Kulothunga Chola was the son of Chalukyan Rajanarendran and Ammangadevi (daughter of Emperor Rajendra Chola I ) where Rajanarendra was the son of Chalukya Vimaladitya and Kundavai (daughter of Rajaraja Chola I). When he came to power, he united the thrones of Cholas and Chalukyas of Vengi . Chola Empire was in its peak (in size) reaching as far as river Godavari in east coast and river Krishna in west, though it had lost Ceylon. Eventhough Kulothunga was not as great as his grand father Rajendra Chola or his great grand father the legendary Rajaraja Chola, he was the last monarch who carried the glory of Cholas, after him the Cholas saw their downfall.

In his reign (in 1110), Anandavarma Bhima of Kalinga's refusal to send his tribute to Cholas resulted in another Chola invasion of Kalinga, under the famous Chola General, Karunakara Thondaiman , a Pallava prince, which devasted Kalinga. This invasion by Karunagara Pallavan inspired the celebrated Tamil literary work Kalingathupparani, by Jayankondar.