The Chera Dynasty (Tamil: சேரர்) was a Dravidian Tamil dynasty that ruled in southern India from before the Sangam era (300 BC - AD 250) until the twelfth century AD. Kalitokai, a Sangha work describes Cheras as Villavar people. Tamil literature calls the Chera king Villavar Kon, the king of Villavar (hunter) tribe. Chera Flag had bow and arrow the insignia of Villavar people. The early Cheras ruled Kerala and Kongu Nadu. Their capital was Vanchi Muthur, the present-day Karur in Tamil Nadu. Since they were a hill tribe, their ancient capital could not be on the plains or on the coast. Karur is on the plains and Kodungallur is on the sea coast. They cannot be considered as their ancient capital, Vanchi Muthur. Their ancient capital Vanchi Muthur is in Kanthallur-Kizhanthur region of Idukki District of Kerala, for obvious reasons.They moved their administrative capital to Karur (Karur Vanchi) in second century, until the first dynasty perished in 3rd Century AD. The second dynasty ruled from out skirts of Muziris on the banks of River Periyar from 8th century CE.
The other two major Tamil dynasties were the Cholas in the eastern Coromandel Coast and Pandyas in the South Central Peninsula. Chera rulers engaged in frequent warfare as well as constant intermarriage with the Pandyas and Cholas. Throughout the reign of the Cheras, trade continued to bring prosperity to the then Tamil Country (part of which was modern-day Kerala), with spices, ivory, timber, pearls and gems being exported to Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Phoenicia and Arabia. Evidence of extensive foreign trade from the ancient period is available throughout the Malabar Coast, from the Greek, Roman and Arabic coins unearthed from Kollam, Kodungallur, Eyyal (near Thrissur) etc in Kerala. Muziris has been referenced by ancient writers, such as the author of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea to be an inland port probably near Kodungallur. Sangam Chera coins and inscriptions are found in Pattanam, near Kodungallur in Kerala, Karur, Namakkal, Erode and Coimbatore regions of modern-day Tamil Nadu.
While Cheras had their own religion (Hinduism), other religious traditions like Buddhism came to this area during the period of the Chera Kings. Jainism came to Chera Kingdom by the second century BCE. Some adhered to Islam as well, notably, Cheraman Perumal who ruled the Chera Dynasty in the late 8th century.