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Which famous Sun Temple was built in 1026-27 CE by Raja Bhimdev I of the Solanki (Chalukya) dynasty?

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Answer: Option A — Modhera Sun Temple

Detailed Solution

The Sun Temple at Modhera, in the Mehsana district of Gujarat, was built in 1026-27 CE by King Bhimdev I (Bhima I) of the Solanki (Chaulukya) dynasty.

About the Modhera Sun Temple:

  • It is located on the banks of the Pushpavati river.
  • It was built soon after Mahmud of Ghazni's raid on Gujarat.
  • It is dedicated to Surya, the Sun god.
  • It is designed so that the rays of the rising sun fall on the image of Surya in the sanctum on the days of the equinoxes.

It has three parts:

  • "Surya Kund" (Rama Kund): a large, rectangular stepped tank in front of the temple, with 108 small shrines on its steps.
  • "Sabha Mandapa": an assembly hall with richly carved pillars, open on all sides.
  • "Guda Mandapa" (Gudhamandapa): the main shrine hall with the sanctum.
  • The temple is famous for its intricate carvings of gods, goddesses, dancers and scenes from daily life.
  • It is built in the "Maru-Gurjara" style (Solanki style).
  • Worship is no longer conducted in the temple; it is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
  • The "Modhera Dance Festival" (Uttarardh Mahotsav) is held there every January.
  • In 2022, Modhera was declared India's first village to be fully powered by solar energy ("solar village").

About the Solankis of Gujarat:

  • They ruled Gujarat from the 10th to the 13th centuries, with their capital at Anahilapataka (Patan).
  • The stepwell "Rani ki Vav" at Patan was built in memory of Bhimdev I by his queen Udayamati.

Other Sun temples in India:

  • Konark Sun Temple (Odisha): built by the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I in the 13th century.
  • Martand Sun Temple (Kashmir): built by Lalitaditya Muktapida in the 8th century.
  • Katarmal Sun Temple (Uttarakhand): near Almora, from the 9th century.
  • Surya Pahar (Assam) and Dakshinarka temple (Gaya).

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Konark, Martand and Katarmal are other Sun temples, built by other rulers.

Quick tip

Remember: Modhera Sun Temple = Bhimdev I (Solanki), 1026-27 CE (Mehsana, Gujarat; Surya Kund; India's first solar village, 2022); Rani ki Vav = queen Udayamati.

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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.

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