Delhi Sultanate: Art and Architecture Archives

1. Qutb Minar was originally four-storied. Who among the following Delhi

Qutb Minar was originally four-storied. Who among the following Delhi Sultans raised the height to the structure by adding the fifth storey?

Balban

Alauddin Khalji

Muhammad Tughlaq

Firoz Shah Tughlaq

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2021

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The correct answer is (D) Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

Construction of the Qutb Minar was initiated by Qutb-ud-din Aibak and largely completed by his successor, Iltutmish. The minar originally had four storeys. It was damaged by lightning in 1368. Firoz Shah Tughlaq, the Sultan of Delhi from the Tughlaq dynasty, undertook repairs to the damaged upper storeys and added a fifth storey, increasing the height of the structure. He replaced the damaged top (originally fourth) storey with two new smaller storeys made of marble and sandstone.

Later, Sikandar Lodi also carried out some repairs to the Qutb Minar in the early 16th century. The Qutb Minar complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. Which one of the following is the correct description of Kandaria

Which one of the following is the correct description of Kandaria Mahadeo?

A Shiva temple at Elephanta

The title of a work by Bhatti

The capital of Chandella kings

A temple at Khajuraho

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2020

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Kandariya Mahadeo is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the Khajuraho complex in Madhya Pradesh, India. It is one of the largest and most ornate temples built by the Chandella rulers between 1025 and 1050 AD. It is renowned for its extensive carvings and elaborate architecture, representing the pinnacle of Chandella temple building.

The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its temples famous for their Nagara style architecture and erotic sculptures. The Kandariya Mahadeo temple is the most prominent structure within this complex.

Elephanta refers to caves near Mumbai known for rock-cut sculptures, predominantly dedicated to Shiva. Bhatti was a Sanskrit poet (possibly 6th or 7th century CE), author of the Bhatti-kavya or Ravanavadha. The Chandella kings were a Rajput dynasty who ruled parts of central India during the medieval period and are famous for building the temples at Khajuraho. Option D correctly identifies the location and nature of Kandariya Mahadeo.

3. In which one of the following buildings the first extant true arch is

In which one of the following buildings the first extant true arch is found ?

Arhai din ka Jhonpra

Quwwat ul Islam Mosque

Tomb of Sultan Balban

Alai Darwaza

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2017

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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.

The Quwwat ul Islam Mosque (late 12th century) and the Arhai din ka Jhonpra (late 12th century) primarily utilized corbelled arches. The Alai Darwaza (built by Alauddin Khalji in the early 14th century) is a later structure that showcases perfected true arches and a dome, representing a mature phase of Delhi Sultanate architecture.

4. Consider the following : Tughlaqabad Fort Bada Gumbad in Lodhi Gard

Consider the following :

Tughlaqabad Fort
Bada Gumbad in Lodhi Garden
Qutub Minar
Fatehpur Sikri

Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of building the above monuments?

3, 1, 4, 2

3, 1, 2, 4

1, 3, 2, 4

1, 3, 4, 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2017

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The question asks for the correct chronological order of building the listed monuments. These monuments belong to different periods of Delhi Sultanate and Mughal rule.

– **Qutub Minar (3):** Construction began around 1192 by Qutb al-Din Aibak and completed by Iltutmish (Delhi Sultanate, Slave Dynasty). This is the earliest monument among the given options.
– **Tughlaqabad Fort (1):** Built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq in the early 14th century (c. 1320) (Delhi Sultanate, Tughlaq Dynasty).
– **Bada Gumbad in Lodhi Garden (2):** Built in 1494 during the reign of the Lodhi Dynasty (Delhi Sultanate).
– **Fatehpur Sikri (4):** Built by Mughal emperor Akbar, construction started around 1569 and continued through the 1570s. This belongs to the Mughal period and is the latest among the given options.

The chronological order is Qutub Minar (Slave Dynasty) -> Tughlaqabad Fort (Tughlaq Dynasty) -> Bada Gumbad (Lodhi Dynasty) -> Fatehpur Sikri (Mughal Empire). This corresponds to the sequence 3, 1, 2, 4.