There is an interesting article, that I came accross on the net.
According to the Sangam classics, each of the respective rulers of the chief Tamil kingdoms, the Cera, Cola and Pandya, carried his sword as far north as the Himalayas, and implanted on its lofty heights his respective crest the bow, the tiger and the fish. In these adventures which the Tamil Kings underwent for their glorification, they did not lag behind their northern brethren. The very epithet Imayavaramban shows that the limits of the empire under that Emperor extended to the Himalayas in the north. This title was also earned by Ceran Senguttuvan by his meritorious exploits in the north. Names like the Cola Pass in the Himalayan slopes, which in very early times connected Nepal and Bhutan with ancient Tibet, give a certain clue to the fact that once Tamil kings went so far north as the Himalayas and left their indelible marks in those regions. http://www.atributetohinduism.com/War_in_Ancient_India.htm
Is this anyway related to Karikaala? As mentioned in 'Kalingathu Parani', he is only Chola Ruler, who went until Himalayas. ( the other, stopped at Banks of River Ganges.)?
What an excellent link ! Yet to read it completely, but it looks like an excellent compilation ! Thanks a lot for the same.
On himalayan expetition and Tamil king's association with North (like "Perun chotrudhiyan" who provided food during mahabharatha, Aariyap padai kadantha nedunchezhiyan who won "aarya's (whom we don't know), "Imayavaramban" and karikaalan) I have my own reservations. * First, it was extremely difficult to mobilise an army as far as himalayas in those days. After all what was the need and what was the proposed benifits ? It would have required years and years and that would have invited relentless wars all along. Might not have been worthwhile.Even the great rajendra had to stop with Ganges. * These conquests seem to have been recorded only in tamil literature and no serious mention about it in North indian literatures and inscriptions (as far as I know).. Ashokan edicts mention three kings of south that's all. There was some mails earlier on mention about pandiyas in mahabharat etc...
The chola pass information is interesting but we don't know whether it was indeed the tamil chola kings who inspired this naming. With the set of available info, it is too early to conclusively state that Tamil kings went upto himalayas.
On the visit of Cankam Tamil kings to N. India, I hope some of the kingdoms would have allowed the army to pass through their territory on friendly terms.
It was also common for a crowned prince to perform "digvijay" those days. Visiting Himalaays might have been considered as a deed or as a pilgrimage those days for kings in the south.
So I dont think this was an impossible task. We accept Alexander and the moghuls to cross so many civilizations and conquest. So why not Tamil kings ?
There is a mention of Nandars and Mouriers in Cankam literature. They might have been friendly kingdoms in the past.
Dear VK I agree with you absolutely Why do we always have to undersestimate the achivements of tamils...Why would anyone not reaching the heights of himalayas add that as their achievement anyway...
If they could have trade upto rome Himalayas might not have been a big thing
When people beleive that Rama created a bridge across palk straits with the help of monkeys...
That the aswamedha yaga was performed by Yudishtra....
That The tamil kings fought in the great bratha war which should have been in 3000 bc becuase thats around the time they say krishna was born......then tamil culture is so antique.
It really doesnt add up does it....
One one side they say the vedic and krishna period is in 3000 BC era...on the other hand that tamil culture is probably only 2500 years old...