Cultural Sites of North and Central India

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.The Taj Mahal is located in:

   • A.Delhi
   • B.Lucknow
   • C.Jaipur
   • D.Agra✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: It stands on the bank of the Yamuna.

2. Q2.Agra Fort was built mainly by which Mughal emperor?

   • A.Akbar✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Babur
   • C.Humayun
   • D.Aurangzeb

   Explanation: Akbar began it in 1565.

3. Q3.The Qutub Minar is located in:

   • A.Delhi✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Agra
   • C.Jaipur
   • D.Lucknow

   Explanation: It is a minaret of the Qutub complex.

4. Q4.The Red Fort, a World Heritage Site, was built by:

   • A.Akbar
   • B.Babur
   • C.Shah Jahan✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Jahangir

   Explanation: He moved his capital to Shahjahanabad.

5. Q5.The temples of Khajuraho are located in the State of:

   • A.Rajasthan
   • B.Uttar Pradesh
   • C.Madhya Pradesh✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Odisha

   Explanation: They are famed for their sculptures.

6. Q6.The Great Stupa at Sanchi is located in the State of:

   • A.Bihar
   • B.Uttar Pradesh
   • C.Maharashtra
   • D.Madhya Pradesh✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: It is near Bhopal.

7. Q7.Fatehpur Sikri was built by:

   • A.Shah Jahan
   • B.Jahangir
   • C.Akbar✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Humayun

   Explanation: It was briefly the Mughal capital.

8. Q8.Humayun's Tomb in Delhi was commissioned by:

   • A.Akbar
   • B.Hamida Banu Begum✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Shah Jahan
   • D.Nur Jahan

   Explanation: It is an early example of Mughal garden-tomb architecture.

9. Q9.The Bhimbetka rock shelters, known for prehistoric paintings, are in:

   • A.Madhya Pradesh✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Rajasthan
   • C.Karnataka
   • D.Odisha

   Explanation: They lie in Raisen district near Bhopal.

10. Q10.Jantar Mantar in Jaipur was built by:

    • A.Sawai Jai Singh II✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Man Singh I
    • C.Akbar
    • D.Maharana Pratap

    Explanation: It is an astronomical observatory.

11. Q11.The Hill Forts of Rajasthan inscribed by UNESCO include:

    • A.Agra, Gwalior and Jhansi
    • B.Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh and Ranthambore✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Golconda, Daulatabad and Raigad
    • D.Kangra, Chamba and Nahan

    Explanation: Gagron, Amber and Jaisalmer are the other three.

12. Q12.The Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan in memory of:

    • A.Nur Jahan
    • B.Jodha Bai
    • C.Hamida Banu
    • D.Mumtaz Mahal✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: It was completed around 1653.

13. Q13.The Khajuraho temples were built by the:

    • A.Gupta dynasty
    • B.Chola dynasty
    • C.Chandela dynasty✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Pallava dynasty

    Explanation: Most were built between 950 and 1050 CE.

14. Q14.The Great Stupa at Sanchi was originally commissioned by:

    • A.Kanishka
    • B.Ashoka✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Harshavardhana
    • D.Chandragupta Maurya

    Explanation: It dates to the 3rd century BCE.

15. Q15.The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is located at:

    • A.Sarnath
    • B.Lumbini
    • C.Kushinagar
    • D.Bodh Gaya✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: Buddha attained enlightenment there.

16. Q16.The Taj Mahal was inscribed on the World Heritage List in:

    • A.1972
    • B.1993
    • C.2007
    • D.1983✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: It was among the first Indian sites to be inscribed.

17. Q17.The Qutub Minar was begun by Qutb-ud-din Aibak and completed by:

    • A.Iltutmish✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Alauddin Khilji
    • C.Balban
    • D.Firuz Shah Tughlaq

    Explanation: Firuz Shah later repaired its upper storeys.

18. Q18.The Red Fort Complex was inscribed on the World Heritage List in:

    • A.1983
    • B.2007✓ Correct Answer
    • C.1993
    • D.2010

    Explanation: The Red Fort Complex was inscribed in 2007, long after the earliest Indian inscriptions.

19. Q19.Jantar Mantar, Jaipur was inscribed on the World Heritage List in:

    • A.1983
    • B.1993
    • C.2010✓ Correct Answer
    • D.2007

    Explanation: It houses the world's largest stone sundial, the Samrat Yantra.

20. Q20.Humayun's Tomb was inscribed on the World Heritage List in:

    • A.1983
    • B.1993✓ Correct Answer
    • C.2007
    • D.2010

    Explanation: The Qutub complex was inscribed in the same year.