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The Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory) at Chittorgarh was built by Rana Kumbha to commemorate his victory over:
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Answer: Option C — Mahmud Khalji of Malwa
Detailed Solution
The Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory) at Chittorgarh was built by Rana Kumbha of Mewar, to commemorate his victory over Sultan Mahmud Khalji of Malwa.
About the victory:
- Rana Kumbha defeated Mahmud Khalji, the Sultan of Malwa, in the Battle of Sarangpur in 1437 CE (according to Rajput sources).
- According to tradition, Mahmud Khalji was captured, kept as a prisoner at Chittor for some time, and then released without ransom.
- The conflict between Mewar and Malwa continued for many years, with both sides claiming victories.
About the Vijay Stambha:
- It was built between about 1440 and 1448 CE.
- It is a nine-storeyed tower, about 37 metres (122 feet) high.
- It is built of red sandstone and white marble.
- It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and is covered with sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, and scenes from the epics.
- It has a narrow staircase inside, leading to the top.
- It contains inscriptions giving the genealogy and achievements of the rulers of Mewar.
- The architects included Jaita and his sons.
About Rana Kumbha:
- He ruled Mewar from 1433 to 1468.
- He was a great warrior, builder and scholar.
- He built many forts, including the famous Kumbhalgarh fort, whose wall is one of the longest in the world.
- He was a scholar of music, and wrote works such as "Sangitaraja" and a commentary on the "Gita Govinda" (the "Rasikapriya").
- He was killed by his own son, Udaysimha (Uda).
Other towers at Chittor:
The "Kirti Stambha" (Tower of Fame): a Jain tower, about 22 metres high, built in the 12th century by a Jain merchant, and dedicated to the first Tirthankara, Adinatha.
About the Malwa Sultanate:
- It was founded in the early 15th century, with its capital at Mandu (Shadiabad).
- The Khalji dynasty of Malwa was founded by Mahmud Khalji in 1436.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Alauddin Khalji captured Chittor much earlier.
- ✗Ibrahim Lodi and Bahadur Shah fought other rulers of Mewar.
Quick tip
Remember: Vijay Stambha (Chittor) = Rana Kumbha's victory over Mahmud Khalji of Malwa (Sarangpur, 1437); nine storeys; Kirti Stambha = Jain tower (Adinatha); Kumbhalgarh = Kumbha.
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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.