Both dynasties were established around the same time.

The Western Gangas established

themselves in Karnataka and further northern areas and extended a bit into Tamil Nadu.
The Kalabharas are interesting in that they dominated Tamilakam during the Dark Age,
which was a period between Early Cholas-Early Pandyas and Middle Imperial Cholas-
Middle Pandyas. We don’t know why these kingdoms declined, but this is most likely due
to the growth of one kingdom-the enemy of all the kingdoms I have mentioned-Pallava.

The Pallavas are famous for their temple in Mahabalipuram near Chennai and are
remembered in South Indian history. They suddenly rose to prominence and managed to
mask the Early Sangam Cholas and Pandyas. The Pallavas had a prosperous kingdom and
their capital at Kanchi, which was also a port. The Pallavas spread South Indian culture as
far as Cambodia, where a Pallava prince named Bhimavarman (brother of Simhavishnu
and ancestor of Nandivarman II) established a minor kingdom. Naturally, all this will
make the Pallavas rivals to other kingdoms, notably the Kalabharas and Western Gangas.
The Kalabharas have a tribal origin and interestingly despite NOT being Tamil their core
kingdom was around Tamilakam. They are said to have supported Buddhism and Jainism
while looked down at brahmin-dominated Hinduism. When they were established, the
Pallavas were minor; they were off in present-day Andrah Pradesh, etc. Gradually, the
Pallavas expanded into Tamilakam and eventually became a match for the Kalabharas.
The Western Gangas were subordinates of the Pallavas. Another rising power (fifth-sixth
century) were the Chalukyas. Sensing a decline in the Pallavas, the Western Gangas
aligned themselves with the Chalukyas and declared independence from Pallavas. This
led to a rise in power with the Western Gangas. Meanwhile, the Pallavas had been
successful with suppressing the Kalabharas, but after sensing the weakness of the
Pallavas, the Kalabharas managed to re-establish independence; however, the Pallavas
haven’t fallen yet.

Note that the Western Gangas, with support from Chalukyas, managed to become a
strong power in the local area (Karnataka). The Kalabharas also wrested themselves from
Pallava control, but were not like the Western Gangas in terms of strength; they were still
easy to subdue. Based on many articles, it seems the Western Gangas under King
Sripurusha started entering the politics of Tamilakam to fight the Pallavas. Notably,
under King Sripurusa, the Kalabharas became subordinate to the Western Gangas.

The Kalabharas declined and became extinct mainly because the Pallavas experienced a
revival under Simhavishnu. This renewed Pallava power ended the Kalabharas, which
meant nobody except the Pallavas were there to stop the Pandyas and Cholas rising
again. The Pandyas managed to build a new seat of power south of the Kaveri, away
from the Pallavas, and built a strong relationship with the Sinhalese, far from Pallavas
too. This allowed Pandyas to grow strong enough to become equal to Pallavas and fight
wars with them. The Cholas under Vijayalaya Chola took the opportunity to declare
independence and establish their second dynasty when a war broke out between
Pandyas and Pallavas.

The Western Gangas would exist until around 1000, around 400 years after the fall of the
Kalabharas. They would be replaced by a cousin dynasty, the Eastern Gangas.