With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:White marble was

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UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2018 UPSC Prelims History paper.

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Question

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: D — Neither 1 nor 2Step-by-step Solution:Statement 1 — Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri made of white marble: This is incorrect. The dominant building material at Fatehpur Sikri — including the Buland Darwaza — is red sandstone, not white marble. The Buland Darwaza (Gate of Magnificence), built by Akbar to commemorate his Gujarat conquest, follows his characteristic architectural tradition of red sandstone construction with selective marble inlays and Quranic inscriptions in white marble. The overall structure is red sandstone, not white marble. ✗Statement 2 — Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow made of red sandstone and marble: This is incorrect. The Bara Imambara (also called Asafi Imambara) and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow, built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784, were constructed primarily using brick and lime (stucco/lakhauri bricks) — not red sandstone and marble. The Nawabi architecture of Lucknow developed a distinct style using locally available materials — brick, lime plaster (stucco/gajkari), and shells/mother of pearl for decorative elements. The avoidance of stone and marble was a conscious stylistic choice driven partly by economics and partly by the unique Lucknow aesthetic. ✗Why other options are incorrect:Option A (1 only): Statement 1 is wrong — Buland Darwaza is red sandstone with marble inlays, not predominantly white marble.Option B (2 only): Statement 2 is wrong — Lucknow's Nawabi monuments use brick and lime, not red sandstone and marble.Option C (Both 1 and 2): Both statements are factually incorrect.Key Concept: Mughal architecture materials: Akbar's era — red sandstone (Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort); Shah Jahan's era — white marble (Taj Mahal, Moti Masjid). Fatehpur Sikri: built by Akbar (1571-85); red sandstone dominant; Buland Darwaza — tallest gateway in world (54m); Salim Chishti's tomb — white marble exception. Nawabi Lucknow architecture: brick and lime; stucco (gajkari) decoration; Bara Imambara — largest barrel-vaulted hall in Asia; Rumi Darwaza — called Turkish Gateway, resembles Constantinople gateway; built using lakhauri (thin Mughal-era) bricks.

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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