 The ascent of Dhruva Dharavarsha 's third son , Govinda III , to the throne heralded an era of success like never before . There is uncertainty about the location of the early capital of the Rashtrakutas at this time . During his rule there was a three way conflict between the Rashtrakutas , the Palas and the Pratiharas for control over the Gangetic plains . Describing his victories over the Pratihara Emperor <unk> II and the Pala Emperor Dharmapala , the Sanjan inscription states the horses of Govinda III drank from the icy waters of the Himalayan streams and his war elephants tasted the sacred waters of the Ganges . His military exploits have been compared to those of Alexander the Great and Arjuna of Mahabharata . Having conquered Kannauj , he travelled south , took firm hold over Gujarat , Kosala ( Kaushal ) , Gangavadi , humbled the Pallavas of Kanchi , installed a ruler of his choice in Vengi and received two statues as an act of submission from the king of Ceylon ( one statue of the king and another of his minister ) . The Cholas , the Pandyas and the Cheras all paid him tribute . As one historian puts it , the drums of the Deccan were heard from the Himalayan caves to the shores of the Malabar . The Rashtrakutas empire now spread over the areas from Cape Comorin to Kannauj and from Banaras to Broach . 
