UPSC Prelims 1999·GS1·art-and-culture·architecture

Consider the following statements: The striking feature of the Jama Masjid in Kashmir completed by Zain-ul-Abidin include(s) I. turret. II. similarity with Buddhist pagodas. III. Persian style. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. AI alone
  2. BI, II and III
  3. CII and III
  4. DI and IIICorrect

Explanation

The correct answer is D because the Jama Masjid in Srinagar, completed by Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, is a classic example of Indo-Saracenic architecture in Kashmir. Statement I is correct because the mosque features prominent turrets, known as minars, at the four corners of the courtyard. Statement III is correct because its layout follows the Persian style, specifically the four-iwan design with a central courtyard, which was a departure from local styles. Statement II is incorrect in this context because, while Kashmiri wooden architecture often shares a tiered roof aesthetic with pagodas, the specific striking features attributed to Zain-ul-Abidin's completion of this mosque are its Persian influence and the structural turrets. Therefore, statements I and III are the primary defining features.
art-and-culture: Consider the following statements: The striking feature of the Jama Masjid in Kashmir completed by Zain-ul-Abidin includ

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