📝 Chapter 02 · MCQs · Temple Architecture

Ancient Temple Architecture — Practice MCQs

10 practice questions on Nagara, Dravidian, Vesara styles, cave temples, and UNESCO sites for UPSC & PSC exams.

Q1The curvilinear tower over the sanctum in Nagara style temples is called:

✅ Answer: C — The shikhara is the curvilinear tower over the garbhagriha in Nagara style temples.

Q2The Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur was built by which Chola king?

✅ Answer: B — The Brihadeeswarar Temple was built by Raja Raja Chola I around 1010 CE.

Q3The Kailasa Temple at Ellora was built by which dynasty?

✅ Answer: C — The Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) at Ellora was built by Rashtrakuta king Krishna I (~757–773 CE).

Q4Ajanta caves were rediscovered in 1819 by:

✅ Answer: C — Ajanta caves were rediscovered by British officer John Smith in 1819 while tiger hunting.

Q5The Pancha Rathas at Mahabalipuram were built by which dynasty?

✅ Answer: B — The Pancha Rathas were built by the Pallava dynasty, primarily under Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla).

Q6The famous Trimurti Sadashiva sculpture is located in which cave?

✅ Answer: C — The Trimurti Sadashiva (three-faced Shiva) is the main sculpture in Cave 1 at Elephanta.

Q7Pattadakal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is associated with which dynasty?

✅ Answer: B — Pattadakal was built by the Badami Chalukya dynasty in the 7th–8th centuries CE.

Q8The Hoysala temples were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in which year?

✅ Answer: C — The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas (Belur, Halebidu, Somanathapura) were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in September 2023.

Q9Arjuna’s Penance at Mahabalipuram is the world’s largest:

✅ Answer: C — Arjuna’s Penance (also called Descent of the Ganga) is the world’s largest open-air bas-relief, measuring 27 × 9 metres.

Q10The Konark Sun Temple was built by which king?

✅ Answer: B — The Konark Sun Temple was built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty around 1250 CE.