With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the followin

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements :

  • White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2018
Statement 1 is incorrect. While Fatehpur Sikri primarily used red sandstone, with some use of marble inlay for decoration or specific structures like the tomb of Sheikh Salim Chishti, the Buland Darwaza and Khankah are predominantly built using red sandstone. Statement 2 is incorrect. Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow are examples of Awadhi architecture built in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They primarily use brick and lime plaster (stucco) as building materials, not red sandstone or marble as the main components.
Mughal architecture at Fatehpur Sikri is characterized by the extensive use of red sandstone. Awadhi architecture in Lucknow often utilized brick and stucco.
The Buland Darwaza is a magnificent gateway made primarily of red sandstone. The Khankah (a Sufi lodge) at Fatehpur Sikri is also mainly of red sandstone. The Bara Imambara is famous for its large vaulted central hall and the Bhulbhulaiya, built using local materials like Lakhauri bricks and lime plaster.