Q: Which famous battle in ancient India marked the end of the Nanda dynasty and the beginning of the Maurya Empire?  

The Battle of Magadha, fought in 322 BCE, was a crucial conflict that led to the fall of the Nanda dynasty and the rise of the Maurya Empire. Chandragupta Maurya, with the help of his advisor Kautilya (Chanakya), defeated the last Nanda ruler, Dhana Nanda, thereby establishing the Maurya Empire. This battle was significant in altering the political landscape of ancient India, marking the beginning of a new era under Mauryan rule, which would become one of the largest and most influential empires in Indian history. The Battle of Kalinga, on the other hand, was a later conflict fought by Emperor Ashoka, and the Battle of Panipat and Battle of Ganges were not related to this particular transition.