Indian Heritage and Monuments

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.

Pataliputra (modern-day Patna) was the magnificent capital of the Mauryan Empire, located at the confluence of the Ganges and Son rivers. Chosen by Chandragupta Maurya for its strategic location and defensive advantages, it was one of the largest cities in the world during that time, described by Greek ambassador Megasthenes in his work Indika.

This is the correct option. The capital of Magadha was shifted to Pataliputra in fourth century BCE. 

This is the correct option. Mathura was the bustling centre of commercial, cultural and political activities.

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.

Dholavira in Gujarat is renowned for its extensive use of stone masonry and fortification walls that give it a castle-like appearance. Unlike the brick-based constructions of Mohenjodaro and Harappa, Dholavira's stone architecture resembles European castles.

Desalpur, Rojdi, and Bulakot are all smaller Indus Valley Civilization sites that had fortified structures and commercial architecture. These settlements served as trading outposts and their simpler fortifications resembled merchant castles rather than grand urban citadels.

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. 

Vijaya Vittala Temple is located at Hampi. It was the capital of Vijayanagar kingdom during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya.