Famous Temples — Set 6

Correct Answer: B. Black Pagoda

• **Black Pagoda** = The Konark Sun Temple is famously known as the Black Pagoda, a name given by European sailors due to its dark appearance. • **Navigational landmark** — Its distinctive dark color made it a crucial navigational landmark for sailors in the Bay of Bengal. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: White Pagoda: refers to the Jagannath Temple in Puri; Golden Pagoda: not a known alternative name for Konark Sun Temple; Silver Pagoda: not a known alternative name for Konark Sun Temple.

Correct Answer: C. Odisha

• **Odisha** = The iconic Lord Jagannath Temple, a revered Hindu pilgrimage site, is located in the city of Puri in Odisha. • **Ratha Yatra** — The temple is internationally famous for its annual Ratha Yatra, a grand chariot festival that attracts millions of devotees. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: West Bengal: a neighboring state, but Puri is in Odisha; Bihar: another eastern state, but Jagannath Temple is in Odisha; Assam: located in Northeast India, geographically distant from Puri.

Correct Answer: B. Madurai

• **Madurai** = The world-renowned Meenakshi Amman Temple, a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture, is located in the historic city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. • **Goddess Meenakshi** — The temple is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi (a form of Parvati) and Lord Sundareswarar (a form of Shiva). • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Thanjavur: famous for Brihadisvara Temple; Chennai: the capital city with many temples but not Meenakshi Amman; Kanchipuram: known as a city of a thousand temples, but Meenakshi Amman is not there.

Correct Answer: B. Madhya Pradesh

• **Madhya Pradesh** = The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Khajuraho Group of Monuments is located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh. • **950 and 1050 AD** — These Nagara-style temples, famed for their intricate sculptures, were constructed by the Chandela dynasty between 950 and 1050 AD. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Uttar Pradesh: a neighboring state, but Khajuraho is in Madhya Pradesh; Rajasthan: known for its forts and palaces, but Khajuraho is in MP; Gujarat: located to the west of MP, not home to Khajuraho.

Correct Answer: A. Amritsar

• **Amritsar** = The Golden Temple, officially known as Harmandir Sahib, is the most sacred shrine of Sikhism and is located in Amritsar, Punjab. • **Harmandir Sahib** — This revered spiritual complex is officially known as Harmandir Sahib, meaning 'Temple of God'. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Ludhiana: a major industrial city in Punjab, but not home to the Golden Temple; Patiala: a princely state city in Punjab, but not where the Golden Temple is located; Jalandhar: another important city in Punjab, but the Golden Temple is in Amritsar.

Correct Answer: C. Brihadisvara Temple

• **Brihadisvara Temple** = The Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur is a magnificent example of Chola architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. • **11th century** — This grand temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, was constructed by Emperor Raja Raja Chola I in the 11th century. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Airavatesvara Temple: a UNESCO site but in Darasuram, not Thanjavur, and smaller; Gangaikonda Cholapuram: a UNESCO site built by Rajendra Chola I, but not in Thanjavur; Shore Temple: located in Mahabalipuram, not Thanjavur.

Correct Answer: B. Gujarat

• **Gujarat** = The revered Somnath Temple, considered the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva, is located on the western coast of Gujarat. • **Twelve Jyotirlingas** — Somnath holds special significance as it is believed to be the first of the twelve sacred Jyotirlinga shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Maharashtra: home to Bhimashankar and Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlingas, but not Somnath; Madhya Pradesh: home to Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar Jyotirlingas, but not Somnath; Uttar Pradesh: home to Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, but not Somnath.

Correct Answer: C. Uttar Pradesh

• **Uttar Pradesh** = The ancient and holy city of Varanasi, also known as Kashi, is a prominent spiritual center located in the state of Uttar Pradesh. • **Oldest living cities** — Varanasi is revered as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a rich history spanning millennia. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Bihar: a neighboring state to the east, but Varanasi is in UP; Madhya Pradesh: located to the south of UP, not where Varanasi is situated; Uttarakhand: a Himalayan state to the north, distinct from the plains where Varanasi lies.

Correct Answer: B. Lord Vishnu

• **Lord Vishnu** = The sacred pilgrimage site of Badrinath, a prominent Char Dham destination, is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. • **Char Dham pilgrimage** — Badrinath is one of the four highly revered sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, signifying its importance in Vaishnavism. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Lord Shiva: worshipped in Kedarnath, another Char Dham site, but Badrinath is for Vishnu; Lord Brahma: temples dedicated to Brahma are rare, and Badrinath is not one; Lord Ganesha: worshipped widely, but Badrinath is not primarily dedicated to him.

Correct Answer: B. Mount Abu

• **Mount Abu** = The renowned Dilwara Temples, famous for their exquisite marble carvings, are located near the hill station of Mount Abu in Rajasthan. • **11th and 13th centuries** — These sacred Jain temples, known for their intricate architectural details, were constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Shimla: a hill station in Himachal Pradesh, far from Rajasthan; Ooty: a popular hill station in Tamil Nadu, in South India; Munnar: a famous hill station in Kerala, also in South India.