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The Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors) at Patiala was built by:
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Answer: Option C — Maharaja Narinder Singh
Detailed Solution
The Sheesh Mahal ("Palace of Mirrors") in Patiala, Punjab, was built in the mid-19th century by Maharaja Narinder Singh, who ruled the princely state of Patiala from 1845 to 1862.
About the Sheesh Mahal:
- It was built as a part of the Old Moti Bagh Palace complex, behind the main palace.
- It is famous for its walls and ceilings decorated with mirror work, coloured glass and inlay.
- Its walls have beautiful paintings in the Kangra, Rajasthani and other styles, showing scenes from mythology, literature and folklore, including the Krishna legends.
- Maharaja Narinder Singh was a great patron of art and invited artists from Rajasthan and the Kangra region to decorate the palace.
- In front of the palace is a lake, with a suspension bridge called "Lachman Jhula", a replica of the bridge at Rishikesh.
- Today, the Sheesh Mahal houses a museum with a famous collection of medals and decorations from many countries, as well as paintings, sculptures and artefacts.
About Patiala:
It was founded in 1763 by Baba Ala Singh, a Sikh chief of the Phulkian dynasty, who built the Qila Mubarak (fort).
Patiala was one of the largest and richest Sikh princely states. Its rulers supported the British in the Revolt of 1857.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh (ruled 1900-1938) was famous for his lavish lifestyle, his support for cricket and the "Patiala Necklace" made by Cartier.
Patiala is known for the "Patiala salwar", the "Patiala peg" and its "paranda" (hair accessory).
Other famous places in Patiala: the Qila Mubarak, the Moti Bagh Palace (now the National Institute of Sports, NIS, set up in 1961) and the Baradari Gardens.
Other famous "Sheesh Mahals":
Amber Fort (Jaipur), Agra Fort, Lahore Fort (Pakistan) and Nagaur Fort.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruled the Sikh Empire from Lahore.
- ✗Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was a later ruler of Patiala, known for cricket and the Patiala Necklace.
- ✗Baba Ala Singh founded Patiala in 1763.
Quick tip
Remember: Sheesh Mahal, Patiala = Maharaja Narinder Singh (mid-19th century; mirror work; medal museum; Lachman Jhula bridge); Patiala founded by Baba Ala Singh (1763); Moti Bagh Palace = NIS Patiala.
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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.