Indian Heritage and Monuments

The Deorani-Jethani Temple in Tala (Chhattisgarh) is considered the oldest temple in the region, dating back to the 6th-7th century. This ancient temple is an important archaeological site and represents early temple architecture in the region. It is older than other famous temples like Mahamaya and Lakshmaneshwar.

Ajanta Caves have mural paintings in caves 1, 2, 16 and 17. Some of the paintings were commissioned by Harisena of Vakataka dynasty. The theme of the paintings was Jataka tales. Lepakshi Temple is renowned for being one of the best repositories of mural paintings of the Vijaynagar kings. Sanchi Stupa has many beautiful sculptures, but not mural paintings.

The capital of the Hoysalas was initially located at Belur but was later moved to Halebid.

India's largest Buddhist monastery is in Sikkim (not in Arunachal Pradesh). The Hoysaleswara temple located in Halebid is dedicated to Siva.

Jaipur is popularly known as the Pink City due to the distinct pink-colored sandstone used in many of its buildings and structures. This was done to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1876. Option A is correct.

Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) is located in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, this distinctive five-story palace features 953 small windows (jharokhas) designed to allow royal women to observe street festivals and daily life while maintaining purdah (seclusion).

The Qutub Minar is located in Delhi, specifically in the Mehrauli area of South Delhi. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Delhi's most famous landmarks. Construction began in 1193 by Qutb-ud-din Aibak and was completed by his successors. It stands 73 meters tall and is the tallest brick minaret in the world. The other cities listed (Agra has Taj Mahal, Kanpur is an industrial city, Fatehpur Sikri near Agra) do not have the Qutub Minar.

The Lion Capital of Ashoka from Sarnath is the official Emblem of India, adopted in 1950. It features four lions standing back to back and appears on the Indian national flag, currency, and official government documents.

Dharani Kota (also known as Dharanikota) near Amaravathi was a significant Buddhist site in Andhra Pradesh. It was part of the ancient Amaravathi school of Buddhist art and housed a major stupa complex. The region flourished as a Buddhist center during the Satavahana period.

The Bada Imambara, also known as the Asafi Imambara, is located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It was built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784 and houses Asia's largest vaulted hall without any external support. The impressive arched hall was built as a relief measure during a famine. Agra, Bijapur, and Mathura have their own famous monuments but not the Bada Imambara.

South Indian temples, particularly those in Tamil Nadu (like Brihadeeswarar Temple), are predominantly constructed from granite. Granite's durability and availability in the Deccan Plateau region made it the preferred building material. Limestone and sandstone are more common in North Indian architecture.

The Taj Mahal is famous for its perfect symmetry and is said to possess the unique feature of being exactly equal in length and breadth, creating a perfect square platform. This geometric precision was part of Shah Jahan's vision for the monument. Agra Fort and Red Fort are irregular structures, while Buland Darwaza is a gateway, not a building with this symmetrical property.

Akbar's magnificent tomb was built by himself at Sikandra, near Agra, where he was buried after his death in 1605. The tomb complex showcases Indo-Islamic architectural excellence.

Fort William, Calcutta (1781); Fort St. George, Chennai (1644); Fort St. David, Madras (1670); Fort St. Angelo, Kerala (1505), but it was built by the Portuguese.

Angkor Wat Temple was originally constructed as a Hindu temple for the Khmer Empire. It gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of 12th century. It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II.