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The Badami fort (Vatapi) was built in 543 CE by the Chalukya ruler:
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Answer: Option B — Pulakeshin I
Detailed Solution
The fort at Badami (ancient Vatapi), in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, was built in 543 CE by Pulakeshin I, the founder of the Chalukya dynasty of Badami.
About Pulakeshin I:
- He ruled from about 543 to 566 CE.
- He is regarded as the founder of the Chalukya dynasty of Badami (Vatapi), also called the Early Western Chalukyas.
- He was earlier a feudatory of the Kadambas, and declared independence.
- He fortified the hill of Vatapi and made it his capital.
- A rock inscription at Badami, dated 543 CE (Shaka 465), records the fortification of the hill.
- He performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice and other Vedic rituals, to show his independent status.
- He took the title "Satyashraya" and "Vallabha".
About Badami:
- It is located at the mouth of a ravine, between two rocky hills, with the Agastya lake below.
- It has the famous Badami cave temples, the Bhutanatha temples, and the Upper and Lower Shivalaya temples.
- The two forts on the hills (the north and south forts) contain temples and old structures.
The Chalukyas of Badami:
They ruled the Deccan from the mid-6th to the mid-8th century CE.
Important rulers:
- Pulakeshin I: founder.
- Kirtivarman I: his son; expanded the kingdom.
Pulakeshin II (about 610-642 CE): the greatest ruler; he defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada; his achievements are described in the Aihole inscription; he was defeated and killed by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman I.
Vikramaditya II: captured Kanchi; his queen built the Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal.
The dynasty was overthrown by the Rashtrakutas in the mid-8th century.
Chalukya architecture:
- The Chalukyas built temples at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal, which mark important stages in the development of Indian temple architecture.
- Aihole is often called the "cradle of Indian temple architecture".
Why not the other options?
- ✗Pulakeshin II was a later and greater ruler.
- ✗Kirtivarman I was the son of Pulakeshin I.
- ✗Vikramaditya II was a later ruler.
Quick tip
Remember: Badami (Vatapi) fort = built by Pulakeshin I in 543 CE (founder of the Chalukyas of Badami); Pulakeshin II = greatest ruler (Aihole inscription); Aihole = "cradle of temple architecture".
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Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India from about the 7th to the 12th century: the Rajput dynasties, the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, along with the Sangam age and the temple architecture of the period. Questions often ask which dynasty built a temple (the Pallavas built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, and Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur), the capitals of dynasties, and the local self-government of the Cholas. Learning each dynasty with its capital, greatest ruler and one monument is the quickest way to answer these questions. Practise the early medieval India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.