Karnataka History GK Questions and Answers

Ancient History

Q1:  Who founded the Chalukya dynasty of Badami?
Answer: Pulakeshin I

Q2:  Who was the founder of the Kadamba dynasty of Banavasi?
Answer: Mayurasharma

Q3:  The Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal was built by the queen of which Chalukya king?
Answer: Vikramaditya II

Q4:  What was the capital of the Western Ganga Dynasty?
Answer: Talakad

Q5:  The Halmidi inscription, considered the earliest known inscription attesting to the Kannada language (c. 450 CE), was found in which district?
Answer: Hassan

Q6:  Cave Temple No. 3 at Badami, dedicated to Vishnu and dated by inscription to 578 CE, was commissioned under which Chalukya ruler?
Answer: Mangalesha

Q7:  The Meguti Jain Temple at Aihole, built in 634 CE, bears an inscription composed by Ravikirti, court poet of which Chalukya king?
Answer: Pulakeshin II

Q8:  According to the Navsari inscription, which Chalukya governor of the southern (Navasarika) branch is credited with repelling an Arab (Tajik) invasion into southern Gujarat in the early 8th century?
Answer: Avanijanashraya Pulakeshin

Q9:  Chalukya king Pulakeshin II is celebrated for repelling an invasion by which powerful North Indian emperor near the Narmada river around 618-619 CE?
Answer: Harshavardhana

Q10:  The Kadamba script, an important precursor to the modern Kannada script, developed during the rule of which early dynasty?
Answer: Kadamba

Q11:  Chalukya king Vijayaditya had one of the longest reigns among the Badami Chalukya rulers, ruling from 696 to 733 CE — a span of approximately how many years?
Answer: 37 years

Q12:  Before shifting to Talakad, the Western Ganga dynasty's earliest known capital was which town, then called Kuvalala?
Answer: Kolar

Medieval History

Q13:  Who were the founders of the Vijayanagara Empire?
Answer: Harihara I and Bukka Raya I

Q14:  What was the capital of the Hoysala Empire?
Answer: Dwarasamudra (Halebidu)

Q15:  What was the capital of the Rashtrakuta dynasty?
Answer: Manyakheta

Q16:  In which year was the Wodeyar dynasty of Mysore founded?
Answer: 1399

Q17:  Basavanna served as a minister in the court of which Kalachuri ruler at Basavakalyan?
Answer: Bijjala II

Q18:  The Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur was built by which Adil Shahi ruler?
Answer: Mohammed Adil Shah

Q19:  In which year did Kempegowda I found the city of Bangalore?
Answer: 1537

Q20:  Rani Abbakka Chowta, who fought against the Portuguese in the 16th century, ruled which coastal kingdom of Karnataka?
Answer: Ullal

Q21:  The Battle of Talikota, which led to the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire, was fought in which year?
Answer: 1565

Q22:  Who founded the Keladi Nayaka dynasty in the 16th century?
Answer: Chowdappa Gowda

Q23:  The Chennakesava Temple at Belur was built by Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana to commemorate his victory over which dynasty?
Answer: Cholas

Q24:  Purandara Dasa, who is regarded as the 'Father of Carnatic Music', lived during the reign of which empire?
Answer: Vijayanagara Empire

Q25:  Who served as the Dvaita philosopher and rajaguru at the court of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara?
Answer: Vyasaraya

Q26:  Rani Chennabhairadevi, known as the 'Pepper Queen' for her long reign and control of the pepper trade, ruled over which kingdom?
Answer: Gerusoppa

Q27:  The Battle of Raichur, fought between Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara and the Bijapur Sultanate, took place in which year?
Answer: 1520

Q28:  Which Mysore Wodeyar ruler significantly expanded the kingdom's territory during the 17th century?
Answer: Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar

Q29:  The Kailasa Temple at Ellora, an outstanding example of rock-cut architecture, was commissioned by which Rashtrakuta king?
Answer: Krishna I

Q30:  The Gommateshvara statue at Shravanabelagola was commissioned around 981 CE by which Ganga dynasty minister and general?
Answer: Chavundaraya

Q31:  Which sage is traditionally credited with guiding and inspiring the founders of the Vijayanagara Empire, Harihara I and Bukka Raya I?
Answer: Vidyaranya

Q32:  The Kesava Temple at Somanathapura, a well-known example of Hoysala architecture, was built in 1268 under the patronage of which general?
Answer: Soma Dandanayaka

Q33:  The Lakshmi Devi Temple at Doddagaddavalli, one of the earliest surviving Hoysala temples, was built during the reign of which Hoysala king?
Answer: Vishnuvardhana

Q34:  Who revived Chalukya power in 973 CE and founded the Western Chalukya (Chalukyas of Kalyani) dynasty?
Answer: Tailapa II

Q35:  Western Chalukya king Someshvara I founded which city as his new capital in 1042 CE?
Answer: Kalyani

Q36:  Western Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI, considered the dynasty's greatest ruler, started a new era known as the Chalukya-Vikrama era in which year?
Answer: 1076

Q37:  Which Kannada poet composed 'Karnata Bharata Kathamanjari', the Kannada version of the Mahabharata, in 1430 CE under the patronage of Vijayanagara emperor Deva Raya II?
Answer: Kumara Vyasa

Q38:  The Anubhava Mantapa, a 12th-century assembly hall for spiritual and social discourse, was founded at Basavakalyan by whom?
Answer: Basavanna

Q39:  Which Vijayanagara ruler is noted for hosting the Persian ambassador Abdur Razzak at his court in 1443?
Answer: Deva Raya II

Q40:  Portuguese traveler Domingo Paes visited the Vijayanagara court and left a detailed account of the city during the reign of which king?
Answer: Krishnadevaraya

Q41:  'Vaddaradhane', considered one of the earliest available works of Kannada prose, was authored by whom?
Answer: Shivakotyacharya

Q42:  Kalyani (present-day Basavakalyan) served as the capital of which dynasty before the Kalachuris took control in the 12th century?
Answer: Western Chalukyas

Q43:  In the Vijayanagara administrative system, provincial military governors who managed land revenue and troops were known by which term?
Answer: Nayaka

Q44:  The Ikkeri/Keladi Nayakas, who ruled parts of coastal and Malnad Karnataka, initially rose to power as governors under which larger empire in the 16th century?
Answer: Vijayanagara Empire

Q45:  The Hoysala Empire reached its peak territorial extent under which king in the early 13th century?
Answer: Veera Ballala II

Q46:  Veera Ballala III, widely regarded as the last great ruler of the Hoysala Empire, was captured and executed in 1343 CE following a conflict with which power, an event marking the effective end of Hoysala rule?
Answer: Madurai Sultanate

Q47:  The city of Vijayanagara (Hampi), founded on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra river around 1336 CE, was established jointly by which two brothers of the Sangama dynasty?
Answer: Harihara I and Bukka Raya I

Q48:  The Bahmani Sultanate, which once controlled parts of northern Karnataka, eventually splintered into five successor Deccan sultanates around which period?
Answer: 15th–16th century

Q49:  Ibrahim Adil Shah II, a notable ruler of the Bijapur Sultanate, was known for his patronage of Deccani music and for authoring which musical treatise?
Answer: Kitab-i-Nauras

Q50:  The primary gold coin issued under the Vijayanagara Empire, widely referenced in European traveler accounts, was known as the?
Answer: Varaha

Q51:  Which 10th-century Kannada poet, honored with the title 'Kavichakravarti', authored the celebrated work 'Sahasa Bhima Vijaya' (Gadayuddha)?
Answer: Ranna

Q52:  Pampa, honored as the 'Adikavi' (first great poet) of Kannada literature, served as court poet to Arikesari II, a ruler who was himself a feudatory of which Rashtrakuta emperor?
Answer: Krishna III

Q53:  Basaveshwara, founder of the Lingayat movement, was born in a town now known as Basavana Bagewadi, located in which present-day district?
Answer: Vijayapura

Q54:  Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara was given the title 'Andhra Bhoja' in recognition of his patronage of which language's literature?
Answer: Telugu

Q55:  The Bara Kaman in Bijapur, an unfinished monumental mausoleum, was intended as the tomb of which Adil Shahi ruler?
Answer: Ali Adil Shah II

Q56:  The Mahanavami Dibba, a large stepped platform at Hampi, was primarily used by Vijayanagara rulers to celebrate which annual festival?
Answer: Mahanavami (Dasara)

Q57:  Chikka Devaraja Wodeyar, who ruled Mysore from 1673 to 1704, reorganized the kingdom's administration into an eighteen-department central secretariat modeled on the Mughal system, known as the
Answer: Attara Kacheri

Q58:  Allasani Peddana, one of the 'Ashtadiggajas' (eight great poets) in Krishnadevaraya's Vijayanagara court, composed his celebrated work 'Manucharitramu' in which language?
Answer: Telugu

Modern History

Q59:  In which year did Kittur Chennamma lead a revolt against the British East India Company?
Answer: 1824

Q60:  In which year did Hyder Ali seize power in the Kingdom of Mysore?
Answer: 1761

Q61:  The Third Anglo-Mysore War, fought between Tipu Sultan and the British, took place in which years?
Answer: 1790–1792

Q62:  Who is known as the 'Father of the Karnataka Unification Movement'?
Answer: Alur Venkata Rao

Q63:  In which year did Tipu Sultan die during the Battle of Seringapatam?
Answer: 1799

Q64:  Freedom fighter Sangolli Rayanna, who fought against the British, was closely associated with which Kittur queen?
Answer: Kittur Chennamma

Q65:  Which British collector was killed during Kittur Chennamma's revolt of 1824?
Answer: John Thackeray

Q66:  Which town served as the capital of Tipu Sultan's kingdom?
Answer: Srirangapatna

Q67:  In which year was the Mysore High Court, one of the oldest High Courts in India, established?
Answer: 1884

Q68:  The Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha, formed to promote Kannada language and culture, was established in 1890 in which city?
Answer: Dharwad

Q69:  The Second Anglo-Mysore War between Hyder Ali and the British East India Company was fought during which years?
Answer: 1780–1784

Q70:  Sir M. Visvesvaraya, as Chief Engineer of Mysore, is closely associated with the design and construction of which major dam on the Kaveri River?
Answer: Krishnaraja Sagar Dam

Q71:  Tipu Sultan advanced early rocket designs into iron-cased, propellant-filled 'Mysorean rockets' used against the British; this innovation later influenced which European weapon development?
Answer: Congreve Rocket

Q72:  Sir Mirza Ismail served as Diwan of Mysore State during which years?
Answer: 1926–1941

Q73:  Mysore ruler Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, who reigned from 1902 to 1940, is popularly remembered by which title reflecting his progressive rule?
Answer: Rajarshi

Q74:  Freedom fighter Gangadhar Rao Deshpande, a key leader of the freedom movement from the Belagavi region, was popularly known by which title?
Answer: Karnataka Kesari

Q75:  Diwan Purnaiah administered the Kingdom of Mysore on behalf of the young Krishnaraja Wodeyar III after Tipu Sultan's death in 1799, continuing in this role until which year?
Answer: 1811

Q76:  The Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bangalore was founded in 1760 by which ruler, and later expanded by his son Tipu Sultan?
Answer: Hyder Ali

Q77:  Sir M. Visvesvaraya, the eminent engineer and statesman, was born in Muddenahalli village, located in which present-day district?
Answer: Chikkaballapur

Q78:  The Belagavi Session of the Indian National Congress, the only session ever presided over by Mahatma Gandhi, was held in which year?
Answer: 1924

Q79:  The Mysore Representative Assembly, one of the earliest such representative institutions in princely India, was established in which year?
Answer: 1881

Q80:  Onake Obavva, an 18th-century folk heroine, is remembered for single-handedly resisting Hyder Ali's soldiers using a pestle at which fort?
Answer: Chitradurga Fort

Q81:  The Government Sandalwood Oil Factory in Mysuru was established in 1916 during the reign of which ruler?
Answer: Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV

Q82:  The British took over direct administration of Mysore State in 1831 citing misgovernance; this period ended with the 'Rendition of Mysore' back to the Wodeyar dynasty in which year?
Answer: 1881

Q83:  The Battle of Adoni-era Maratha-Mysore conflict eventually led to which 1787 treaty between Tipu Sultan and the Marathas?
Answer: Treaty of Gajendragad

Q84:  The First Anglo-Mysore War (1767–1769) ended with which treaty, under which the British and Hyder Ali agreed to mutual restoration of conquered territories?
Answer: Treaty of Madras

Q85:  The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1798–1799), which ended with Tipu Sultan's death, was fought against a British-led coalition that also included which two powers?
Answer: The Marathas and Nizam of Hyderabad

Q86:  Freedom fighter Karnad Sadashiva Rao, active in the Karnataka Ekikarana (unification) movement, was based primarily in which coastal region?
Answer: Dakshina Kannada

Q87:  The Kittur Fort, associated with Rani Kittur Chennamma's 1824 revolt against the British, is located in which present-day district?
Answer: Belagavi

Q88:  'Mangaluru Samachara', the first newspaper published in the Kannada language, was launched by Hermann Mögling in which year?
Answer: 1843

Q89:  The University of Mysore, the first university in Karnataka and one of the earliest in India, was established in which year?
Answer: 1916

Post-Independence Era

Q90:  In which year was the state officially renamed from Mysore to Karnataka?
Answer: 1973

Q91:  Who was the first Chief Minister of Mysore State after the introduction of responsible government in 1947?
Answer: K.C. Reddy

Q92:  Who was the Chief Minister of Mysore State when Karnataka's unification took place under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956?
Answer: S. Nijalingappa

Q93:  B.D. Jatti, a prominent Karnataka political leader who earlier served as Chief Minister of Mysore State, went on to hold which national office?
Answer: Vice President of India

Q94:  Karnataka Rajyotsava, commemorating the formation of the state, is celebrated on which date?
Answer: November 1

Q95:  Coorg (Kodagu), earlier a separate Part C state, was merged into Mysore State in which year under the States Reorganisation Act?
Answer: 1956

Q96:  Who served as the first Rajpramukh (constitutional head) of Mysore State from 1950 to 1956?
Answer: Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar

Q97:  Bangalore was officially renamed Bengaluru, effective from which year?
Answer: 2014

Q98:  Bellary district, earlier part of Madras Presidency, was transferred to Mysore State in which year?
Answer: 1953

Q99:  The Group of Monuments at Hampi was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in which year?
Answer: 1986

Q100:  Which princely state, ruled by the Wodeyar dynasty, signed the Instrument of Accession to the Indian Union in 1947 and later became the core of present-day Karnataka?
Answer: Kingdom of Mysore