Vision Academy EducareVision Academy Educare
Question 5 of 9 · Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms
Questionmedium
This question was previously asked in

Police

The Shore Temple at Mamallapuram was built during the reign of:

Answer View answer ▾

Answer: Option C — Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha)

Detailed Solution

The Shore Temple at Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram), on the coast of the Bay of Bengal in the Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu, was built around 700-728 CE by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman II, also known as Rajasimha. It is one of the oldest structural stone temples in South India, built of cut granite blocks rather than carved out of a single rock.

The temple complex has three shrines: two dedicated to Lord Shiva, facing east and west, and one to Lord Vishnu, shown reclining (Anantashayana). Its tall pyramidal towers are early examples of the Dravidian vimana style. Many Nandi (bull) sculptures line its walls. Because it stands so close to the sea, it has been badly eroded by salty winds and waves; a breakwater has been built to protect it.

The Pallavas, who ruled from Kanchipuram, developed South Indian temple architecture in stages:

Mahendravarman I (early 7th century) began rock-cut cave temples (mandapas), such as at Mandagapattu.

Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla), after whom Mamallapuram is named, built the monolithic rathas (the Pancha Rathas, or Five Rathas) and the great relief "Arjuna's Penance" (Descent of the Ganga).

Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) built structural temples, such as the Shore Temple and the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram.

The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mamallapuram for an informal summit.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Narasimhavarman I built the rathas and Arjuna's Penance, not the Shore Temple.
  • ✗Mahendravarman I began rock-cut cave temples.
  • ✗Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara temple at Thanjavur.

Quick tip

Remember: Shore Temple and Kailasanatha (Kanchi) = Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha); Pancha Rathas and Arjuna's Penance = Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla); World Heritage Site 1984.

💬 Discussions on this question

Ask a doubt ›

Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.

Ask a doubt

More Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms Questions

View all ›
  1. Q1.The Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty was founded by:
  2. Q2.Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was a contemporary of which Chola ruler?
  3. Q3.Who was the court poet of Harshavardhana and the author of the 'Harshacharita'?
  4. Q4.In the battle on the banks of the Narmada, the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II defeated:
  5. Q5.The Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur was built by:

More General Knowledge Questions

  1. Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
  2. Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
  3. Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
  4. Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
  5. Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms

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.

‹ All Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms questionsBrowse all topics ›