The Alupa dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled from 200 AD to 1444 AD. in Southern India. They were local feudatories at different times under major dynasties such as the Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and later Vijayanagar.
The kingdom they ruled was known as Alvakheda Arusasira, and it spanned the coastal districts of the modern Indian State known as Karnataka, including Kasaragod district of present-day Karnataka. The Alupas played a significant role in the political, cultural and religious history of coastal Karnataka.
The name of the dynasty is recorded in inscriptions as Alupa, Aluva, Alva, Aluka and Alpa. Ptolemy, the 2nd century geographer and historian identifies the Alvakheda as Olokhoira, widely believed to be a corrupted term Alva Kheda, the land of the Alvas.
Their influence over coastal Karnataka lasted for about 1200 years. They ruled initially from Mangalore and at other times from Udyavara in Udipi and later from Barkur. Their first regular full-length inscription, the Vaddarase in Kannada, is dated to early 7th century. They maintained marital relations with their overlords over the centuries. Their royal emblem was the double fish.
The descendants of this dynasty still survive to this day and have spread in the karavali region and are widely referred to as the Bunt. They can be identified with their surnames such as Shetty, Rai, Hegde, Alva, Chowta etc. Even though most Bunt are Hindus by faith, sections of the community follow Jainism and are called Jain Bunt.
Coinage. The Alupas, as a feudatory of the Western Chalukyas in coastal Karnataka, issued coins with Kannada legends minted in Mangalorem and those in Nagarai legends at the Udupi mint. Kannada was their language of administration. The Pagodas and Fanams were the common coinage of all the Alupa kings. The obverse of the coins carried the royal emblem " Two Fishes'' and the reverse had the legend '' Sri Pandya Dhanamjaya'' either in Nagari or old Kannada. They were one of the three dynasties that issued gold coins as early as 8th century AD. The gold used to come from trade with Romans, Arabs and the kingdoms of Gangas.
