The Pandyan kingdom was an ancient state at the tip of South India, founded around the 6th century BCE. It was part of the Dravidian cultural area, which also comprised other kingdoms such as that of the Pallava, the Chera, the Chola, the Chalukya and the Vijayanagara.

The Pandyans controlled the present districts of Madurai and Tirunelveli and part of southern Kerala. Madurai was founded by the first Pandyan king Kulasekara.

The Pandyas excelled in trade and learning. They had trading contacts with Greece and Rome and were powerful in their own right, though they were subjugated during various periods by the Pallavas and Cholas.

The Pandyas excelled in sea trade via Dhanushkodi the sea shore of Ramapanathapuram (The southern border of india and the Seashore of Indian Ocean)and Poompuhar a famous city for Trade with China, Maldives, Malaysia and so..on. The Kingdoms of Srilanka are maternal kings of Pandya.