Kalhad composed Rajatarangini during the reign of last Lohar dynasty ruler, Jaisingh between 1147 CE to 1149 CE. The literal meaning of Rajatarangini is – the rule of kings – which implies, the history or passage of time of the kings. This is composed in poetic form.

It contains eight tarangas and a total of 7826 Sanskrit verses. This treatise traces the history of Kashmir from the Mahabharata period to the contemporary times. Rajatarangini is considered to be the first authentic treatise of the history of India. This is an unbiased and fearless historical treatise. Kalhad composed it to fulfill the following objectives –

1. Kalhad wanted to provide information about ancient royal dynasties. 

2. Entertainment of the readers and learning from the past. 

3. He wanted to describe the entire geneology of the dynasties which ruled over Kashmir. 

4. The uncertainity and choas which prevailed in those times, motivated Kalhan to compose it. 

5. He intended to reveal the mortality of wordly life and physical luxury. 

6. He wanted people to learn from the mistakes of the past.

Rajatarangini is a description of a great warrior’s activities and also of the contemporary society in which Kalhad lived. His family was close to the political rule, therefore he obtained the history of this region in that particular age directly and authentically.