GK Questions on Provincial Kingdoms of Odisha

The Provincial Kingdoms of Odisha is an important topic in medieval Indian history. It is an important topic from the exam’s point of view. Here we are presenting some exams-oriented questions based on the topic “Provincial Kingdoms of Odisha”. These questions are based on the analysis of the previous year’s question papers of the government exams like the SSC CGL, RAILWAYS, BANKING, and some other exams. 

Que 1. Which of the following dynasty ruled Odisha?

(a) Ganga dynasty
(b) Gajapati dynasty
(c) Bhoi dynasty
(d) All of the above

Ans. (d) All of the above
Explanation – The Ganga dynasty, the Gajapati dynasty, and the Bhoi dynasty all ruled Odisha.

Que 2. Which of the following Ottoman rulers invaded Odisha for the first time?

(a) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
(b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
(c) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
(d) None of the above

Ans. (a) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
Explanation – In the reign of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq,  invaded Odisha for the first time.

Que 3. Who among the following was the founder of the independent state of Odisha?

(a) Ananta Varman
(b) Narasimha I
(c) Bhanu Dev I
(d) Narasimha II

Ans. (a) Ananta Varman
Explanation – Ananta Varman established an independent state in Odisha. It ruled Odisha from 1070 to 1148 AD. He was a great ruler of the state of Odisha.

Que 4. Who among the following got the Jagannath Temple built?

(a) Ananta Varman
(b) Narasimha I
(c) Bhanu Dev I
(d) Narasimha II

Ans. (a) Ananta Varman
Explanation – The famous Jagannath temple was built during the reign of Ananta Varman. It is located in Puri in the state of Odisha.

Que 5. Who among the following was the greatest ruler of the Ganges dynasty?

(a) Narasimha I
(b) Bhanu Dev I
(c) Narasimha II
(d) None of the above

Ans. (a) Narasimha I
Explanation – Narasimha I was the greatest ruler of the Ganges dynasty. It ruled Odisha from 1238 to 1264 AD.

Que 6. Which of the following rulers got the Sun Temple built at Konark?

(a) Narasimha I
(b) Bhanu Dev I
(c) Narasimha II
(d) None of the above

Ans. (a) Narasimha I
Explanation – Narasimha I built the Sun Temple of Konark. It is located in Puri in the state of Odisha.

Que 7. Which of the following ruler’s court poets was Vidyadhar?

(a) Narasimha I
(b) Purushottam
(c) Pratapa Rudra Dev
(d) Narasimha I

Ans. (a) Narasimha I
Explanation – Narasimha I was the greatest ruler of the Ganges dynasty. The court poet of Narasimha I was Vidyadhar. It was Vidyadhar who composed a Sanskrit treatise called Ekavali on Alankar Shastra.

Que 8. Which of the following rulers was conferred the title of “Hammiramad-Mardan” by Vidyadhar?

(a) Bhanu Dev I
(b) Purushottam
(c) Pratapa Rudra Dev
(d) Narasimha I

Ans. (d) Narasimha I
Explanation- Vidyadhar was the court poet of Narasimha I. Vidyadhar had bestowed the title of “Hammirmad-Mardan” to Narasimha I only.

Que 9. During the reign of which of the following ruler did a saint named Narahari Tirtha visit Odisha?

(a) Bhanu Dev I
(b) Narasimha I
(c) Purushottam
(d) None of the above

Ans. (a) Bhanu Dev I
Explanation- During the reign of Bhanu Dev I, a saint named Narahari Tirtha traveled to Odisha. Bhanu Dev I was the son and successor of Narasimha I.

Que 10. In which of the following dynasty were about one-third of the women rulers?

(a) Bhaumkar dynasty
(b) Ganga dynasty
(c) Gajapati dynasty
(d) None of the above

Ans.  (a) Bhaumkar dynasty
Explanation – There were about 18 rulers in the Bhaumkar dynasty, out of which about one-third were women rulers.

Que 11. Which of the following rulers built the temple of Ananta Vasudeva?

(a) Narasimha II
(b) Narasimha I
(c) Purushottam
(d) None of the above

Ans. (a) Narasimha II
Explanation- Narasimha II built the temple of Anant Vasudeva. Narasimha II was the successor ruler of Bhanu Dev I.

Que 12. Who among the following was the last ruler of the Ganges dynasty?

(a) Bhanu Dev IV
(b) Bhanu Dev I
(c) Purushottam
(d) None of the above

Ans. (a) Bhanu Dev IV
Explanation- Bhanu Dev IV was the last ruler of the Ganges dynasty.

Que 13. Which of the following ruler’s court poets was Vishwanath?

(a) Bhanu Dev IV
(b) Bhanu Dev I
(c) Purushottam 
(d) None of the above

Ans. (a) Bhanu Dev IV
Explanation- Bhanu Dev IV was the last ruler of the Ganges dynasty. The court poet of Bhanu Dev IV was Vishwanath. Vishwanath composed a book called Sahitya Darpan in the Sanskrit language.

Que 14. Who among the following was the founder of the Gajapati dynasty?

(a) Kapilendra
(b) Pratapa Rudra Dev
(c) Purushottam
(d) None of the above

Ans. (a) Kapilendra
Explanation- The Gajapati dynasty was founded by Kapilendra in Odisha. In 1434 AD, Kapilendra ended the Ganga dynasty and established the Gajapati dynasty. He expanded his kingdom from Ganga to Kaveri. He was the greatest ruler of his dynasty.

Que 15. Which of the following rulers assumed the title of “Gaudeshwar”?

(a) Kapilendra
(b) Pratapa Rudra Dev
(c) Purushottam
(d) None of the above

Ans. (a) Kapilendra
Explanation- Kapilendra was the founder and greatest ruler of the Gajapati dynasty. He defeated the Sultan of Bengal Nasiruddin and assumed the title of “Gaudeshwar” i.e. the overlord of Bengal.

Que 16. During the reign of which of the following ruler Chaitanya Mahaprabhu propagated Vaishnavism in Odisha?

(a) Purushottam
(b) Pratapa Rudra Dev
(c) Kapilendra
(d) None of the above

Ans. (b)Pratapa Rudra Dev
Explanation- Pratapa Rudra Dev was the last great ruler of the Gajapati dynasty, a contemporary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. During his reign, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu propagated Vaishnavism in Odisha.

Que 17. Who among the following was the last ruler of the Gajapati dynasty?

(a) Kakharua Dev
(b) Pratapa Rudra Dev
(c) Kapilendra
(d) None of the above

Ans. (a) Kakharua Dev
Explanation- Kakharua Dev was the last ruler of the Gajapati dynasty.

Que 18. Who among the following was the founder of the Bhoi dynasty of Odisha?

(a) Kakharua Dev
(b) Govind
(c) Kapilendra
(d) None of the above

Ans. (b) Govind
Explanation- Govind was the founder of the Bhoi dynasty of Odisha. He founded the Bhoi dynasty in 1541 AD by killing Kakharua Dev, the last ruler of the Gajapati dynasty.

Que 19. Which of the following temples is also known as “Black Pagoda” or “Black Chaitya”?

(a) Anantha Vasudev Temple
(b) Konark Sun Temple
(c) Jagannath Temple
(d) None of the above

Ans. (b) Konark Sun Temple
Explanation- The Sun temple of Konark was built during the reign of Ganga dynasty ruler Narasimha Dev I. This temple itself is also called “Black Pagoda” or “Black Chaitya”.

Que 20. Who among the following was the architect of Konark Sun Temple?

(a) Sadashiv Samanta Ray
(b) Satyaraj
(c) Baz bahadur
(d) None of the above

Ans. (a) Sadashiv Samanta Ray
Explanation- The Sun Temple of Konark was built during the reign of Ganga dynasty ruler Narasimha Dev Dev I. The architect of the Sun Temple was Sadashiv Samanta Rai. This temple is located in Puri, Odisha. In this temple, 7 horses of the sun are displayed in the form of idols and 12 zodiac signs in the form of 12 Mahachakras.