South Indian Kingdoms PYQs – Medieval History, SSC & Railway

Topic: Rise of Chola Dynasty
TheCholasrose to power in the 9th century CE by overthrowing thePallava dynasty.
Key Facts:
• Vijayalaya Chola (848-871 CE) defeated the Pallavas and established Chola supremacy.
• He captured Thanjavur from the Pallavas and made it the Chola capital.
• The Pallavas had ruled Tamil Nadu from 3rd to 9th century CE.
Answer: Option 3 → Pallavas

Topic:Chola Architecture - Airavatesvara Temple
Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram (Tamil Nadu)
Built by Rajaraja Chola II (12th century)
Key Features:
• 24-metre-highvimana(temple tower)
• Stone image ofShiva
• UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Part of Great Living Chola Temples
Answer: Option 1 → Airavatesvara Temple

Chola Naval Expansion
Rajaraja I (985-1014 CE)established the Chola naval supremacy.
Key Achievements:
• Built powerful navy for overseas conquests
• Conquered northern Sri Lanka
• Captured Maldives islands
• Annexed Lakshadweep
His son Rajendra I continued naval expansion to Southeast Asia.
Answer: Option 2 → Rajaraja I

Correct Answer: Village-level governance (Option 3)
'Ur' was a general village assembly in the Chola administrative system, comprising mainly peasant cultivators (non-Brahmin villagers). It was responsible for managing local village affairs such as maintaining common village lands, resolving local disputes, and overseeing taxation within the village. It functioned as a unit of local self-governance.
Why others are wrong:
- Military recruitment: This was not the function of 'Ur'; military matters were handled at higher levels.
- Temple construction: Temples were managed by 'Sabha' (Brahmin assemblies) or specific temple committees.
- Collection of taxes from foreign traders: This was handled by trade guilds and royal officials, not 'Ur'.

Correct Answer: They provided fertile soil and moisture for crops — Option (a)
During the Chola period (9th–13th centuries CE), the Kaveri river and its extensive network of canals and irrigation channels played a pivotal role in agriculture. The Cholas were renowned for their sophisticated water management and irrigation systems: The river's annual floods deposited rich alluvial silt (fertile soil) on agricultural lands; The canal network ensured year-round water supply for rice cultivation in the delta region; The Kaveri delta became one of the most productive agricultural regions in India ('the rice bowl of South India'); Grand Anicut ( Kallanai ) — one of the oldest water diversion structures in the world — was built across the Kaveri to regulate water flow for irrigation. This agricultural surplus supported the Chola empire's prosperity, trade, and grand temple-building activities.
Option (b) They provided protection from invasions — Incorrect: While rivers can serve as natural barriers, the primary role of Kaveri canals in the Chola period was agricultural irrigation, not military defence .
Option (c) They transported goods for trade — Incorrect: While the Kaveri river facilitated some trade navigation, the canals' primary function was irrigation for agriculture rather than commercial goods transport.
Option (d) They were used for fishing and boat transport — Incorrect: Although the Kaveri supported fishing activities, the canal system's primary agricultural purpose was soil enrichment and irrigation for crop cultivation.

Correct Answer: 985 CE — Option (a)
Rajaraja I (also called Rajaraja the Great) became the king of the Chola Empire in 985 CE. He ruled until 1014 CE and is considered one of the greatest rulers in Indian history. During his reign, he expanded the Chola Empire significantly: conquered Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of the Deccan, and territories in Southeast Asia. He built the famous Brihadeeswara Temple ( Peruvudaiyar Kovil) in Thanjavur (Tanjore), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He also reorganised the administration and introduced systematic land surveys. Rajaraja I's reign marked the beginning of the golden age of the Chola Empire, which was continued by his son Rajendra Chola I.
Option (b) 1008 — Incorrect: 1008 CE falls within Rajaraja I's reign (985–1014 CE), not the year he became king. By 1008, he had already been ruling for 23 years.
Option (c) 1028 — Incorrect: 1028 CE is well after Rajaraja I's death (c. 1014 CE); by 1028, his son Rajendra Chola I was already on the Chola throne.
Option (d) 1045 — Incorrect: 1045 CE falls during the reign of Rajadhiraja I (son of Rajendra I); it is far too late to be the accession year of Rajaraja I.

Correct Answer: Rudramadevi — Option (b)
Rudramadevi (c. 1262–1289 CE) of the Kakatiya dynasty of the Deccan is famous for issuing royal inscriptions using a masculine name — ' Rudradeva Maharaja' — to present herself as a male ruler in order to gain political legitimacy and command respect in a patriarchal medieval society. She disguised her gender identity on official records and coins. She was a powerful and effective ruler who defended her kingdom against the Yadavas, Cholas, and other enemies. The Venetian traveller Marco Polo visited her kingdom and recorded her rule. Rudramadevi is considered one of the most notable female rulers of medieval India.
Option (a) Kittur Chennamma — Incorrect: Kittur Chennamma (1778–1829), Queen of Kittur in present-day Karnataka, is famous for fighting against the British East India Company, but she did not disguise her gender on inscriptions.
Option (c) Chand Bibi — Incorrect: Chand Bibi (1550–1599), regent of Bijapur and Ahmednagar, was known for her bravery and diplomatic skills but did not change her name on inscriptions to appear male.
Option (d) Durgavati — Incorrect: Rani Durgavati (1524–1564), ruler of the Gondwana kingdom, is celebrated for her valour in battle, but she did not disguise her gender through inscriptions or a male name.

Correct Answer: Both I and II — Option (c)
Chola inscriptions (from the 9th–13th centuries CE) mention several categories of land with specific purposes: Shalabhoga (also ' Salabhoga ') refers to land set apart for the maintenance of schools ( Salaas /Salais). The revenue from such land was used to fund educational institutions. Devadana (literally 'gift to God') refers to land donated to temples for their maintenance. Tirunamattukkani is another term for temple land (land given as a religious gift). Both statements (I and II) are accurate descriptions of these Chola land categories as documented in their inscriptions and supported by historical scholarship on South Indian temple economies and administration.
Option (a) Only I — Incorrect: Statement II is also correct — Devadana and Tirunamattukkani do refer to land gifted to temples in Chola inscriptions.
Option (b) Only II — Incorrect: Statement I is also correct — Shalabhoga does refer to land set apart for school maintenance in Chola inscriptions.
Option (d) Neither I nor II — Incorrect: Both statements are historically accurate descriptions of Chola land categories.

Topic: Chola Dynasty - Capital Cities
Gangaikondacholapuramwas built byRajendra I(1012-1044 CE).
He established it as the new capital after his successful military campaign to the Ganges.
The name means 'The city of the Chola who conquered the Ganga'.
It replaced Thanjavur as the Chola capital.
Answer: Option 4 → Rajendra I

Topic: Chola Dynasty - Medieval India
Gangaikondameans 'conqueror of the Ganga'.
Rajendra I(1014-1044 CE) was the son of Rajaraja I.
He led a successful military expedition to North India,
reaching the banks of the Ganga river.
To commemorate this victory, he assumed the title
'Gangaikonda Chola'and built a new capital
calledGangaikondacholapuram.
Answer: Option 2 → Rajendra I

Topic: Chola Empire - Vijayalaya
Vijayalaya (c. 848-871 CE) founded the medieval Chola dynasty.
He was initially afeudatory chief under the Pallavas.
He captured Thanjavur from the Muttaraiyar chiefs and established Chola power.
Built the famous Narthamalai temple dedicated to Goddess Nisumbhasudini .
Answer: Option 4 → Pallavas

The Muttaraiyars were local chieftains who controlled the Cauvery delta region and were subordinate to the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. When the Chola power revived under Vijayalaya Chola in the 9th century, he defeated the Muttaraiyars and took control of Thanjavur, ending their feudatory status under the Pallavas.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Chalukyas of Kalyani: They were a Deccan power; the Muttaraiyars of the Cauvery delta were not under them.
- Pandyas of Madurai: The Pandyas were rivals of both the Pallavas and later the Cholas; the Muttaraiyars were under the Pallavas.
- Chola kings of Uraiyar: The early Cholas were a predecessor dynasty; the Muttaraiyars were contemporaries who were subordinate to the Pallavas, not the early Cholas.

The correct answer is Dantidurga (Option 2). Dantidurga (also called Dantivarman ) was the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. Around 753 CE, he overthrew his Chalukya overlord Kirtivarman II and established the Rashtrakuta kingdom, with Manyakheta ( Malkhed ) as its capital. Option 1 (Dhruva) was a later Rashtrakuta ruler known for military victories. Option 3 ( Amoghvarsha ) was a great Rashtrakuta ruler known for arts and literature. Option 4 (Krishna I) built the Kailasa Temple at Ellora.

Correct Answer: Forced labour
Vetti (also written as 'Vetti') was a form of forced/unpaid labour tax collected during the Chola period in South India. Peasants and lower-caste communities were required to provide free labour to the king and landlords as a form of taxation. It was similar to the 'begar' system.
Why other options are wrong:
Cash - Vetti was not a monetary tax.
Gold - Vetti was not collected in gold.
Grain - Grain tax was called 'Kadamai'; Vetti specifically referred to forced labour.

Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur is correct. Built by Raja Raja Chola I (1003–1010 CE), it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the first Chola temple to feature a massive monolithic granite vimana (shikhara/cupola) above the sanctum, standing about 66 metres tall.
• Kailasanatha Temple, Kanchipuram: A Pallava temple (8th century), not Chola; its shikhara is not a single monolithic granite piece.
• Meenakshi Temple, Madurai: A Madurai Nayak-era temple (17th century), not a Chola creation.
• Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal: A Chalukya temple (8th century), unrelated to the Chola dynasty.

The Chola Dynasty (particularly under Rajendra Chola I in the 11th century CE) was renowned for its powerful navy and its famous maritime expeditions to Southeast Asia. They launched military campaigns against kingdoms in present-day Malaysia, Indonesia (Srivijaya kingdom), and even reached Sri Lanka. Their naval dominance allowed them to control trade routes in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal.
Option 1 is incorrect: The Cholas did not conduct major naval expeditions to the Arabian Peninsula.
Option 3 is incorrect: The Cholas had no significant military or naval presence in Central Asia.
Option 4 is incorrect: While there were trade contacts with East Africa, the Cholas were not known for naval expeditions to that region.

Correct Answer: Village administration
The Uttaramerur inscriptions (from the reign of Parantaka I, ~920 CE) are famous for detailing the system of local self-governance in the Chola period. They describe the qualifications, procedures for election, and duties of village assembly members (Mahasabha) — making them a key source on Chola-era village administration.
Option 1 (Maritime trade): Incorrect. Chola maritime trade is documented elsewhere.
Option 2 (Military conquest): Incorrect. Military records are found in other Chola inscriptions.
Option 3 (Temple rituals): Incorrect. Temple administration is described in other inscriptions.

Correct Answer: Kulottunga I
Kulottunga I (reign 1070–1120 CE) was a great Chola king who is famous for abolishing transit duties/tolls ( Sungam ). ' Sungam Tavirtta Cholan' means 'the Chola who abolished tolls/taxes' in Tamil. This earned him great popularity and is commemorated in the text Kulottunga Cholan Ula.
Option 2 (Rajendra III): Incorrect. He was a later and weaker Chola ruler.
Option 3 (Rajaraja I): Incorrect. He is known for building the Brihadeeswarar Temple.
Option 4 (Kulottunga III): Incorrect. He was a later Chola king.

The correct answer is the Rashtrakuta Dynasty , founded by Dantidurga in the mid-8th century CE. Initially, the Rashtrakutas were feudatories of the Chalukyas of Badami. Around 753 CE, Dantidurga defeated the Chalukya king Kirtivarman II and established independent power in the Deccan region. The Rashtrakutas soon rose to prominence and became one of the most powerful dynasties of early medieval India. Their empire extended over large parts of the Deccan, and they were known for military conquests, cultural patronage, and architectural achievements, including the famous Kailasa temple at Ellora.

The correct answer is option 2, Rajendra Chola I. He is credited with significant efforts in expanding irrigation facilities to support agriculture during the Chola period. Rajendra Chola I built a number of tanks, reservoirs, and canals to ensure water supply for cultivation. His reign is marked by an emphasis on agricultural prosperity, which in turn strengthened the economic base of the Chola Empire. While Raja Raja Chola I was a great conqueror and builder of temples, Rajendra Chola I is more specifically remembered for his irrigation works and water management systems that helped sustain large-scale agriculture.

Correct Answer: Option 4 – Kadamai
Kadamai (also spelled Kadmai ) was the term used for land revenue in the Chola kingdom. It was the primary tax paid by peasants to the Chola state based on agricultural produce and land holdings.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 (Vetti): Vetti was a form of forced/unpaid labour ( begar ) in the Chola kingdom, not land revenue.
Option 2 (Ladder tax): This is not a historical tax term associated with the Chola kingdom.
Option 3 ( Cess tax): Cess is a modern tax concept; it was not the Chola term for land revenue.

Rajendra Chola I (1012–1044 CE) was the son of Rajaraja Chola I. He expanded the Chola Empire far beyond his father's achievements, launching military campaigns up to the Gangetic plains and South East Asia. He is famous for his naval expedition and for founding the city Gangaikonda Cholapuram .
Vijayalaya was the founder of the Chola dynasty; Parantaka Chola I and Kulothunga were other Chola rulers. The candidate incorrectly selected Vijayalaya .

Rajaraja I (985–1014 CE), also known as Rajaraja the Great, is considered the most powerful Chola ruler. He expanded the Chola Empire across South India and Sri Lanka, built the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur, and established a strong naval force.
Dantidurga was a Rashtrakuta ruler; Harshvardhan was a North Indian king of the Pushyabhuti dynasty; Virarajendra Chola was a later and less prominent Chola king. Hence, Rajaraja I is correct.

Correct Answer: Both I and II
Vijayalaya Chola (c. 848-871 CE) was the founder of the medieval Chola dynasty. After capturing the Kaveri delta from the Muttaraiyar chiefs, he:
Statement I: He established the town of Thanjavur (Tanjore) and made it his capital - CORRECT.
Statement II: He built a temple for the goddess Nishumbhasudini (a form of goddess Durga/Kali) at Thanjavur - CORRECT.
Both actions are historically documented as part of Vijayalaya Chola's activities after capturing the Kaveri delta, marking the beginning of the great Chola Empire.
Why 'Only I', 'Only II', and 'Neither' are wrong: Both statements are historically accurate.

'Ur' was the assembly of non-Brahmin landholding villagers in early South Indian (including Chola) villages.
It was a local self-governing council, not an official, priest or commander.
Hence the answer is a village assembly or council.

The Bahmani Sultanate (1347) was founded by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah in the Deccan after revolt against the Tughlaqs. It had no link with the Chola or Chera dynasties.
Naval expeditions to Southeast Asia were carried out by the Cholas.
Tamil literary renaissance was supported by both the Cholas and Cheras.
Devadasi temple system flourished under Chola patronage.

Krishna III of the Rashtrakuta dynasty defeated Parantaka I in the Battle of Takkolam (949 CE).
Dantidurga founded the dynasty; Krishna I and Govinda III ruled earlier.
Hence the answer is Krishna III.

• The Chola kingdom was largely in the Deccan and Tamil region with rocky terrain.
• Apart from rocky land, the scarcity of irrigation water was the major challenge.
• The Cholas built elaborate irrigation systems — tanks, canals, and reservoirs — to overcome this.
• The Grand Anicut ( Kallanai ) on the Kaveri River is a famous example.
• Answer: Irrigation water

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Dravidian
The Brihadeeswarar Temple (also called the Big Temple or Peruvudaiyar Kovil) in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, built by Chola emperor Raja Raja I (completed c. 1010 CE), is the finest example of Dravidian temple architecture. Features: a massive vimana (tower over the sanctum) of 66 metres — one of the tallest in India at the time, a monolithic Nandi (bull), granite construction, intricate carvings, Gopurams (gateway towers). The Brihadeeswarar Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (part of the Great Living Chola Temples, inscribed 1987).
Option 1 ( Vesara ): A hybrid style combining Nagara and Dravidian features; found in Karnataka (e.g., Hoysala temples at Halebid and Belur ).
Option 3 (Nagara): North Indian style with a curvilinear shikhara (tower); examples include Kandariya Mahadeva Temple (Khajuraho), Sun Temple (Konark is Kalinga sub-style).
Option 4 (Indo-Saracenic): A colonial-era architectural style combining Indian and Islamic elements; used in British-era buildings like the Victoria Memorial (Kolkata), Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai).

Correct Answer: Option 4 – Neither 1 nor Statement 2
Statement I is FALSE: The Kakatiyas (capital: Warangal, not Manyakheta) were successors of the Eastern Chalukyas in the eastern Deccan (present-day Telangana/Andhra). Manyakheta (Malkhed) was the capital of the Rashtrakutas and later the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani — not the Kakatiyas. The primary successors to the Later/Western Chalukyas in western Deccan were the Kalachuris and the Hoysalas, not the Kakatiyas.
Statement II is FALSE: The Hoysalas (capital: Dwarasamudra/Halebid, Karnataka) were NOT based in Devagiri — Devagiri was the capital of the Yadavas (Sevunas). Also, the Hoysalas were not the 'sole dynasty' responsible for overthrowing the Later Chalukyas — multiple dynasties (Kalachuris, Yadavas, Kakatiyas) contributed to the Chalukyan decline.
Both statements contain factual errors in the capitals/locations and roles attributed, making both incorrect.

Correct Answer: Option 3 – A is true, but R is false
Assertion A is TRUE: The Sittanavasal cave (Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu) and Tirumalaipuram caves contain important murals from the Pandya period (8th–10th century CE), representing a significant phase of South Indian painting.
Reason R is FALSE on two counts: (1) These murals are found on the CEILINGS and inner walls of the caves, not on 'outer walls of temples.' (2) The Sittanavasal murals depict scenes of a lotus pond with lotuses, fish, elephants, buffaloes, and human figures — they do NOT primarily depict 'mythological war scenes.' The content is more devotional/naturalistic.
Since A is true but R is false, Option 3 (C) is the correct answer.