MONUMENTS OF INDIA - 2 - ANSWERS

1. B. Pallava

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the is the oldest structure in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. Located on the banks of the Vegavathy River, the temple was built from 685-705 CE by a Rajasimha (Narasimhavarman II) ruler of the Pallava Dynasty.

The Shore Temple (built in 700–728 AD) by Narasimhavarman II of the Pallava dynasty, is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. Built with blocks of granite, it has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984 as one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram near Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Pancha Rathas (also known as Pandava Rathas) is a monument complex at Mahabalipuram, on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, in Tamil Nadu, India. Pancha Rathas is an example of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture. The complex was carved during the reign of King Narasimhavarman I (630–668 AD): the idea of realising monolithic buildings, an innovation in Indian architecture, is attributed to this ruler. The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site inscribed by UNESCO as Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram.

2. A. Kolkata

After Tipu Sultan was defeated and killed on 4 May 1799 in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War while defending his fort of Seringapatam, his entire family was shifted to Calcutta by the British Government by 1806 including Prince Ghulam Mohammed Anwar Shah, Tipu’s 11^th son who was a kid then. Prince Ghulam Mohammed built the famous Tipu Sultan Shahi Masjid at Dharmatala Street, Kolkata in 1832 in memory of his father. A decade later, he also built the twin of the mosque at Tollygunge, the locality in Kolkata where the family lived after being relocated from Mysore.

3. A. Tamil Nadu

The Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu is seated at the Fort St. George, Chennai, which is the first British fortress in India, founded in 1644. Fort St. George has historically been the seat of the Government of Tamil Nadu since colonial times. During 1921–37, the precursor to the assembly – Madras Legislative Council, met at the council chambers within the fort. Later the fort has served as the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu from April 1957 – 30 March 1959, August 1959 – January 2010 and May 2011 – till present (overall more than 60 years).

4. A. Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati

The Ambubachi Mela is an annual mela held in the Hindu month of “Asadha” (usually in June) at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam, one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Pithas. During the 4 day of Ambubachi Mela, the shrine remains closed as the goddess is believed to go through the annual cycle of menstruation during this time stretch and opens for devotees only on the last day of the festival, which is followed by elaborate rituals (Devi Kamakhya is bathed and other rituals are performed to ensure that the Devi retrieves her purity).

Every year lakhs of pilgrims, starting from Sadhus to householders, black-clad Aghoris to Bauls, intellectuals to tantriks from all over India, come to Guwahati to take part in this mela.

5. C. Palayur, Kerala

St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is located at Palayur in Thrissur district in Kerala. As believed, it was established in 52 AD by St Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. It is one of the oldest churches in India and is called an Apostolic Church credited to the Apostolate of St. Thomas who preached and also started conversion of people to Christianity here. It was part of the seven churches that he established in India.