Explanation: The term Pallava means ‘creeper’, which is a Sanskrit version of the word tondi and in Tamil they are synonymous to robber.

So, the Pallavas were probably a pastoral local tribe who established their authority in the land of creepers called Tondaimandalam (the land between the north Penner and north Vellar rivers), mostly comprising of southern Andhra Pradesh and northern Tamil Nadu with their capital at Kanchi.

Source: Poonam Dahiya