The extent of the Pala rule in India have changed from time to time.There was a times when the Pala kingdom extended right upto Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh and beyond depending upon the kind of army and administration under various Pala Kings. However a major chunk of the Pala empire was predominantly concentrated in the Eastern part of India with their capital in Gaur (in Northern Bengal).The Pala era was the golden era for Bengal which at that time included a large part of Bihar and Orissa. Most people do not know that the Pala kings were actually Buddhists and were great patrons of the Nalanda University and made huge contributions towards the Instiutute,infact many structures that we see today when we visit Nalanda were built by them,Sheelbhadra the first rector of Nalanda was from Bengal. Apart from this the Palas had also made structural additions to the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya.They had major alliances with northern and western Indian dynasties such as the Gujjars but were inimical towards the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan which once again were instigated by the actions of the latter.Their relationship with the Varman dynasty of Kamarup (Assam)were also quite bitter.They had established matrimonial relations with the Chedi Rajput dynasty of Madhya Pradesh.
