SSC
The Chota Imambara (Imambara Hussainabad Mubarak) is located in:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option C — Lucknow
Detailed Solution
The Chota Imambara, also called the Imambara Hussainabad Mubarak, is located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
About the Chota Imambara:
- It was built in 1838 by Muhammad Ali Shah, the third Nawab of Awadh, as an imambara (a congregation hall for Shia Muslims, especially for the mourning ceremonies of Muharram).
- It also serves as his mausoleum and that of his mother.
- It is famous for its rich decoration, including chandeliers and glass lamps brought from Belgium, gilded mirrors, a silver throne and colourful stucco work.
- During festivals such as Muharram, the building is lit up with lamps, which is why it is called the "Palace of Lights" by some visitors.
- Its walls carry beautiful Arabic calligraphy.
- The complex includes a small replica of the Taj Mahal, built as the tomb of Muhammad Ali Shah's daughter.
About the Bara Imambara:
- The Bara Imambara (Asafi Imambara) in Lucknow was built in 1784 by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, partly as a famine relief project to provide employment.
- Its central hall is one of the largest arched halls in the world built without beams or pillars.
- It has the famous "Bhool Bhulaiya", a three-dimensional labyrinth of passages.
- The complex also includes the Asafi Mosque and the "Shahi Baoli" (stepwell).
Other monuments of Lucknow:
- Rumi Darwaza: a 60-foot-high gateway built by Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784, modelled on a gate in Constantinople (Istanbul), and a symbol of Lucknow.
- Clock Tower (Hussainabad Clock Tower): built in 1881, one of the tallest clock towers in India.
- The Residency: a complex where British residents took shelter during the siege of Lucknow in the Revolt of 1857.
- Lucknow is known as the "City of Nawabs" and is famous for its culture of "tehzeeb" (etiquette), "chikankari" embroidery, Awadhi cuisine and Kathak (the Lucknow gharana).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Hyderabad has the Charminar and the Mecca Masjid.
- ✗Murshidabad has the Hazarduari Palace and the Nizamat Imambara.
- ✗Bhopal has the Taj-ul-Masajid.
Quick tip
Remember: Chota Imambara = Lucknow (1838, Muhammad Ali Shah; Belgian chandeliers); Bara Imambara = Lucknow (1784, Asaf-ud-Daula; Bhool Bhulaiya); Rumi Darwaza = Lucknow.
💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Monuments & Religious Places Questions
View all ›- Q1.The Somnath Jyotirlinga temple is located in which state?
- Q2.The Kamakhya Temple is located in:
- Q3.The brick temple of Bhitargaon, one of the oldest surviving brick temples of India, is situated in:
- Q4.The Mahabodhi Temple is situated at:
- Q5.The famous Brihadeeswara Temple, built by Rajaraja Chola I, is situated in:
More General Knowledge Questions
- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms
Monuments & Religious Places — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Monuments & Religious Places, 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's important monuments, temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras and pilgrimage sites, who built them and when, their architectural styles, and India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Questions ask who built a monument, where it is located, or which dynasty or style it belongs to. For example, the Qutub Minar was begun by Qutbuddin Aibak, and the Sun Temple at Konark was built by the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I. Revise the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as a list, noting the most recent additions. Practise the monuments and religious places 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.