The famous 14th century mosque called atala Masjid (or Atala Mosque) is located in which city of Uttar Pradesh?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) Jaunpur

Explanation:

• The Atala Masjid is a 14th-century mosque located in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, and is a prime example of Sharqi architecture.

• Its construction was started by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1377 but was completed by Sultan Ibrahim Shah Sharqi in 1408.

• The mosque was built on the site of the Atala Devi Temple, which was originally built by Jayachandra of the Gahadavala dynasty.

• It features a distinctive lofty pylon (entrance gate) and lack of minarets, which became a signature style of the Jaunpur School of Architecture.

• The mosque is protected under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and remains one of the most significant historical landmarks in northern India.

Information Booster:

• Jaunpur was known as the "Shiraz of the East" (Shiraz-e-Hind) during the medieval period because of its status as a major center of learning and culture.

• The city of Jaunpur was founded by Firoz Shah Tughlaq and named in memory of his cousin Jauna Khan (Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq).

Additional Knowledge:Jobganj (Option a)

• There is no major historical 14th-century monument of the scale of Atala Masjid located in a town by this name.

• It is not recognized as a major center for Sultanate-era architectural development.

Haidergarh (Option b)

• Haidergarh is a town and tehsil in the Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh.

• While it has local significance, it does not house the famous Sharqi-style mosques associated with the Jaunpur Sultanate.

Fatehpur (Option d)

• Fatehpur district is famous for its location between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers and contains several ancient sites.

• However, it is often confused with Fatehpur Sikri (near Agra), which was built much later by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century.