Delhi....A City of Seven Cities Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Delhi is a beautiful city, full of monuments ranging from the Ashokan Edicts to beautiful Indo-Islamic architecture to the colonial bungalows and palaces of the British era. There are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Delhi. Which of the following is not a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Delhi?

Answer: Lotus Temple

Delhi consists of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are:

1. The Red Fort: Built by Shah Jahan; it includes one of the seven cities of Delhi, Shahjahanabad, the Mughal capital. It has various beautiful monuments such as Moti Masjid (the Pearl Mosque), Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of the Private Audience), Diwan-i-Aaam (Hall of the Public), and several other wonderful sites.

2. The Qutub Minar: Built by the Slave ruler Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, it is the tallest brick minaret in the world. There are various monuments around it too, such as Quawat-ul-Islam, the first mosque in India, and the Iron Pillar of Mehrauli.

3. Humayun's Tomb: This is a beautiful tomb located in Eastern Delhi. Built by the Mughal ruler Humayun's widow, it became a wonderful model for the beautiful mausoleum Taj Mahal.

2. The Qutub Minar complex is the symbol and icon of Delhi. The magnificent Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world. Which of the following monuments are not located in this complex?

Answer: Tomb of Raziya Sultan

The Qutub Minar Complex at Mehrauli was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1993. It comprises of various monuments. These are:

1. The Qutub Minar: The tallest brick minaret in the world, it was built by the Slave ruler Qutub-ud-din Aibak.
2. Alai Darwaza: The entrance to the minaret. It is a wonderful example of Indo-Islamic architecture and carving.
3. Quawat-ul-Islam: The oldest mosque in India, which is somewhat in ruins.
4. The Iron Pillar of Mehrauli
5. Tomb of Iltutmish
6. Tomb and University of Ala-ud-Din Khalji
7. Tomb of Imam Zamin
8. The incomplete Alai Minar

3. Delhi is one of the largest cities in the world, with an area of about 1483 sq. km, and it constitutes the National Capital region of India (NCR). Which of the following cities is not located in NCR?

Answer: Jaipur

The National Capital Region of India comprises of the capital city Delhi, along with a few more towns. These are Gurgaon and Faridabad on the Haryana side, and Noida and Ghaziabad on the Uttar Pradesh side. Other areas included are Rohtak, Meerut, Panipat and Sonepat.

4. India is a land of rivers. Consisting of one of the world's largest flood plains in the world, India has major rivers like the Ganges, the Bramhaputra and the Indus flowing through its territory. Which river flows through Delhi?

Answer: Yamuna (Jamuna)

Yamuna, or Jamuna, flows through the capital city of Delhi. It starts its course in the glacier Yamunorti and flows through the Himalayas into the Northern Plain. Here it passes by Delhi and then into Agra, and it finally ends into the Ganges.
Yamuna over the centuries has changed its course. Once upon a time, it used to flow right besides the Red Fort. But now, its course is about 15km away. Besides Yamuna is also one of the most polluted rivers of the world today.

5. India is famous for its ancient structures and architectures. But when one arrives in New Delhi, one sometimes doubts whether he is in India or not. On one side is the old Delhi with forts and palaces in intricate patterns with decaying walls and on the other side is the New Delhi, the capital of India with soaring sky scrapers. This "modern" Delhi houses a beautiful monument, the Lotus Temple. This is a temple of which faith?

Answer: Baha'i

The Lotus Temple, or the Baha'i house of worship, is located in southern Delhi. It is in the form of a lotus, as the name suggests. It is a marvelous piece of modern art built in the year 1986, and is the first Baha'i house of worship in Asia after the Baha'i Temple in Israel. It is one of the most visited monuments in India.

6. The Cricket Stadium at Firoz Shah Kotla in Delhi is quite well known. Firoz Shah Kotla, however, was actually one of the seven cities of Delhi known as Firozabad. It was built by which ruler of the Delhi sultanate?

Answer: Firoz Shah Tughlaq

Firoz Shah Kotla, once Firozabad, is famous for its Cricket Stadium. One can also see the ruins of the fortress nearby. There is also an Ashokan Pillar within the ruins. Many people visit this place as it is considered to be the home of genies.

7. India is famous for its crowded bazaars and markets, full of street vendors selling idols of Hindu deities and grocers displaying a diverse variety of spices and vegetables and, of course, textile show-rooms where women stand admiring the saris on display. Which of the following is not a market in Delhi?

Answer: Chhabri Nagar

Delhi consist of various markets ranging from the wholesale markets of Sadar Bazaar, Chandini Chowk and others to popular markets of Janpath, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash, Model Town, and Khan Market. Nehru Place is one of the biggest computer markets. There are many malls and shopping arcades too. Delhi residents do love shopping!

8. India is a land of religions, and is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Hindus comprise about three-fourth of the population. Delhi itself has many Hindu temples. Which of the following is one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in the world?

Answer: Akshardham Mandir

Delhi has many religious landmarks. There are temples like the Birla Temple, Akshardham Temple, ISCKON Temple, Chhatarpur Temple, Yogmaya Temple and Hanuman Mandir. Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India. There are many Gurudwaras, like the Bangla Saheb, and cathedrals, including the Cathedral Church of Redemption.

9. The branch of Islam called sufism developed in the Indian subcontinent under the rule of the Mughal rulers, especially Akbar. Sufi saints were famous for their poetry and their devotion to God. The shrine of which of the following Sufi saints is located in Delhi?

Answer: Nizam-ud-Din Auliya

The shrine of Nizam-ud-Din Auliya is located in south-eastern India. It is a center of Sufi dance and music. People from all faiths come here to seek blessings. His shrine also contains the tomb of the poet-cum-Sufi Pir, Amir Khusrao, who is famous for his poetry on his favorite city, Delhi.

10. New Delhi has magnificent modern structures and monuments built during the British era. Which of the following monuments is known as the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers"?

Answer: India Gate

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers is located in the India Gate. The arc was designed by Edwin Lutyens. It comprises of a black cenotaph in the center, which is the tomb. On this lies a rifle and a soldier's cap.

11. The capital of the British East India Company shifted from Calcutta (Kolkata) to Delhi in 1911. This city was designed by two leading British architects. Name them.

Answer: Edwin Lutyens, Herbert Baker

Sir Edwin Lutyens designed the city of Delhi, along with the assistance of Sir Herbert Baker. They were the leading architects of The Great Britain, and designed the city of New Delhi, which is to this date, sometimes referred as Lutyens' New Delhi. They designed many famous monuments in this city: the India Gate, the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President's House; earlier the Viceroy's House), the Parliament House, and other official and cultural structures.

12. The Delhi Sultanate was comprised of many imperial dynasties. The Delhi Sultanate began after the invasion by the Afghan ruler Muhammad of Ghor. It continued till the Mughals defeated the Lodhis. The Delhi Sultanate ruler Khizr Khan began which of the following dynasties?

Answer: Sayyid Dynasty

The Delhi Sultanate began when the invader Muhammad of Ghor raided Delhi and occupied the territory and left it in the hands of his slave Qutub-ud-Din Aibak, who began the Mamluk or the Slave Dynasty. He was succeeded by his son-in-law Iltutmish and then his daughter Raziya.

The Slave Dynasty came to an end when Delhi saw the rise of the Khalji dynasty. Delhi flourished under the rule of Ala-ud-Din Khalji, but his successors were weak and soon this dynasty came to an end too. Soon came the Tughlaq Dynasty, followed by the Sayyid and the Lodhi dynasties.

13. Before the Delhi Sultanate, Delhi was often fought over for control by various North Indian dynasties. Delhi was at that era under the rule of the Tomaras. What was the name of the city of Delhi under the rule of the Tomara ruler Prithviraj Chauhan?

Answer: Qila Rai Pithora

The Tomaras ruled Delhi before the rise of the Islamic Delhi Sultanate. During their rule Delhi was known as Lal Kot in the beginning, but later under the rule of the ruler Prithviraj Chauhan it was renamed Qila Rai Pithora.

14. Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh constructed a number of monuments which served as astronomical instruments. These are the monuments of Jantar Mantar and are located in a number of Indian cities including Delhi. In which of the following Indian cities the Jantar Mantar is not located?

Answer: Sarnath

Maharajah Sawai Jai Singh constructed these astronomical monuments entitled the Jantar Mantar in five cities in total: Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Mathura, and Ujjain. They were constructed in a period between 1727-1734. They are observatories used for astronomical and astrological purposes, to record timings and dates of eclipses and others.

The one located at Jaipur is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

15. Mughal rule influenced the religion, food, culture and construction of India, which led to the creation of the unique Indo-Islamic architecture. This style has been used in most of the Indian monuments in Delhi, which has many gardens, tombs and palaces. The tomb of which Mughal Emperor is located in Delhi?

Answer: Humayun

The tomb of Babur is located in Kabul, Afghanistan at Bagh-i-Babur. The tomb of Akbar the Great is located in Sikandra near Agra, India. The tomb of Jahangir is in Lahore in the Punjab region of Pakistan. Shah Jahan is buried in the Taj Mahal at Agra in India. Aurangzeb is buried in south-west India in the city of Aurangabad. Only Humayun who died in Delhi due to a fall in his library in the Old Fort is buried in Delhi and his tomb is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

16. The Rashtrapati Bhavan is the residence of the president of India. Earlier it was the palace of the Viceroys of India. Which of the following gardens is located within the residence of the President of India and is open for the general public only during the spring season?

Answer: Mughal Gardens

The Mughal Gardens have been called as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world and are located within the residence of the President of India, the Rashtrapati Bhavan. These gardens open for the general public during the spring season only and exhibit a variety of beautiful flowers from across the globe.

17. During the Mughal era the capital kept changing from Delhi to another city. These were the two main centres of Mughal culture and power. Can you name the other city?

Answer: Agra

The capital frequently kept on shifting under the rule of the Mughal rulers. Under Babur, the capital was at Agra. Humayuns shifted it to Delhi, Akbar back to Sikri near Agra and Shah Jahan shifted it again to Delhi.

18. Delhi is famous for its street food and delicious snacks. Which of the following is a famous Delhi-based snack?

Answer: Chhole Bhatura

Chhole Bhature is a traditional Indian snack that comes from north India, particularly from Delhi. It consists of fried bread made of wheat flour called Bhatura and spicy gram called chhole. It is often served with spicy pickles and onion.

19. Delhi has been compared to many cities across the world and thus has many twin cities and sister cities. It shares good relationships with these cities. Which of these cities is not a twin or sister city?

Answer: Berlin

The partner city of Delhi is Apris and the twin city is Fukuoka Perfecture. The sister cities include Chicago, Saint Petersburg, Rome, Ulan Bator, Sydney, London amongst others.

20. India has a vast history and most of the proof of this long history has been stored in the museums of India. The largest museum in India is located in Kolkata. The second largest is in Delhi. What is it called?

Answer: National Museum of India

The National Museum of India comprises of some of the most prized archaeological evidence of the Indian subcontinent. It includes the bronze statues of the Chola kingdom, the buried treasures of the Indus Civilisations of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, statues of Hindu gods from the Chalukya dynasty, the heads of Buddha from the Gandharva school of art, and miniature Mughal paintings of the Mughal era, among many others.

Other museums in Delhi include Museum of Natural Resource, Museum of Technology and Science, Doll Museum and others.

Source: Author rohan007

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Here is a quiz on the Indian capital, New Delhi, which is my home city. It's also the city of seven cities. The questions range from the Old Delhi to Lutyen's New Delhi. I hope you enjoy it.

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