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

1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza in Lucknow.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri (city of victory) near Agra, and a palace-cum-fort complex in it. Many buildings in Gujarati and Bengali styles are found in this complex. The most magnificent building in it is the Jama Masjid and the gateway to it called Buland Darwaza (the Lofty Gate). Other important buildings at Fatehpur Sikri are Jodha Bai’s palace, the Panch Mahal with five storeys built in the plan of a Buddhist Vihara, the Diwani-Khas, the Diwan-i-Aam, and Sheikh Salim Chisti’s tomb.
• The Buland Darwaza (With 42 steps leading up to it, this 53.63-m-high and 35-m-wide gateway is the highest in the world) was built (completed in 1575) to commemorate Akbar’s victory over Gujarat.
  • It incorporates almost all the essential features of Akbar’s architectural traditions: mainly red sandstone, stone carvings, relief by inserting white marble, etc
  • It is constructed in red and yellow sandstone with white marble inlay outlining the span of the arches.
  • The design of the Buland Darwaza was influenced by Timurid architecture, and like Humayun’s Tomb, its grand scale reflects its Central Asian roots
  • Although some structures feature decorative white marble inlay, red sandstone remains the primary construction material.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Asaf-ud-Daula (1775 to 1797), relocated the capital from Faizabad to Lucknow. His era was marked by a severe famine that led to a significant economic crisis. The Imam-Bara & the Rumi-Gate were constructed as a famine relief measure in 1784. Consciously designed by its architect Kifayatullah, the 164 feet long and 52 feet wide building is constructed in brick with high quality limestone (not red sandstone and marble). The arched roof of the Imam-Bara, which is built without a single beam, is the largest of its kind in the world. Stucco ornamentation (gajkari) was used to decorate the monuments, giving it a deep relief effect even on flat wall

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2; Difficulty Level: Hard