The Chandela, often spelled Chandel, is a Central Indian Rajput clan. The Chandel dynasty is remembered in Indian history for Maharaja Rao Vidyadhara, who repelled Mahmud of Ghazni's invasions. He also built many temples, including the famous Somnath temple in Gujarat. Chandelas were instrumental in establishing many cities in India and their empire spread across northern India. They have been praised by many historians for their devotion to religion and culture. In fact, some scholars believe that the dynasty may have been Hindu in origin but became Muslim during the Islamic invasion of India. However, this theory has not been accepted by all historians. Nowadays, the only remaining branch of the family is the Jaiswal tribe, who are found mainly in Haryana and Punjab. The other branches have either died out or belong to other clans. According to research done by Dr. R.S. Sharma, professor at Delhi University and author of several books on ancient India, there was no single ancestor of the Chandelas. Instead, they are believed to be descendants of various Rajput clans who fought against each other for dominance, which explains why some families claim to be descendants of others.