41st BPSC (Pre) 1996

Mauryan Civil Architecture

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Chandragupta's palace situated at Patliputra is mainly made up of-

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Early Mauryan architecture was predominantly timber-based, which stood in contrast to the later shift towards stone under Ashoka.

Explanation Excavations at Kumrahar and Bulandibagh in modern Patna have revealed massive wooden pillars and palisades, confirming Megasthenes' description of a magnificent wooden palace.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Wood was the most abundant and workable material in the fertile Gangetic plains for large-scale royal structures.
Logic 2: Stone was used more for monumental columns and religious caves rather than the main palace buildings in the early phase.

Active Recall

Question

How did Megasthenes compare the Mauryan palace to Persian ones?

Answer

He stated that the palace at Pataliputra was more magnificent than those of Susa and Ecbatana in Persia.

Core Insight

The use of wood for such large structures shows high engineering skill but also explains why so little of the Mauryan secular architecture has survived compared to stone stupas.