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Question 70 of 72 · World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies
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'Koneswaram', the ancient Hindu temple at Trincomalee, is located in:

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Answer: Option C — Sri Lanka

Detailed Solution

The Koneswaram Temple (Thirukonamalai Konesar Temple) is an ancient Hindu temple located on Swami Rock (Konamalai), a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, in Trincomalee, in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka.

About the Koneswaram Temple:

  • It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped as "Konesar" (Konanathar).
  • It is one of the "Pancha Ishwarams", the five ancient Shiva temples on the coasts of Sri Lanka:
  • Koneswaram (Trincomalee).
  • Naguleswaram (Keerimalai, near Jaffna).
  • Thiruketheeswaram (Mannar).
  • Munneswaram (Chilaw).
  • Tondeswaram (Devinuwara, near Matara).
  • It is mentioned in ancient Tamil literature and was praised in the "Tevaram" hymns by the 7th-century Nayanar saints Thirugnana Sambandar and Sundarar.
  • It was known as the "Temple of a Thousand Pillars".

It was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1622-1624, who used its stones to build Fort Fredrick. Some idols were hidden and later recovered.

The present temple was rebuilt in the 1950s.

The Ravana legend: according to tradition, the demon king Ravana, a great devotee of Shiva, worshipped here, and the cleft in the rock ("Ravana's Cleft") is linked to him.

About Trincomalee:

  • It has one of the finest deep-water natural harbours in the world.
  • It was an important base for the British Navy in the Second World War.

India and Sri Lanka have agreed to jointly develop the "Trincomalee Oil Tank Farm", a group of about 100 oil storage tanks built by the British during the Second World War, and India is helping develop Trincomalee as an energy hub (agreement of 2025).

Other important Hindu temples in Sri Lanka:

  • Nallur Kandaswamy Temple (Jaffna).
  • Kataragama Temple (Uva Province): sacred to Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims.
  • Seetha Amman Temple (Nuwara Eliya): associated with Sita in the Ramayana.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗India has many Shiva temples, but Koneswaram is in Sri Lanka.
  • ✗Nepal is not where Koneswaram is located.
  • ✗Bangladesh has temples such as Dhakeshwari in Dhaka.

Quick tip

Remember: Koneswaram = Trincomalee, Sri Lanka (Shiva; on Swami Rock; one of the Pancha Ishwarams; destroyed by the Portuguese in the 1620s; rebuilt 1950s); Trincomalee = deep natural harbour; Nallur = Jaffna.

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World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies, 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 world GK: countries with their capitals, currencies and parliaments, national symbols, famous landmarks, the longest, largest and highest features of the world, and international boundary lines such as the Radcliffe, McMahon and Durand Lines. The most common questions match a country with its capital or currency, or a parliament with its name (such as the Knesset of Israel or the Diet of Japan). Revise countries continent by continent, giving extra attention to India's neighbours. Questions on boundary lines usually ask which two countries a line separates. Practise the world GK 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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