Question map
In which one of the following buildings the first extant true arch is found ?
Explanation
The Tomb of Sultan Balban, located in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park and dating to approximately 1287 AD, is widely recognized by historians as the first building in India to feature a true arch constructed with the scientific method of voussoirs. While earlier structures like the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra utilized the corbelled or 'false' arch technique due to the reliance on local artisans unfamiliar with Islamic structural engineering, Balban's tomb represents a critical transition in Indo-Islamic architecture. Although the Alai Darwaza (1311 AD) is often cited as the first building to employ a 'true dome' and fully realized Islamic principles with precision [2], the extant remains of Balban's tomb provide the earliest surviving evidence of the true arch's structural application in the Indian subcontinent.
Sources
- [1] https://files.core.ac.uk/download/pdf/144518671.pdf
- [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Architecture > p. 152
SIMILAR QUESTIONS
With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?
Which one of the following structures was constructed by Emperor Akbar in Fatehpur Sfcri?
Which one of the following monuments has a dome which is said to be one of the largest in the world ?