In which one of the following buildings the first extant true arch is found ?
[amp_mcq option1=”Arhai din ka Jhonpra” option2=”Quwwat ul Islam Mosque” option3=”Tomb of Sultan Balban” option4=”Alai Darwaza” correct=”option3″]
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2017
The Tomb of Sultan Balban (completed around 1287 AD) in Delhi is considered to contain the earliest known examples of true arches in Indo-Islamic architecture that are still standing. While earlier structures used corbelling techniques, Balban’s tomb featured rudimentary true arches.
True arches, unlike corbelled arches, distribute weight sideways to the piers or abutments, allowing for wider spans and greater structural stability. Their introduction marked a significant architectural development.