Vallabhi

During the 10th century, Albruini, the traveler, from Khwarism or Chorasmia (modern Khiva) talks of two ancient kingdoms; ‘Valabhi kala and Gupta kalas’. He observes “The era of Valabha is called so from Valabhi, the ruler of town Valabhi, nearly 30 Yojanas south of Anhilwara. The epoch of this era falls 241 years later than the epoch of the Shaka era. People use it in this way….As regards the Guptakala, people say ‘that the Guptas were wicked powerful people, and that when they ceased to exist this date was used as the epoch of an era. It seems that Valabha was the last of them, because the epoch of the era of the Guptas falls, like that of Valabha era, 241 years later then Saka Kala. He says “that the year 400 of Yazdajird, corresponds to 712th year of Valabha era. It is also identical to the Guptakala”. While Albruini’s observations regarding the era may be questionable, the fact is that he knew of both the Guptas as well as Vallabhi Empire. (Refer to ‘Albruini’s India’- by Edwards C. Sachu, page 7),