-Indian forces stopped the Japanese advance into India, a turning point in WWII.

Important Battles in Ancient Indian History

The ancient period saw several wars that defined kingdoms and their legacies. Some of these battles played a crucial role in shaping early Indian civilization.

Battle	Year (Approx.)	Key Participants	Outcome
Battle of the Ten Kings	14th century BCE	King Sudas (Bharata tribe) vs. Coalition of Ten Tribes	Sudas emerged victorious, solidifying the Bharata tribe’s dominance.
Battle of Hydaspes	326 BCE	Alexander the Great vs. King Porus	Alexander won, but Porus’ resilience earned him respect and governance under Greek rule.
Kalinga War	261 BCE	Mauryan Emperor Ashoka vs. Kalinga	Ashoka won, but the massive casualties led him to embrace Buddhism and adopt non-violence.
Battle of Pataliputra	185 BCE	Pushyamitra Shunga (Shunga dynasty) vs. Brihadratha (Mauryan Empire)	Pushyamitra Shunga defeated Brihadratha, leading to the fall of the Mauryan Empire.
Battle of Venni	130 CE	Karikala (Chola dynasty) vs. Chera and Pandya alliance	Karikala won, establishing Chola dominance in South India.
Battle of Takkolam	949 CE	Chola dynasty vs. Rashtrakuta dynasty	Rashtrakutas defeated the Cholas, temporarily halting their expansion.
Battle of Vatapi	642 CE	Pulakeshin II (Chalukya dynasty) vs. Narasimhavarman I (Pallava dynasty)	Pallavas defeated the Chalukyas and destroyed their capital, Vatapi.
Battle of Narmada	619 CE	Harsha (Vardhana dynasty) vs. Pulakeshin II (Chalukya dynasty)	Pulakeshin II defeated Harsha, halting his southward expansion.
Battle of Pullalur	618 CE	Pulakeshin II (Chalukya dynasty) vs. Mahendravarman I (Pallava dynasty)	Chalukyas defeated the Pallavas, marking a temporary victory in their rivalry.
Battle of Raichur	1520 CE	Krishnadevaraya (Vijayanagara) vs. Ismail Adil Shah (Bijapur)	Vijayanagara’s victory strengthened South Indian dominance.
Battle of Takshashila	518 BCE	Darius I (Achaemenid Empire) vs. Gandhara	Gandhara was annexed by the Achaemenid Empire, marking Persian influence in Northwest India.
Battle of Kalinga	261 BCE	Ashoka (Mauryan Empire) vs. Kalinga	Ashoka won, but the war’s brutality led him to embrace Buddhism and non-violence.

Important Battles in Medieval Indian History

The medieval era saw invasions, power struggles, and the rise of dynasties that influenced India’s future.

Battle	Year	Key Participants	Outcome
First Battle of Tarain	1191 CE	Prithviraj Chauhan vs. Muhammad Ghori	Prithviraj won.
Second Battle of Tarain	1192 CE	Prithviraj Chauhan vs. Muhammad Ghori	Muhammad Ghori won, marking the rise of Islamic rule in India.
Battle of Chandawar	1194 CE	Jaichand of Kannauj vs. Muhammad Ghori	Ghori’s victory paved the way for the Delhi Sultanate.
Battle of Ranthambore	1301 CE	Alauddin Khilji vs. Hammir Dev Chauhan	Khilji captured Ranthambore, expanding the Delhi Sultanate.
Battle of Kili	1299 CE	Alauddin Khilji vs. Mongols	Khilji’s victory secured India from Mongol invasions.
Battle of Tughlaqabad	1327 CE	Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq vs. Muhammad bin Tughlaq	Muhammad bin Tughlaq seized the throne, leading to administrative experiments.
Battle of Raichur	1520 CE	Krishnadevaraya (Vijayanagara) vs. Ismail Adil Shah (Bijapur)	Vijayanagara’s victory strengthened South Indian dominance.
First Battle of Panipat	1526 CE	Babur vs. Ibrahim Lodi	Babur’s victory established the Mughal Empire in India.
Battle of Khanwa	1527 CE	Babur vs. Rana Sanga	Babur reinforced Mughal rule, weakening Rajput resistance.
Battle of Chausa	1539 CE	Sher Shah Suri vs. Humayun	Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun, leading to the temporary fall of the Mughal Empire.
Battle of Bilgram	1540 CE	Sher Shah Suri vs. Humayun	Sher Shah Suri decisively defeated Humayun, establishing the Sur Empire.
Second Battle of Panipat	1556 CE	Akbar (Bairam Khan) vs. Hemu	Akbar’s forces defeated Hemu, securing Mughal dominance in North India.
Battle of Chittorgarh	1567 CE	Akbar vs. Rajputs	Akbar captured Chittorgarh, expanding the Mughal Empire.
Battle of Haldighati	1576 CE	Maharana Pratap vs. Akbar	Mughals won strategically, but Rajput resistance continued.
Third Battle of Panipat	1761 CE	Ahmad Shah Durrani (Afghans) vs. Marathas	The Marathas were decisively defeated, halting their expansion and weakening their power.
Battle of Plassey	1757 CE	British East India Company vs. Siraj-ud-Daulah	Marked the beginning of British rule in India.
Battle of Buxar	1764 CE	British East India Company vs. Mughal Empire, Nawab of Awadh, and Nawab of Bengal	British victory solidified their control over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, and marked the decline of Mughal power.

The table below presents a comprehensive list of important battles in Indian medieval history, highlighting their year, key participants, and outcomes.

Important Battles in Modern Indian History

The modern period witnessed colonial conflicts and struggles for independence.

War/Conflict	Year	Outcome
Battle of Plassey	1757 CE	British victory marked the beginning of British colonial rule in India.
Battle of Buxar	1764 CE	British victory solidified their control over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.
First Anglo-Mysore War	1767–1769	Ended in a stalemate with the Treaty of Madras.
First Anglo-Maratha War	1775–1782	Ended with the Treaty of Salbai, maintaining a temporary balance of power.
Second Anglo-Mysore War	1780–1784	Tipu Sultan resisted British advances; ended with the Treaty of Mangalore.
Third Anglo-Mysore War	1790–1792	Tipu Sultan lost significant territory to the British.
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War	1799	Tipu Sultan was defeated and killed, and Mysore was brought under British control.
Second Anglo-Maratha War	1803–1805	The British defeated major Maratha rulers, weakening their empire.
Third Anglo-Maratha War	1817–1818	The Marathas were decisively defeated, leading to full British control over India.
First Anglo-Burma War	1824–1826	The British annexed parts of Burma.
First Anglo-Afghan War	1839–1842	The British suffered a disastrous defeat and retreated.
Second Anglo-Burma War	1852	Lower Burma came under British rule.
First Anglo-Sikh War	1845–1846	The British won, forcing the Sikhs to sign the Treaty of Lahore.
Second Anglo-Sikh War	1848–1849	The British annexed Punjab, ending Sikh sovereignty.
Revolt of 1857	1857 CE	The rebellion was crushed, but it marked the beginning of India’s struggle for independence.

This list of all battles in Indian history highlights the key conflicts that shaped the nation’s trajectory. From ancient dynasties to colonial struggles, these battles defined India’s past and influenced its present. Understanding this list of important battles in modern history and earlier periods provides insights into the nation’s evolution and resilience.

Are you preparing for UPSC 2025? Join IAShub’s UPSC coaching batches to boost your preparation. Enroll now!

Important Battles in Indian History FAQS

Which battles had the greatest impact on Indian history?

Some of the most influential battles include the Battle of Hydaspes, where Alexander’s victory introduced Greek influence; the Kalinga War, which led Ashoka to embrace Buddhism; the Second Battle of Tarain, which marked the rise of Islamic rule; and the Battle of Plassey, which laid the foundation for British colonization. Each of these battles reshaped India's political and cultural landscape.

How did the Kalinga War change Ashoka’s rule?

The Kalinga War was a brutal conflict that caused immense bloodshed, deeply affecting Emperor Ashoka. Witnessing the devastation, he renounced violence and adopted Buddhism, shifting his policies toward peace and welfare. His new approach led to widespread Buddhist influence across India and beyond, making this battle a turning point in Indian history.

Why is the Battle of Plassey considered a turning point in Indian history?

The Battle of Plassey in 1757 marked the beginning of British political control in India. The British East India Company, led by Robert Clive, defeated Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, securing Bengal and its resources. This victory enabled the British to expand their dominance over India, leading to nearly two centuries of colonial rule.

What was the outcome of the Revolt of 1857?

The Revolt of 1857 was India’s first large-scale uprising against British rule, involving soldiers, rulers, and civilians. Though the British crushed the rebellion, it led to the end of the East India Company’s rule, bringing India directly under the British Crown. It also ignited nationalist sentiments that eventually fueled the independence movement.

How did the Battle of Panipat shape Indian history?

The First Battle of Panipat in 1526 marked the rise of the Mughal Empire, with Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi. The Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 saw the Marathas suffer a heavy defeat against the Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali, weakening their power and allowing the British to consolidate control over India. These battles significantly altered the balance of power in the subcontinent.