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Indian Architecture and Painting Schools — GK Questions with Answers

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14 questions
  1. On Indian rock-cut architecture: 1. Badami has India’s earliest surviving rock-cut caves. 2. The Barabar caves were made for the Ajivikas by Chandragupta Maurya. 3. Ellora has caves of different faiths. Which is/are correct? (UPSC 2013)
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 and 3
    3. 3 only
    4. All three
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 3 only

    Barabar caves were gifted by Ashoka (and Dasharatha); Badami (6th c.) is much later than Barabar.

  2. Which of these places also have mural paintings? 1. Ajanta caves 2. Lepakshi temple 3. Sanchi stupa (UPSC 2013)
    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2
    3. 1, 2 and 3
    4. None
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 1 and 2

    Lepakshi has Vijayanagara ceiling murals; Sanchi is famous for carved gateways, not murals.

  3. Under which Chola king was the Brihadeeswara temple of Thanjavur built?
    1. Rajendra I
    2. Kulottunga I
    3. Rajaraja I
    4. Rajadhiraja I
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Rajaraja I

    Completed in 1010 CE.

  4. Match: A. Babur B. Humayun C. Akbar D. Jahangir — 1. Jama Masjid, Sambhal 2. Din Panah 3. Jahangiri Mahal 4. Akbar’s tomb
    1. A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
    2. A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
    3. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
    4. A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

    The Jahangiri Mahal in Agra Fort was built by Akbar; Jahangir completed Akbar’s tomb.

  5. Which of these was made earliest? (UPSC 2015)
    1. Lingaraja temple, Bhubaneswar
    2. Rock-cut elephant, Dhauli
    3. Rock-cut monuments, Mahabalipuram
    4. Varaha image, Udayagiri
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Rock-cut elephant, Dhauli

    The Dhauli elephant is Ashokan (3rd c. BCE).

  6. Which site is famous for prehistoric paintings?
    1. Bagh
    2. Ajanta
    3. Bhimbetka
    4. Amaravati
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Bhimbetka

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  7. Which temple also served as a noted seat of higher learning?
    1. Dashavatara temple, Deogarh
    2. Sas-Bahu temple, Gwalior
    3. Shore temple, Mamallapuram
    4. Trayipurusha temple, Salotgi
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Trayipurusha temple, Salotgi

    A Rashtrakuta-era temple college in Karnataka.

  8. Which of these is an octagonal tomb?
    1. Sikandar Lodi’s tomb
    2. Balban’s tomb
    3. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq’s tomb
    4. Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s tomb
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) Sikandar Lodi’s tomb

    Octagonal tombs were favoured for Sayyid and Lodi rulers.

  9. “Kalamkari” refers to — (UPSC 2015)
    1. A hand-painted cotton textile of south India
    2. Drawing on bamboo crafts of the north-east
    3. Block-printed wool of the western Himalaya
    4. Hand-painted silk of north-west India
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) A hand-painted cotton textile of south India

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  10. Which tomb, set in the middle of a large garden, is the prototype of the Taj Mahal?
    1. Akbar’s tomb, Sikandra
    2. Itimad-ud-Daulah’s tomb, Agra
    3. Sher Shah’s tomb, Sasaram
    4. Humayun’s tomb, Delhi
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Humayun’s tomb, Delhi

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  1. About Bagh: 1. Its nine caves lie near Gwalior on the Bagh river. 2. Cave 4, the Rang Mahal, has the most paintings. Which is correct?
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both
    4. Neither
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 2 only

    Bagh is in Dhar district (near Indore), not near Gwalior — only the removed panels are in Gwalior’s museum.

  2. 1. Miniature painting was introduced to India by the Mughals. 2. Humayun brought Persian miniature artists to India. Which is correct?
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both
    4. Neither
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 2 only

    Pala and Jain manuscript miniatures existed long before the Mughals.

  3. Stepped pyramid tower plus giant gopurams — which style?
    1. Nagara
    2. Dravida
    3. Vesara
    4. Indo-Islamic
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Dravida

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  4. The Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta was composed by —
    1. Ravikirti
    2. Vatsabhatti
    3. Harishena
    4. Kalidasa
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) Harishena

    Ravikirti — Aihole; Vatsabhatti — Mandsaur.

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