Heritage Sites & Temples — Set 7

Correct Answer: B. 10-character Indus script signboard

Dholavira in the Kutch district of Gujarat is one of the largest Harappan cities and is known for a unique 10-character Indus script signboard found at the northern gate. The city has an elaborate water conservation system with reservoirs and channels. Dholavira was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.

Correct Answer: D. 2021

Dholavira, a Harappan-era city in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. It became Gujarat's third UNESCO World Heritage Site after Champaner-Pavagadh (2004) and Rani ki Vav (2014). Dholavira is one of the five largest Harappan cities discovered so far.

Correct Answer: B. Palitana

The Bhavnagar region in Saurashtra is home to Palitana on the Shatrunjaya Hills, the most sacred Jain pilgrimage destination in India. Palitana is often called the 'city of temples' with its 900+ temples concentrated on the hilltop. Every Jain considers a pilgrimage to Palitana a lifetime religious duty.

Correct Answer: C. 51 meters

The shikhara (spire) of the reconstructed Somnath Temple rises to a height of 51 meters (approximately 155 feet) above the ground. The 51-meter height is symbolic as it corresponds to the number of Shakti Peethas in India. The temple is built in the Chalukya (Solanki) style of architecture.

Correct Answer: B. Mahmud Begada

Champaner was made the capital of the Gujarat Sultanate by Sultan Mahmud Begada (Mahmud Shah I), who conquered it in 1484 CE and shifted his capital there from Ahmedabad. He renamed it Muhammadabad and built numerous mosques and palaces. Champaner remained the capital for about 23 years.

Correct Answer: B. Uttar Pradesh

Sahajanand Swami (1781-1830), who later became known as Swaminarayan, was born in Chhapaiya in Uttar Pradesh. He came to Gujarat as a young man and established the Swaminarayan Sampraday. He built several elaborate temples in Gujarat, laying the foundation for the BAPS and other Swaminarayan organizations.

Correct Answer: B. 2

The Jama Masjid at Champaner is notable for having two minarets and features a blend of Hindu and Islamic architectural elements. The mosque has 172 pillars and can accommodate several thousand worshippers. It is one of the best-preserved examples of Gujarat Sultanate mosque architecture.

Correct Answer: C. Chaulukya (Solanki)

Patan (historically known as Anhilwad Patan or Anahilapur) was the capital of Gujarat under the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty from 746 CE to 1297 CE. The Solanki period is considered the golden age of Gujarat's cultural and architectural development. Rani ki Vav was built during this golden period.

Correct Answer: A. Gaikwad dynasty

The Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara was built by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1890 as the royal residence of the Gaikwad dynasty. It is the largest private residence built in the 19th century, four times the size of Buckingham Palace. The palace is still the official residence of the Gaikwad royal family and is partly open to tourists.

Correct Answer: B. 1917

Mahatma Gandhi established the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad in 1917 on the banks of the Sabarmati River. The ashram became the nerve center of India's freedom movement and the starting point of the historic Dandi March in 1930. It is now a national heritage site and museum open to visitors.