At which one of the following places is the Vitthala temple located?
- A.Elephanta
- B.Chidambaram
- C.Hampi
- D.Nagarjunakonda
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, Hampi. The Vitthala temple stands in Hampi, the ruined capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in present-day Karnataka.
The temple is dedicated to Vitthala, a form of Vishnu, and was built mainly in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with major additions under Krishnadevaraya. It is known for its stone chariot, a shrine to Garuda shaped like a ratha, which appears on the fifty-rupee note, and for its musical pillars that give out notes when tapped. Its halls with richly carved pillars show the Vijayanagara style at its height. The Group of Monuments at Hampi was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
A is wrong because Elephanta, near Mumbai, is known for rock-cut Shiva caves. B is wrong because Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu is famous for the Nataraja temple of the Cholas. D is wrong because Nagarjunakonda in Andhra Pradesh is a Buddhist site of the Ikshvaku period.
Exam tip: Hampi = Vijayanagara capital on the Tungabhadra; Vitthala temple (stone chariot, musical pillars) and Virupaksha temple.
Practice Questions
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- B.The title of a work by Bhatti
- C.The capital of Chandella kings
- D.A temple at Khajuraho
Show answer
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Show answer
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