'Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra' in Ajmer was built in the period of which of the following dynasties?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is: (A) Slave Dynasty

• Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, located in Ajmer, Rajasthan, was constructed during the early phase of the Slave Dynasty, under the rule of Qutb-ud-din Aibak.

• Originally a Sanskrit college (Hindu-Jain temple complex), it was converted into a mosque in 1192 CE, shortly after Muhammad Ghori’s victory at the Second Battle of Tarain.

• Qutb-ud-din Aibak, the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty, oversaw its transformation using materials from existing temples, showcasing early Indo-Islamic architecture.

• Qutb-ud-din Aibak ruled from 1206 to 1210 CE, establishing the Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty, the first of the Delhi Sultanate.

• The name “Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra” literally means “shed of two and a half days”, believed to refer to either the speed of construction or a religious fair.

• It is one of the oldest surviving mosques in India with an inscription dating to 1199 CE.

• Features notable arched screens, corbelled domes, and intricately carved pillars reused from Hindu and Jain structures.

• The mosque reflects a blend of Islamic calligraphy with Hindu architectural motifs.

• Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414 CE) came much later and is known for fortifications like Tughlaqabad Fort.

• Lodhi Dynasty (1451–1526 CE) was the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, noted for tomb architecture like Sikandar Lodhi’s tomb.

• Khilji Dynasty (1290–1320 CE) came after the Slave Dynasty, with rulers like Alauddin Khilji, famous for conquests and economic reforms.

• Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra remains a key site to study transitional Indo-Islamic architecture from the early Sultanate period.