50 GK Quiz Questions on Indian Art and Architecture (With Answers)

Indian art and architecture span millennia, from the rock-cut caves of Ajanta to the soaring domes of Mughal monuments. This quiz covers key styles, artists, monuments, and art forms—perfect for Class 8 students and competitive exam aspirants. Test your knowledge of sculpture, painting, temple architecture, and more with these 50 interactive MCQs (with answers).

50 GK Quiz Questions on Indian Art and Architecture (With Answers)

1. The Ajanta cave paintings primarily belong to which period?

• A. Gupta
• B. Satavahana
• C. Chola
• D. Maurya

2. Who is considered the chief architect of the Taj Mahal?

• A. Ustad Ahmad Lahori
• B. Mirza Ghiyas Beg
• C. Ustad Isa
• D. Shah Jahan

3. The Kailasa temple at Ellora is carved out of:

• A. Single basalt rock
• B. Granite blocks
• C. Sandstone cliffs
• D. Marble veins

4. The Chola bronzes are famous for depicting:

• A. Buddhas
• B. Jain Tirthankaras
• C. Kings
• D. Hindu deities like Nataraja

5. Which script is used in the inscriptions of the Ashoka pillars?

• A. Brahmi
• B. Kharosthi
• C. Devanagari
• D. Tamil-Brahmi

6. The Lotus Mahal is located in which fort complex?

• A. Red Fort
• B. Golconda Fort
• C. Hampi
• D. Agra Fort

7. The Konark Sun Temple is shaped like a:

• A. Chariot
• B. Lotus
• C. Circle
• D. Pyramid

8. The frescoes of Shekhawati are found in:

• A. Gujarat
• B. Madhya Pradesh
• C. Maharashtra
• D. Rajasthan

9. Which Mughal emperor built the Jama Masjid in Delhi?

• A. Akbar
• B. Shah Jahan
• C. Aurangzeb
• D. Humayun

10. The stupa at Sanchi was originally commissioned by:

• A. Emperor Ashoka
• B. Chandragupta Maurya
• C. Harsha
• D. Kanishka

Indian Art and Culture Quiz for Class 8 and Competitive Exams

11. Madhubani painting originates from which state?

• A. Uttar Pradesh
• B. West Bengal
• C. Bihar
• D. Odisha

12. The Gomateshwara statue at Shravanabelagola is dedicated to:

• A. Vishnu
• B. Bahubali
• C. Shiva
• D. Buddha

13. Which fort is famous for its blue-painted houses?

• A. Mehrangarh
• B. Agra Fort
• C. Red Fort
• D. Jodhpur Fort

14. The Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur was built by:

• A. Raja Raja Chola I
• B. Rajendra Chola I
• C. Kulothunga Chola I
• D. Karikala Chola

15. Which dance form originated in Kerala?

• A. Bharatanatyam
• B. Kathakali
• C. Odissi
• D. Kathak

16. The rock-cut Kailasa temple belongs to which dynastic rule?

• A. Pallava
• B. Chalukya
• C. Rashtrakuta
• D. Kadamba

17. Pattachitra painting is associated with which state?

• A. Madhya Pradesh
• B. Karnataka
• C. Assam
• D. Odisha

18. The style of temple architecture with curvilinear towers is:

• A. Nagara
• B. Dravida
• C. Vesara
• D. Kalinga

19. Who painted the murals at the Ellora Caves?

• A. Unknown Rashtrakuta artists
• B. Buddhist monks
• C. Chola sculptors
• D. Mughal painters

20. The monument known as the “Red Fort of North India” is:

• A. Agra Fort
• B. Chittorgarh Fort
• C. Red Fort (Delhi)
• D. Golconda Fort

MCQ on Indian Architecture and Art Styles Across History

21. The terracotta temples of Bishnupur are built in which style?

• A. Dravida
• B. Nagara
• C. Vesara
• D. Bengal

22. Which British-era building in Kolkata was designed by William Emerson?

• A. Victoria Memorial
• B. Writers’ Building
• C. St. Paul’s Cathedral
• D. Fort William

23. Lodi Gardens are known for tombs of which dynasty?

• A. Mughal
• B. Lodi
• C. Sayyid
• D. Tughlaq

24. Jain temples at Dilwara are famous for:

• A. Frescoes
• B. Bronze work
• C. Marble carvings
• D. Terracotta panels

25. The Sun Temple of Modhera is dedicated to which deity?

• A. Surya
• B. Shiva
• C. Vishnu
• D. Durga

26. Which style combines Nagara and Dravida features?

• A. Kalinga
• B. Vesara
• C. Bengal
• D. Maru-Gurjara

27. The frescoes of Bagh Caves date from which century?

• A. 2nd
• B. 5th
• C. 9th
• D. 4th

28. The bara imambara is a landmark of which city?

• A. Lucknow
• B. Patna
• C. Hyderabad
• D. Delhi

29. The rock-cut sculptures at Mahabalipuram were commissioned by:

• A. Pallavas
• B. Cholas
• C. Pallavas
• D. Cheras

30. Which style is evident in the domes of Gol Gumbaz?

• A. Rajput
• B. Deccan Sultanate
• C. Mughal
• D. Maratha

Quiz on Indian Monuments, Temples, and Ancient Architecture

31. Sanchi Stupa is located in which state?

• A. Uttar Pradesh
• B. Bihar
• C. Madhya Pradesh
• D. Odisha

32. Hampi was the capital of which empire?

• A. Vijayanagara
• B. Chola
• C. Rashtrakuta
• D. Maratha

33. Qutub Minar was built by which ruler?

• A. Alauddin Khilji
• B. Iltutmish
• C. Firoz Shah Tughlaq
• D. Qutb al-Din Aibak

34. The Lotus Temple in Delhi belongs to which faith?

• A. Buddhism
• B. Baháʼí
• C. Hinduism
• D. Jainism

35. Fatehpur Sikri was founded by which emperor?

• A. Akbar
• B. Jahangir
• C. Akbar
• D. Shah Jahan

36. The Gol Gumbaz is noted for having the second largest:

• A. Dome
• B. Minaret
• C. Courtyard
• D. Courtyard

37. Elephanta Caves are dedicated to which deity?

• A. Buddha
• B. Shiva
• C. Vishnu
• D. Jain Tirthankaras

38. The Brihadeshwara Temple is located in:

• A. Chennai
• B. Madurai
• C. Mahabalipuram
• D. Thanjavur

39. The charbagh layout is associated with:

• A. Mughal gardens
• B. Rajput palaces
• C. Vijayanagara temples
• D. Buddhist monasteries

40. Madurai Meenakshi Temple is dedicated to:

• A. Shiva
• B. Vishnu
• C. Parvati and Shiva
• D. Murugan

Multiple Choice Questions on Indian Art Forms and Artists

41. Raja Ravi Varma was famous for painting in which style?

• A. Mughal miniature
• B. Bengal school
• C. Pattachitra
• D. European academic realism

42. The Bishnupur Gharana is associated with which art form?

• A. Music
• B. Dance
• C. Painting
• D. Sculpture

43. Jamini Roy belonged to which art movement?

• A. Progressive Artists’ Group
• B. Bengal revivalism
• C. Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group
• D. Baroda Group

44. Which metalwork is Jaipur particularly known for?

• A. Bronze
• B. Copper
• C. Blue pottery
• D. Silver filigree

45. Kathak dance evolved in the courts of:

• A. Mughal emperors
• B. Maratha rulers
• C. Chola kings
• D. Rashtrakuta kings

General Knowledge Questions on Indian Culture and Architecture

46. Which monument is called the “Painted Tank” at Belur?

• A. Chennakesava Temple tank
• B. Hoysaleswara Temple tank sculptures
• C. Somnathpur tank carvings
• D. Lingaraj Temple tank paintings

47. The term “Fresco” refers to:

• A. Oil painting on canvas
• B. Miniature painting
• C. Mural painting on wet plaster
• D. Etching on metal

48. Which city is known as the “City of Temples”?

• A. Varanasi
• B. Jaipur
• C. Udaipur
• D. Khajuraho

49. The Great Living Chola Temples are a UNESCO site in:

• A. Tamil Nadu
• B. Karnataka
• C. Andhra Pradesh
• D. Kerala

50. The traditional art of block printing in Rajasthan is called:

• A. Kalamkari
• B. Batik
• C. Sanganeri
• D. Pattachitra