A team of climate scientists and archaeologists has published a study in Paleoclimate Review identifying a massive multi-decadal drought that crippled the Early Chalukya Empire in the mid-8th century. By analyzing stalagmite isotopes from caves near Badami, researchers identified a 50-year period of monsoon failure beginning around 750 CE.
The study correlates this 'mega-drought' with the rapid abandonment of several hilltop fortifications and the shifting of the imperial capital. This research highlights how environmental stress played a decisive role in the political transition from the Chalukyas to the Rashtrakutas, demonstrating the vulnerability of even the most technologically advanced ancient Indian states to long-term climate volatility.