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Question

Difficulty: HardCultural Heritage, Art, Architecture, Bhakti and Sufi Movements

Arrange the following prominent monuments of Indian art and architecture in chronological order of their construction, starting from the earliest to the latest:

  1. 1Lomas Rishi Cave (Barabar Hills)
  2. 2Dashavatara Temple (Deogarh)
  3. 3Virupaksha Temple (Pattadakal)
  4. 4Brihadisvara Temple (Thanjavur)
  5. 5Sun Temple (Konark)

Answer

The correct chronological sequence from earliest to latest is: Lomas Rishi Cave (3rd century BCE) → Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh (early 6th century CE) → Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal (c. 740 CE) → Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur (c. 1010 CE) → Sun Temple, Konark (c. 1250 CE).
The correct order follows the historical timeline of Indian architectural development: Lomas Rishi Cave (Mauryan period, 3rd century BCE), Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh (Gupta period, 6th century CE), Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal (Badami Chalukya dynasty, c. 740 CE), Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur (Imperial Chola dynasty, c. 1010 CE), and Sun Temple at Konark (Eastern Ganga dynasty, c. 1250 CE).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the era of Lomas Rishi Cave
Mauryan Period (3rd century BCE), making it the oldest rock-cut architectural specimen among the given choices.
Rock-cut cave architecture originated under Mauryan patronage in Bihar for Ajivika ascetics.
2
Determine the era of Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh
Gupta Period (early 6th century CE), representing classic early structural stone temple design.
Gupta temple architecture developed after Mauryan rock-cut structures and introduced early curvilinear towers (shikharas).
3
Determine the era of Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal
Badami Chalukya Period (c. 740 CE), representing southern Dravida style development in Karnataka.
Built in the 8th century CE, it belongs to the early medieval regional temple building phase.
4
Determine the era of Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur
Imperial Chola Period (c. 1010 CE), demonstrating monumental Dravidian temple architecture.
Built by Rajaraja I at the turn of the 11th century CE, postdating Chalukyan monuments.
5
Determine the era of Sun Temple at Konark
Eastern Ganga Dynasty Period (c. 1250 CE), representing mature Kalinga Nagara style.
Constructed by Narasimhadeva I in the mid-13th century CE, completing the sequence as the latest structure.

Key Concept

Chronological progression of Indian rock-cut and structural temple architecture across Mauryan, Gupta, Chalukya, Chola, and Kalinga dynasties.
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Topics

Cultural Heritage, Art, Architecture, Bhakti and Sufi Movements

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