A Colourful Tour of India Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sikhism

Officially known as the Harmandar Sahib, which means 'House of God', this is a gurudwara, the place of worship for Sikhs. It has come to be known as the Golden Temple due to the gold plating on the structure. Located in Amritsar, Punjab, it is one of the most important shrines in Sikhism.

The place is open to all - Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike. Every day, hundreds of volunteers prepare meals for all visitors which is then served in a large dining hall. The food is served free of charge and is known as a langar. Sikhs set up such langars or community kitchens in many places ranging from hospitals to calamity stricken regions, as a way of providing service to those in need.

Answer: Jaipur

Jaipur is the capital of the state of Rajasthan. The city is nicknamed the 'Pink City' due to the many pink coloured buildings found here. To honour the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1876, the then king Sawai Ram Singh I had all the buildings of the city painted pink as a form of welcome. Many of the buildings and historic monuments in the old city continue to retain their pink hues.

The Patrika Gate stands at the entrance of the Jawahar Circle Garden and was built in 2009. The gate lies on the route between Jaipur's airport and the main city. In keeping with the city's nickname, the outer part of the gate is painted pink. The interior is awash in vibrant colours. Each of the pillars inside represents a distinct aspect of Rajasthani culture and history.

Answer: Pondicherry

Pondicherry, often shortened to just Pondy, is the capital of the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry. It lies on the eastern coast of India, bordering the Bay of Bengal. Due to its location, Pondicherry has been a bustling trading centre for hundreds of years. The French first colonized this city in 1674, though it was lost to the British for some time, before it reverted to being under French control. It continued to be part of French India even after India attained independence from the British in 1948, becoming a part of India only in 1954.

Pondicherry's French Quarter is home to many yellow coloured buildings including the French Consulate and the French Institute of India. Streets are named Rue (French for 'road') and it is not uncommon to for the locals to be fluent in both French and Tamil.

Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu were all Portuguese colonies in India.

Answer: Mughal

Fatehpur Sikri is found near the town of Agra, which is more famous as the home of the Taj Mahal. While a small village had existed here, the Mughal Emperor Akbar built the walled city of Fatehpur Sikri to serve as his capital. The name translates to 'City of Victory', alluding to the Mughals' conquest of nearby Gujarat.

The 177 feet Buland Darwaza, which means 'Gate of Victory, serves as the entrance to the city. Built of red sandstone, construction was completed in the mid-16th century and the city served as the capital from 1571 to 1585.

Answer: Portugal

All of the four European powers listed in the options have had territories within the modern day country of India. Goa, however, was a Portuguese colony right up to 1961, when it became part of India. The state continues to have a sizeable Christian population, reflecting its colonial past.

The Se Cathedral was built in 1619 and consecrated in 1640. Se is Portuguese for See, the area under a bishop's jurisdiction. There are similarly named cathedrals in Lisbon, Portugal, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The formal name of the cathedral is Sé Catedral de Santa Catarina. It was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese in capturing the city now known as Old Goa. As this victory was won on the feast day of Saint Catherine, the cathedral is dedicated to her.

Answer: Kerala

Munnar is found in the southern part of India, in the state of Kerala. It lies within the Western Ghats or Sahyadris, a mountain range that runs along the entire western coast of the country. Tea plantations were introduced to Munnar by the British who realised that the agricultural conditions were well suited to cultivating these plants. Tea is also famously grown in the Assam and Darjeeling regions of India, both of which have also given their name to types of tea.

The other three states do not have a climate conducive to growing tea.

Answer: Jodhpur

Jodhpur is found in the state of Rajashtan, along the border of the Thar desert. Lying in the shadow of the Mehrangarh Fort that looms over it, Jodhpur earned its nickname of 'Blue City' due to the many blue houses in the city. There are many theories about the colour of these buildings.

Some state the colour helps to keep the houses cool in the hot summer months, while others state it acts like an insect repellent. Still others claim it was used to distinguish the Brahmin (upper caste) houses.

Answer: Karnataka

Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire that flourished in southern India in the 14th century. Finding mention in the writings of various European travellers, the city of Hampi was known for its prosperity, before it fell to ruin after the end of Vijayanagara Empire. From Hindu temples to a stepped well, the ruins of Hampi contain various monuments of archaelogical importance, leading to its designation as a World Heritage site.

The photo shows the Lotus Mahal ('Lotus Palace'). It is found within the Zenana Enclosure, an area within Hampi that was used exclusively by the royal women.

Answer: False

The Tawang Monastery is found in the town of the same name in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. While it is the largest monastery in India, the largest in the world is the Potala Palace in Lhasa Tibet, the former residence of the Dalai Lama.

The Tawang Monastery was built in 1680-81 and is known as Gaden Namgyal Lhatse in Tibetan which translates to 'celestial paradise on a clear night'. The picture shows the assembly hall of the monastery.

Answer: March

The festival of colours is known as Holi. It is celebrated in time to welcome spring and usually falls in the middle of March, in the Hindu calendar month of Phalgun. The night prior a bonfire is lit. This commemorates the destruction of Holika, the sister of a demon. Hindus pray that the inner evil within each person is destroyed the same way.

The next day is celebrated by applying festive colours on each other. Traditionally, the colours were prepared organically using ingredients that helped keep spring allergies at bay, giving a practical meaning to the festival. Tourists and photographers typically flock to northern India, especially places associated with the Hindu god Krishna, to watch the festival played in full fervour.