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SSC Stenographer 2024 PYQ — Question 107

SSC Stenographer - 11/12/2024 (9:00 AM to 11:00 AM) • General Awareness • Q107

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The entrance gateway in Dravidian style temple is known as:

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Correct answer: C

Explanation

The correct answer is  option 3  i.e. Gopuram.

The entrance gateway in Dravidian style temples is known as a Gopuram.

  • A Gopuram is a monumental, ornate tower at the entrance of a temple, especially prominent in South Indian (Dravidian) temple architecture.

  • These towers are typically adorned with elaborate carvings of gods, goddesses, and mythological scenes.

  • Gopurams serve both as architectural landmarks and as symbolic gateways between the outer secular world and the inner sacred space of the temple.

  • They became especially prominent during the Chola, Pandya, and Vijayanagara periods. 

Other Options:

  • Shikhara: Refers to the spire or tower above the sanctum (garbhagriha) in North Indian (Nagara) temples, not the entrance.

  • Mandap: A pillared hall or pavilion within the temple, used for gatherings or rituals.

  • Vimana: The tower above the sanctum in Dravidian temples, but not the entrance gateway (that's the gopuram).