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Harsha, Chalukyas and Pallavas – GK Quiz with Answers – Level 1

Basic questions on Harsha, Banabhatta's Harshacharita, Xuan Zang at Nalanda, Pulakeshin II and the Pallava temples of Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram.

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Questions, answer key and solutions.

Questions
50
Duration
25 min
Marks
50

Negative marking

Attempts
100
Access
Free
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Both use the same questions. Normal practice is untimed and needs no account: choose an option and the answer and solution appear at once. The Simulated test is the real computer-based format, with one 25-minute clock, a question palette and full screen, and your score, the key and the solutions arrive when you submit.

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The computer-based test format: one clock, a question palette, and a score the moment you submit.

  • A clock that does not pause. 25 minutes from the moment you begin, and the paper is submitted for you when it reaches zero.
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  • Full screen, proctored. The test takes over the screen; leaving it three times submits the paper.
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About this test

Harsha, Chalukyas and Pallavas Level 1 GK Practice Quiz: Ancient History Basics

This Level 1 quiz tests the basics of Harsha, the Chalukyas and the Pallavas, including Harsha's rise at Thanesar, Pulakeshin II, Xuan Zang's visit and the rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram. It is part of the Ancient Indian History practice sets on Aptitude360. Each question has a worked explanation, so you can check the facts behind every answer.

Topics covered in this Harsha, Chalukyas and Pallavas set

  • Harshavardhana's accession at Thanesar, his takeover of Kanauj and his eastern campaigns
  • Harsha's Sanskrit plays and Banabhatta's Harshacharita
  • Xuan Zang's stay in India, Nalanda and the manuscripts he took to China
  • Pulakeshin II, Ravikirti's prashasti and the Raichur Doab
  • Pallava capital Kanchipuram, Mahendravarman I and the Mattavilasa Prahasana
  • Temples at Mahabalipuram, Aihole and Pattadakal
  • Pallava assemblies: sabha, ur and nagaram, and the ghatikas

Key concepts to revise for this ancient history topic

  • Who wrote which work: Banabhatta, Ravikirti, Harsha and Mahendravarman I
  • Which temple stands at which site, and which dynasty or patron built it
  • Meaning of the sabha (brahmin landowners), ur (non-brahmin landowners) and nagaram (merchants)
  • How the Rashtrakutas and Cholas finally replaced the Chalukyas and Pallavas

Revision tips for Harsha and the southern kingdoms

  • Make a small table of ruler, dynasty, capital and court writer for quick recall
  • Learn temple sites in pairs: Shore Temple and Pancha Rathas with Mahabalipuram, Virupaksha with Pattadakal
  • Link Xuan Zang's account to Nalanda and Harsha's assemblies so the facts reinforce each other

Who should take this Level 1 quiz

Students starting the post-Gupta period in ancient Indian history for general awareness sections, before moving on to the harder levels.

FAQs about Harsha, Chalukyas and Pallavas – GK Quiz with Answers – Level 1

Who were the Pallavas and Chalukyas?
They were the two most important dynasties of south India after the Guptas. The Pallavas ruled from Kanchipuram, and the Chalukyas were centred on the Raichur Doab.
Who wrote the Harshacharita?
Banabhatta, Harsha's court poet, wrote the Harshacharita in Sanskrit. It is a biography of Harshavardhana.
Who stopped Harsha at the Narmada river?
The Chalukya king Pulakeshin II stopped Harsha when he tried to cross the Narmada into the Deccan.
Where is the Shore Temple located?
The Shore Temple is at Mahabalipuram on the Tamil Nadu coast. It was built by the Pallavas.

Test structure

How the paper is split, and how long each part runs. A section you have finished cannot be returned to.

SectionQuestionsTime
Harsha, Chalukyas and Pallavas GK Level 15025 min

Marking & rules

Total marks
50 across 50 questions.
Negative marking
A wrong answer costs marks. Leaving a question unanswered costs nothing.
Attempts
100 in total. An attempt is spent the moment you begin one.

What you get when you submit

The analysis is ready the moment you submit the paper.

Score and accuracy

Marks, percentage, right, wrong and skipped, and the time you took.

Section by section

The same figures for each section, so a weak one cannot hide in an average.

The full answer key

Every question with your answer, the right one, the working, and the video where there is one.

Where you stand

Your score against the spread of everyone else who has sat this test.

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