Medieval Indian Art Top 100 MCQs With Answer and Explanation

1. The earliest example of Indo-Islamic architecture in India is?
A) Jama Masjid, Delhi
B) Qutub Minar complex
C) Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
D) Alai Darwaza

2. The Qutub Minar was started by Qutbuddin Aibak and completed by?
A) Iltutmish
B) Alauddin Khalji
C) Balban
D) Firoz Shah Tughlaq

3. The Qutub Minar was built to commemorate?
A) Victory over Rajputs
B) Establishment of Muslim rule in India
C) Sufi saints
D) Coronation of Aibak

4. The Alai Darwaza (gateway at Qutub complex) was built by?
A) Iltutmish
B) Alauddin Khalji
C) Balban
D) Sikandar Lodi

5. The tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq is an example of?
A) Indo-Islamic style with sloping walls
B) Pure Dravidian style
C) Mughal garden tombs
D) Rajput haveli style

6. The first true dome in India is seen in?
A) Alai Darwaza
B) Tomb of Balban
C) Tomb of Iltutmish
D) Qutub Minar

7. The Tughlaq architecture is characterized by?
A) Ornamental arches
B) Simplicity, strength, sloping walls
C) Marble inlay work
D) Delicate carvings

8. The city of Tughlaqabad was founded by?
A) Iltutmish
B) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
C) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
D) Balban

9. Who built Hauz Khas (reservoir and madrasa complex) in Delhi?
A) Iltutmish
B) Alauddin Khalji
C) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
D) Sikandar Lodi

10. The tomb of Sikandar Lodi in Delhi is notable for being the first?
A) Mughal garden tomb
B) Dome built on lotus base
C) Indo-Saracenic building
D) Use of marble inlay

11. The Sayyid and Lodi tombs are mainly built in?
A) Pure Dravidian style
B) Double-dome Mughal style
C) Octagonal plan, simple design
D) Rajput style with balconies

12. The Indo-Islamic style under the Delhi Sultanate was a fusion of?
A) Persian + Central Asian + Indian (Hindu) traditions
B) Greek + Roman + Indian
C) Buddhist + Chinese + Persian
D) None of these

13. The main features of Sultanate architecture include?
A) True arch and dome
B) Use of red sandstone
C) Decorative calligraphy, geometric patterns
D) All of the above

14. The first city built by Alauddin Khalji was?
A) Siri
B) Tughlaqabad
C) Firozabad
D) Shahjahanabad

15. The tomb of Iltutmish is located in?
A) Ajmer
B) Delhi (Qutub Complex)
C) Agra
D) Lahore

16. The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque was built using?
A) Imported marble
B) Hindu and Jain temple remains
C) Red sandstone only
D) Glazed tiles

17. The decorative element introduced by Sultanate architecture but not present in Hindu style was?
A) Lotus motifs
B) Calligraphy and arabesque designs
C) Elephants and lions
D) Mandapas

18. Which Delhi Sultan built the Kotla Firoz Shah complex?
A) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
B) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
C) Sikandar Lodi
D) Alauddin Khalji

19. The tomb of Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior is known for?
A) Marble domes
B) Stone lattice (jali) work
C) Dravidian gopuram
D) Fresco paintings

20. The dome at the tomb of Sikandar Lodi later influenced which Mughal structure?
A) Humayun’s Tomb
B) Taj Mahal
C) Jama Masjid
D) Agra Fort

21. The tomb of Balban is significant because?
A) First true arch & dome in India
B) First marble tomb
C) First double-dome structure
D) Largest tomb in Delhi

22. The Lodis introduced which distinctive architectural feature?
A) Chatris and lotus domes
B) Pointed arches
C) Red sandstone minarets
D) Marble inlay

23. The Purana Qila (Old Fort) in Delhi was started by?
A) Babur
B) Humayun
C) Sher Shah Suri
D) Alauddin Khalji

24. The famous “Ashokan Pillar” was transported to Delhi by?
A) Alauddin Khalji
B) Balban
C) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
D) Sher Shah Suri

25. The best example of Lodi period architecture is?
A) Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
B) Humayun’s Tomb
C) Lodi Gardens tombs in Delhi
D) Red Fort

Vijayanagara Art & Architecture

26. The capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire was famous for its temples at?
A) Madurai
B) Hampi
C) Kanchipuram
D) Mysore

27. The characteristic feature of Vijayanagara temple architecture was?
A) Vimana
B) Tall Raya Gopurams (gateway towers)
C) Shikharas in Nagara style
D) Marble domes

28. The Vittala temple at Hampi is famous for?
A) Stone chariot and musical pillars
B) Dome architecture
C) Fresco paintings
D) Persian calligraphy

29. The Hazara Rama temple at Hampi is known for?
A) Bronze Nataraja
B) Panels depicting Ramayana scenes
C) Buddhist stupas
D) White marble carvings

30. The Vitthala and Hazara Rama temples were built under which dynasty?
A) Sangama
B) Tuluva
C) Aravidu
D) Rashtrakuta

Bahmani & Deccan Sultanates

31. The Bahmani capital was shifted from Gulbarga to?
A) Bijapur
B) Daulatabad
C) Bidar
D) Golconda

32. The Bahmani kingdom was famous for which style of decoration?
A) Frescoes
B) Persian-influenced tile work
C) Gopurams
D) Marble inlay

33. The Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur (Deccan Sultanates) is noted for?
A) Largest dome in India without support
B) Persian arches
C) Lotus base domes
D) Wooden carvings

34. The Charminar at Hyderabad was built by?
A) Quli Qutb Shah
B) Ibrahim Adil Shah II
C) Alauddin Hasan
D) Murshid Quli Khan

35. The Qutb Shahi tombs at Hyderabad are examples of?
A) Indo-Islamic with Persian influence
B) Pure Dravidian
C) Rajput style
D) Mughal marble inlay

36. The Ibrahim Rauza at Bijapur is called?
A) Mini Taj Mahal
B) Whispering Dome
C) Palace of Winds
D) Lotus Mahal

Rajput Architecture

37. The Rajput forts are mainly located in?
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Rajasthan
C) Punjab
D) Maharashtra

38. The largest fort in Rajasthan is?
A) Kumbhalgarh
B) Chittorgarh
C) Jaisalmer
D) Amer

39. The Kumbhalgarh fort was built by?
A) Rana Kumbha
B) Rana Pratap
C) Rana Sanga
D) Rana Amar Singh

40. The Rajput temple architecture belongs mainly to?
A) Nagara style
B) Dravidian style
C) Vesara style
D) Indo-Saracenic style

41. The Dilwara temples at Mount Abu are famous for?
A) Marble carvings
B) Bronze icons
C) Calligraphy
D) Gopurams

42. The “Vijay Stambh” at Chittorgarh was built to commemorate victory over?
A) Sultan of Malwa
B) Delhi Sultanate
C) Bahmani Sultans
D) Gujarat Sultan

43. The “Kirti Stambh” at Chittor was dedicated to?
A) Lord Vishnu
B) Jain Tirthankara Adinatha
C) Goddess Durga
D) Lord Shiva

44. The Hawa Mahal at Jaipur was built by?
A) Sawai Jai Singh
B) Sawai Pratap Singh
C) Raja Man Singh
D) Rana Sanga

45. The Amber Fort near Jaipur is a fine example of?
A) Indo-Islamic + Rajput architecture
B) Mughal marble inlay
C) Pure Dravidian
D) Portuguese style

46. The main decorative feature of Rajput palaces was?
A) Marble inlay
B) Fresco paintings (miniatures and murals)
C) Calligraphy
D) Jali work

47. The famous Sun Temple at Modhera (Gujarat) was built by?
A) Solankis
B) Chauhans
C) Rashtrakutas
D) Rajputs of Mewar

48. The Rajput school of painting mainly developed under?
A) Mughals
B) Chalukyas
C) Pandyas
D) Bahmanis

49. The Jaisalmer Fort is unique because?
A) Built with yellow sandstone, appears golden
B) Surrounded by lakes
C) White marble architecture
D) Contains tallest gopuram

50. Which of the following is a Rajput palace built on a lake?
A) Hawa Mahal
B) Jal Mahal
C) Amber Fort
D) Mehrangarh Fort

Mughal Architecture

51. The first Mughal garden tomb in India is?
A) Taj Mahal
B) Akbar’s Tomb at Sikandra
C) Humayun’s Tomb
D) Itimad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb

52. Who was the chief architect of Humayun’s Tomb?
A) Ustad Isa
B) Mirak Mirza Ghiyas
C) Shah Jahan
D) Ustad Ahmad Lahori

53. The Red Fort at Agra was built by?
A) Babur
B) Humayun
C) Akbar
D) Shah Jahan

54. Fatehpur Sikri was founded by Akbar to commemorate?
A) Victory in Gujarat
B) Birth of his son Salim (Jahangir)
C) Victory over Bengal
D) His marriage alliance with Rajputs

55. The Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri was built to celebrate Akbar’s victory over?
A) Gujarat
B) Malwa
C) Bengal
D) Deccan

56. The Diwan-i-Khas at Fatehpur Sikri is known for?
A) Lotus dome
B) Central pillar with carved capital (Akbar’s throne)
C) Marble pietra-dura
D) Whispering gallery

57. The tomb of Akbar at Sikandra near Agra is notable for?
A) Marble inlay
B) Combination of red sandstone and marble
C) Wooden carvings
D) White granite

58. The “Golden Age of Mughal architecture” is associated with?
A) Babur
B) Akbar
C) Jahangir
D) Shah Jahan

59. The Taj Mahal was built in memory of?
A) Mumtaz Mahal
B) Nur Jahan
C) Hamida Banu Begum
D) Jodha Bai

60. The chief architect of the Taj Mahal was?
A) Mirak Mirza Ghiyas
B) Ustad Ahmad Lahori
C) Ustad Isa
D) Abul Fazl

61. The Peacock Throne was made during the reign of?
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

62. The Jama Masjid in Delhi was built by?
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

63. The Badshahi Mosque at Lahore was built by?
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

64. The Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) inside Agra Fort was built by?
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

65. Which Mughal ruler built the Bibi ka Maqbara at Aurangabad, called “Deccan’s Taj”?
A) Akbar
B) Shah Jahan
C) Aurangzeb
D) Bahadur Shah I

Mughal Painting & Gardens

66. Mughal painting flourished first under?
A) Babur
B) Humayun
C) Akbar
D) Shah Jahan

67. The “Hamzanama” illustrations were prepared during whose reign?
A) Humayun
B) Akbar
C) Jahangir
D) Shah Jahan

68. Jahangir’s paintings are known for?
A) Portraits and naturalism
B) Religious themes
C) Abstract designs
D) Architecture only

69. The “Padshahnama” paintings belong to?
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

70. The Mughal emperor who was a naturalist and kept an album of flora and fauna paintings was?
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

71. The Mughal gardens were based on?
A) Nagara layout
B) Persian Charbagh style
C) Rajput terrace style
D) Buddhist monastic style

72. The Shalimar Bagh in Kashmir was built by?
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

73. The Nishat Bagh in Kashmir was laid out by?
A) Asaf Khan (brother of Nur Jahan)
B) Akbar
C) Shah Jahan
D) Dara Shikoh

74. The Mughal gardens symbolized?
A) Fertility and paradise
B) Military strength
C) Rajput valour
D) Simplicity and austerity

75. Which Mughal ruler discouraged painting and music at court?
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

76. The Indo-Islamic architectural style in India was primarily a blend of?
A) Persian + Central Asian + Indian (Hindu) styles
B) Greek + Roman
C) Chinese + Tibetan
D) None of these

77. The double-dome structure was first introduced in India in?
A) Lodhi Tombs
B) Humayun’s Tomb
C) Taj Mahal
D) Alai Darwaza

78. The Pietra-dura (marble inlay work with precious stones) technique was perfected under?
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb

79. The famous Lotus Mahal at Hampi is an example of?
A) Pure Dravidian style
B) Indo-Islamic synthesis
C) Buddhist cave style
D) Mughal Charbagh

80. The Indo-Islamic style introduced which new architectural features?
A) Arch, dome, minaret
B) Pietra dura and calligraphy
C) True vaulting and geometry
D) All of the above

81. Mughal painting is considered unique because?
A) Blend of Persian, Indian, and European elements
B) Focus only on religion
C) Abstract art only
D) Restricted to manuscripts

82. The Rajasthani school of miniature painting was inspired by?
A) Mughal painting
B) Persian manuscripts
C) Jain manuscripts
D) All of the above

83. The frescoes of Ajanta influenced which medieval art form?
A) Mughal miniatures
B) Rajput murals
C) Deccan Sultanate wall paintings
D) All of the above

84. The Mughal garden concept represented?
A) Military power
B) Islamic vision of paradise
C) Indian village economy
D) Buddhist Nirvana

85. The primary legacy of medieval Indian art is?
A) Fusion of styles (Hindu, Islamic, Persian)
B) Global fame of Indian textiles and crafts
C) Development of regional schools of painting
D) All of the above

86. The architectural style of Taj Mahal is best described as?
A) Indo-Persian
B) Indo-Islamic
C) Mughal (Indo-Islamic + Persian + Indian blend)
D) Rajput

87. The miniature paintings of Bijapur and Golconda show influence of?
A) Persian Safavid style
B) Mughal naturalism
C) Deccani traditions
D) All of the above

88. The most important contribution of Sultanate architecture was?
A) Introduction of arch and dome
B) Reintroduction of wooden architecture
C) Pure Hindu temples
D) Buddhist caves

89. Indo-Islamic architecture avoided human/animal depictions because?
A) Costly
B) Against Quranic injunctions
C) Indian artisans resisted
D) Lack of skill

90. Mughal painting declined under Aurangzeb because?
A) Artists migrated to Rajput courts
B) He disapproved of painting
C) Lack of royal patronage
D) All of the above

91. The earliest Mughal gardens in India were laid by?
A) Babur
B) Humayun
C) Akbar
D) Jahangir

92. The Rajput palace frescoes of Krishna’s life are associated with?
A) Mewar
B) Amber
C) Bundi–Kota schools
D) All of the above

93. The term “Indo-Saracenic” is generally used for?
A) Mughal architecture
B) British colonial architecture inspired by Indo-Islamic elements
C) Vijayanagara temples
D) Rajput forts

94. The Charminar, Taj Mahal, and Gol Gumbaz represent which theme?
A) Funerary architecture
B) Symbolic royal architecture
C) Fusion of local + Persian styles
D) All of the above

95. The chief medium of medieval Indian painting was?
A) Murals on temple walls
B) Miniatures on palm leaves/paper
C) Frescoes only
D) Tapestries

96. The Diwan-i-Khas inscription at Red Fort (Shah Jahan) reads?
A) “Paradise is here on earth, if there is one.”
B) “Allah is great.”
C) “Victory to Shah Jahan.”
D) “Justice is the pillar of kingship.”

97. Which region became the main refuge of artists after decline of Mughal patronage?
A) Bengal
B) Deccan
C) Rajput courts (Rajasthan, Punjab hills)
D) Gujarat

98. The medieval art legacy carried into the modern era through?
A) Continued Rajput paintings
B) Use of Mughal motifs in colonial buildings
C) Textile traditions (Brocade, Ikat, Patola)
D) All of the above

99. The Indo-Islamic architectural synthesis reached its peak in which structure?
A) Humayun’s Tomb
B) Taj Mahal
C) Fatehpur Sikri
D) Red Fort

100. The overall contribution of Medieval Indian Art can be summed up as?
A) Architectural grandeur (forts, palaces, mosques, tombs)
B) Development of Indo-Islamic fusion style
C) Flourishing of painting (Mughal, Rajput, Deccan)
D) All of the above