Indian History

Q.1. How were Chalukyan ruler Pulakeshin II and celebrated ancient Sanskrit poetess Shilabhattarika    related? (A) Pulakeshin II was Shilabhattarika's father (B) Pulakeshin II was Shilabhattarika's son (C) Pulakeshin II was Shilabhattarika's brother (D) Pulakeshin II was Shilabhattarika's uncle Q.2. Where was Akbar proclaimed king of the Mughal empire? (A) Agra (B) Kalanaur (C) Delhi (D) Panipat Q.1.   Answer: A Researchers at the Pune-based Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI)claim that Shilabhattarika— the celebrated Sanskrit poetess of Ancient India was a daughter of the famed Chalukyan Emperor, Pulakeshin II of Badami (in modern Karnataka). Pulakeshin II, who ruled from 610-642 CE , had famously defeated Harshavardhan of Kanauj in a battle near the banks of the Narmada River in 618 CE. Shilabhattarika was a famous poetess in the ancient Indian world in the male-dominated field of classical Sanskrit literature. Shilabhattarika  has been prised...

Ramappa Temple, Mulugu, Near Warangal in Telangana Q.1. Telangana's Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is named after (A) A ruler of Kakatiya Kingdom, (B) A general of Kakatiya Kingdom,  (C) An architect of Kakatiya Kingdom (D) None of the above Answer: C Telangana's 13th-century Rudreswara temple, more famously known as Ramappa Temple, is named after its architect Ramappa who worked on the project for 40 years. The temple was built in 1213 AD during the reign of the greatest Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva (ruled 1199–1262) by his general Recharla Rudra. Located in a valley at the village of Palampet, approximately 77 km away from Warangal and 200km north-east of Hyderabad,  Ramappa Temple has became a world heritage site in 2021.  

 Q.1. Of the 14 Indian Prime Ministers, how many have lost the top job due to losing a general election? (A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6 Answer: D Six prime ministers had their prime ministerial careers cut short following the loss of a general election: Charan Singh (1980), Rajiv Gandhi (1989), Chandrasekhar (1991), Inder Kumar Gujral (1998), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2004), Manmohan Singh (2014) 

Identify the historical event the painting shows. (A) Mughal Emperor Shah Alam conveying the grant of the Diwani to Lord Clive (B) English diplomat Sir Thomas Roe being received by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir  (C) Jesuits at Akbar’s court. (D) None of the Above Answer : A The Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II had granted the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the East India Company in 1765. The Treaty of Allahabad was signed on 16 August 1765 between Shah Alam II, and Robert Clive, of the East India Company, in the aftermath of the Battle of Buxar of 22 October 1764. 

 Can you  identify which historical event the painting shows? (A) First Anglo-Afghan War (B) Second Anglo-Afghan War (C) Third Anglo-Afghan War (D) Fourth Anglo-Afghan War Answer - A  Dr. William Brydon was the lone British survivor who rode into Jalalabad in Afghanistan in January 1842, bringing the first news of the devastating retreat from Kabul during the First Anglo-Afghan War.  Brydon was a British doctor who was assistant surgeon in the British East India Company Army.  The First Anglo-Afghan War (1838-42) was fought between the British East India Company (EIC) and, the Emirate of Afghanistan.  The war caused the greatest misfortune that ever befell the British army and dealt a severe blow to their prestige in India.

Khajuraho Temple / Image Credit- Unsplash Q. 1.  Badami, once the capital of the Chalukyas, is situated in which Indian state? (A) Andhra Pradesh (B) Tamil Nadu (c) Maharashtra (D) Karnataka Q.2.  Where might one go to see Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra?  (A) Rajasthan (B) Haryana (C) Madhya Pradesh (D) Uttar Pradesh Q.3.  Where would you find the final resting place of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti? (A) Fatehpur Sikri  (B) Ajmer   (C) Gulbarga   (D) Delhi  Q.4.  In which Indian state would you find the world heritage site of Hampi? (A) Andhra Pradesh (B) Tamil Nadu (C) Karnataka (D) Telangana Q.5. Bidar, the capital of the Bahamani and Barid Shahi dynasties, is located in which state? (A) Maharashtra  (B) Tamil Nadu (C) Karnataka (D) Andhra Pradesh Q.6. Jaunpur, the seat of power of the medieval Muslim kingdom of Sharqi, is located in which state? (A) Uttar Pradesh (B) Bengal (C) Malwa (D) Maharashtra Q.7.  Where is the World Herita...

Cave No.3 Gautamiputra Vihara,  Pandavleni Caves    / Image Credit Pandavleni Caves are located at a distance of 8 km from Nashik in Maharashtra. Chiselled into the hills, Pandavleni is a group of 24 caves dating back to the period between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century AD. Of these Cave 18, a chaityagrha , is the most impressive.  These magnificent Buddhist and Jain rock-cut caves are known for profusion of ornate carvings of the highest order. These caves received the patronage of various rulers inducing those belonging to the Satavahana dynasty .  Nasik Prashasti   (eulogy), an inscription found at Cave No.3 of the Pandavleni Caves, contains the achievements of Gautamiputra Satakarni , the greatest Satavahana ruler.  The Nasik Prashasti was commissioned by his mother Gautami Balasri. The Nasik Prasasti describes Gautamiputra Satakarni as the ruler of the Aparanta, Anupa, Saurashtra, Kukura, Akara and Avanti. He had defeated the Saka ruler ...

Lotus Mahal /  Photo by Avin CP on Unsplash Choose the correct one Q.1. Lotus Mahal is an important monument in___ (A) Pattadakal  (B) Hampi (C)  Badami (D)  Aihole  Q.2.  Hazarduari Palace is a famous landmark of which of the following places in West Bengal? (A)   Lakhnauti (B)  Gaud  (C)   Murshidabad  (D)  Pandua Q. 3. Who had designed the calligraphy of Taj Mahal> (A) Afzal Khan Aalmi (B) Abdul Haq Shirazi  (C) Ustad Ahmad Lahori (D) Ustad Isa Afandi Q.1- Answer - B Notes Lotus Mahal or Chitrangini Mahal is an important secular structure in Hampi in Karnataka.  The Lotus Mahal is an example of Vijayanagara style of architecture.  Hampi,  now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is dotted with several monuments built during the Vijayanagara empire including Lotus Mahal.  Q.2- Answer -   C  Notes A famous monument in Murshidabad in West Bengal, Hazarduari Palace was built dur...

Photo Credit - Unsplash Svapnavasavadattam (The Dream of Vasavadatta) is a six-act Sanskrit play by ancient Indian playwright Bhāsa. It is the best among the thirteen plays written by  Bhāsa. Dating back to  2nd BCE, the play tells the story of the love of Kaushambi ruler Udayana for his queen Vasavadatta. Udayana was the most famous ruler of Vatsa kingdom in the 6th century BC.  Kaushambi was a thriving centre of Buddhism in ancient times and was one of the six greatest cities during Buddha’s time besides serving as the capital of the Vatsa kingdom.  Udayana was also the hero of other Sanskrit dramas- Priyadarshika , and Ratnavali written by seventh century AD Indian emperor Harsha . Among other wives of Udayana was  Samavati, daughter of  Ghosita,  the leading Shreshti (banker) of Kaushambi. In Kaushambi Ghosita had built the Ghositarama monastery which was donated to the Bhikshu Sangha.  Bhāsa has been spoken highly of by Kalidas who has mentio...

Photo: Unsplash The Stone Chariot temple is a famous monument within the Vittala Temple complex at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi in the Vijayanagar district of Karnataka. The Vitthala temple is dedicated to Vitthala, a form of Vishnu.    In medieval India Hampi served as the capital of the powerful Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagara ("City of Victory") on the Tungabhadra River.  Dedicated to Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu, Stone Chariot temple was built by Krishna Deva Raya, the greatest of the Vijayanagar rulers. It is one of the three famous stone chariots in India , the other two  being at Konark ( Odisha ) and Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu)  Hampi,  now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is dotted with several monuments built during the Vijayanagara empire including the Virupaksha temple, Lotus Mahal, the queens’ bathing area, musical pillars, a stone chariot, and an elephant stable, The Tungabhadra river courses around the rocky terrain that characterizes t...

Image Credit  Manyakheta was the capital of the Rashtrakuta dynasty which ruled large parts of southern India from 753 to 973. The capital city was founded by Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha I (Nrupatunga Amoghavarsha) who transferred regnal capital from Mayurkhandi (in the Bidar district of Karnataka)  to Manyakheta. He had embellished the new capital with beautiful buildings in order to "match the city of Indra's heaven, Amaravati."  Today Manyakheta is modern Malkhed village in Sedam taluk in Gulbarga (modern Kalaburagi) district in Karnataka. In 972-73 Manyakheta was sacked by Harsha Siyaka of the Paramara dynasty. After the downfall of the Rashtrakuta dynasty in 973, it became the capital of the Kalyani Chalukyas who had supplanted the Rashtrakutas. During the rule of Satyasraya belonging to the Chalukyas of Kalyani , Manyakheta was sacked in 1008 by Rajendra Chola I (reigned 1014–1044) during the reign of  Raja Raja Chola  .  Someshvara I Aha...

  The Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha have returned to India after 127 years. The holy remains were discovered by British civil engineer and landowner William Claxton Peppé in 1898 from Piprahwa, the ancient site of Kapilavastu in the Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Piprahwa is just south of Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha in Nepal.  The Piprahwa site contained a massive sandstone coffer housing the relics, including sacred bones and ashes, precious gemstones and soapstone as well as crystal reliquaries.  Five caskets, including a crystal casket believed to be over 2,300 years old, were unearthed during excavations. Buried 18 feet underground these caskets contained sacred relics associated with Lord Buddha. Inscribed in early Brahmi script, one of the oldest known in any Indian language, an urn identified the depositors as members of the Buddha’s own Shakya clan, who had enshrined here the relics of the Buddha. William Claxton Peppé’s excavation of the Pip...

Today on July 27, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the ancient capital of the imperial Cholas built by emperor Rajendra Chola - I (regnal years 1012-1044 CE). Participating in the valedictory function of ‘ Aadi Thiruvathirai ’ festival marking the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola, Mr Modi released a commemorative coin to celebrate the 1000 years of naval expedition of Rajendra Chola - I.  To commemorate his successful military expedition to the Gangetic plains, Rajendra Chola founded a new capital and called it Gangaikonda Cholapuram , identified with modern  Gangaikonda Cholapuram   in the Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu.  Brihadisvara Temple  Gangaikonda Cholapuram / Image Credit Rajendra Chola  also built the Shiva temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Known as Brihadisvara Temple , this temple has a similar name as the one built by his father Raja Raja I in Thanjavur. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this temple is adorned with exquisite granite...

Writer's Buildings / Image Credit Showing exemplary courage three Bengali revolutionaries – Benoy Krishna Basu, Badal Gupta , and Dinesh Chandra Gupta - barged into the historic Writer's Buildings in Calcutta on 8th December 1930 and shot dead the then Bengal's IG (Prisons) Lt Col N S Simpson who was notorious for his atrocities and physical torture of Indian freedom fighters. In the gun battle that ensued the trio seriously wounded several European high officials. Members of the Bengal Volunteers , a group set up by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress in 1928 , these revolutionaries had worn western suits to gain access to the Writer's Building, the seat of the government of undivided Bengal.  Refusing to surrender to the British, Badal Gupta immediately took potassium cyanide and died instantly, while Benoy and Dinesh shot themselves with their firearms. Benoy died in a hospital on December 13, 1930, while Dinesh surviv...

Bal Gangadhar Tilak Today India is celebrating the 169th birth anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a leading light of Indian freedom struggle.  Of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Edwin Samuel Montagu, British Secretary of State for India between 1917 and 1922, said, "Tilak is at the moment probably the most powerful man in India". One of the famous triumvirate called “Lal-Bal-Pal”, Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born on July 23, 1856 in Ratnagiri district in the Konkan region of Maharashtra.  Bal Gangadhar Tilak was educated in Poona where had co-founded Fergusson College, a landmark educational institution in Maharashtra. A scholar in mathematics, law and Sanskrit, Tilak was one of the founders of the Deccan Education Society in 1884, with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, Madhavrao Namjoshi  and Vishnushastri Chipalunkar being the other members.  During Home Rule movement which he started in 1914 Bal Gangadhar was given the epithet of Lokamanya (Universally Respected).  Tilak was imprison...

Cellular Jail Andaman / Image Credit One of the main attractions of Port Blair, the capital of the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands in India, is Cellular Jail, where Indian freedom fighters and revolutionaries were imprisoned during the Indian struggle for Independence.  The jail was also known as Kālā Pānī, translating literally as “black waters”.  The three-storied massive structure bears testimony to the inhumane atrocities on them by the British. Built in 1906, this colossal monument, now declared a National Memorial, features a unique sound and light show taking you right back in time, when Indian people were engaged in fierce struggle with the British for the achievement of their freedom from the colonial rule. The jail was originally built with seven wings which had rows of single iron-gated cells – 693 in total, specially built for the solitary confinement of the prisoners.  Notable inmates  of the Cellular Jail also, known as Kala Pani, were...

Western Chalukya Temple Galaganatha Temple, Haveri district, Karnataka Akkadevi (1010 CE- 1064 CE) was a Kalyani Chalukya princess who governed parts of present-day Karnataka in the 11th century CE. She was a governor of an area known as Kishukadu , situated in the present-day districts of Bidar, Bagalkot, and Vijayapura in the state. Akkadevi was the sister of Jayasimha II (1015-1042), the Kalyani Chalukya ruler. There were many Chalukya dynasties. Of them, the four most important were: the Chalukyas of Badami or Vatapi (also known as early western Chalukyas) , the Chalukyas of Vengi (also known as eastern Chalukyas ), the Chalukyas of Kalyani (also known as western Chalukyas ) and the Chalukyas of Gujarat . The Chalukyas of Kalyani ruled from 957 to 1200.  Akkadevi had supressed many rebellions displaying great valour and courage which led her to be called Bhairavi . Early this year two gold  coins of Akkadevi were found near Madugula village in the Mahbubnagar distr...

Akbar's Mausoleum  The last days of the Mughal Emperor Akbar proved to be unhappy due to rebellion of his son Salim, who succeed him under the title of Jahangir.  Salim was eager to ascend the throne and even entered into intrigues with Portuguese to achieve his end. He even hurt Akbar by commissioning the murder of Abul Fazal (brother of Faizi), author of Akbarnama, by Vir Singh Bundela.  The Mughal court became divided into two factions, one favouring the succession of Salim while the other, led by Raja Man Singh (Khusrau's maternal uncle), plotted to secure succession of Salim’s son Khusrav. In fact, Khusrav was also Akbar’s choice. However, before his death Akbar pardoned Salim and nominated him as his successor. Akbar died of diarrhoea on c 25th October in 1605. Akbar’s tomb is at Sikandara, situated on the outskirts of the Agra City. Housing his mortal remains, the mausoleum was built by the emperor himself during his lifetime. The mausoleum was finished in 1613 dur...

As with case with many ancient and medieval cultures, in addition to their legal wives, the rulers have also kept concubines as well. And Mughal rulers were no exceptions. In most cases, these concubines’ served the same purposes as wives. However, they could not legally the men that they served. These concubines also became the mothers of children of the Mughal monarchs. The children born of these concubines were treated on par with those born of the legal wives. Akbar was a famous keeper of many concubines some of whom bore children to him. Two of Akbar’s three sons, Murad and Daniyal were born of concubines. According to English traveller William Finch, Anarkali who have been portrayed in films and books as the valentine of Saleem (Later Jahangir the fourth Mughal Emperor) was the mother of Daniyal. The concubines lived in an area which is known in Muslim culture as harem. The harem was not accessible for the male members.

12 Maratha forts of 'Maratha Military Landscapes', representing extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers, have been inscribed on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List. The decision to include 12 forts in the list was taken during the ongoing 47th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) being held in Paris. "New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Maratha Military Landscapes of India, #India," UNESCO said in a post on X. The nomination for UNESCO tag was for the 2024-25 cycle. Now India has 44 of its sites on the list. The country ranks sixth globally and second in the Asia Pacific Region for the most number of World Heritage Sites.  Spread across the Indian states of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, 12 forts are Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. Of the 12 forts eight are protected b...

  Tomb of Ahmed Nizam Shah. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Ahmadnagar Sultanate, known more famously as the Nizam Shahi Dynasty, was one of the five independent states that arose on the debris of the Bahmani Sultanate. The Sultanate derives its name from Ahmadnagar, the seat of the power, which is 120 km northeast of Pune and located in the state of Maharashtra. Nizam Shahi dynasty was founded by Malik Ahmad, son of Hasan Nizamul Mulk, wazir (Prime Minister) of the Bahmani kingdom after Mahmud Gawan’s execution in 1481.  Mahmud Gawan  was a renowned Islamic scholar who rose in ranks to become the wazir of the Bahmani kingdom. Malik Ahmad, who was appointed to the governorship of Junnar, asserted his independence in 1490. He transferred his seat of government from Junnar to Ahmadnagar which he founded in 1494. During his rule Daulatabad became part of the Ahmadnagar kingdom in 1499. After Ahmad’s death in 1510, he was succeeded by his son Burhan, a lad of seven years at that tim...

Situated southeast of the adjacent Tughlaqabad Fort , on the opposite side of the Badarpur-Mehrauli road, the relatively unknown Adilabad fort has for long been in the shadows of Tughlaqabad Fort which was built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq , the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1413), the third of the five dynasties, the combination of which went on to be called the Delhi Sultanate . Located near the tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq, the Adilabad fort (also known as Muhammadabad), on its part, was built by his son Juna Khan , better known as Muhammad bin Tughluq , who succeeded his father in 1325. The Adilabad fort was incorporated into the fortified city of Jahanpanah built by Muhammad bin Tughluq.  When it comes to bastion and walls Adilabad Fort, though small in size, bears striking resemblance to the Tughlaqabad Fort. 

Q.1 Which Delhi Sultanate ruler was killed in Battle? (A) Ibrahim Lodi (B) Razia Sultan  (C) Muḥammad bin Tughlaq (D) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq Answer: A Ibrahim Lodi was defeated at the First Battle of Panipat (April 21, 1526) by Babur who laid the foundation of Mughal empire in India. During the battle Ibrahim lost his life, the first and only Delhi Sultan to die in battle . 

Located in Mehrauli Archaeological Park in Delhi, Rajon ki Baoli is a four-tiered stepwell featuring elegant arched colonnades ,  ornate stucco medallions with floral and geometric patterns, and finely carved stone elements. This baoli (reservoir) was built in the early years of 16 th century during the rule of Lodi dynasty of Delhi Sultanate. With an area of 1,610 square meters, this Baoli descends to a depth of 13.4 meters, with the main tank measuring 23 by 10 meters at its base. Rajon ki Baoli was recently restored by Archaeological Survey of India in collaboration with World Monuments Fund India (WMFI) and TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) Foundation.

In ancient times Tibet was not an isolated region as it is today. It lay in the much frequented route from China and Nepal. Buddhism was introduced to Tibet by Srong-tsan Gampo, one of the most illustrious kings of Tibet in the seventh century AD.  Gampo was married to Princesses Wen Cheng from China and another Princess Bhrikuti from Nepal. It was under the influence of his two wives that he was attracted to Buddhism. In China and Nepal Buddhism had already made its mark. Gampo is credited with introducing in Tibet Indian alphabets. This was the beginning of a new culture and civilisation in that land. Many Buddhist from Tibet, as in the case of China, came to India. Buddhist monks from Tibet came to study at the universities of Nalanda, Vikramshila and Odantapuri. As a reciprocation, many Indian Buddhist visited Tibet. In the eighth century AD from Nalanda (a famous centre of learning in ancient Bihar) Buddhist monk Padmasambhava went to Tibet and succeeded in converting the land...

Talagirishwara temple at Panamalai / Image Credit Talagirishwara temple at Panamalai in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu was built by Pallava king Narasimhavarman II, popularly known as Rajasimha, who is also credited with   commisioning the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Kailasanatha Temple in Kanchipuram.