General Knowledge

General Knowledge : LANDMARKS : ARCHITECTURES, MONUMENTS, BUILDINGS, TOWNS AND PLACES

Ernakulam : in Kerala State is famous for its backwaters.

Fatehpur Sikri : 32 km from Agra; city built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, now deserted.

Fleet Street : A street in London running from Temple far east wards to Ludgate Circus. The area (with adjoining streets) houses the offices, and printing establishments of many of the leading British newspapers and press agencies.

Gateway of India : in Mumbai harbour erected in 1911 on George V’s visit to India.

Gaya : (Bihar) the place where Lord Buddha got enlightenment; famous for pilgrimage.

Gibraltar : British fortress and naval base on west end of the Mediterranean (extreme south of Spain) key to the Mediterranean.

Golden Temple : in Amritsar (Punjab), sacred to the Sikhs.

Gol Gumbaz : largest Dome in Bijapur (Karnataka).

Gomateswara : (Karnataka) famous for the 2000 year old statue of Jain Sage carved out of a single stone.

Great Wall of China : 2400 km long wall; its construction was started by Chinese King Emperor Shih Hwang.

Gwalior : in Madhhya Pradesh famous for its Fort, Tansen’s Tomb, Rani Laxmi Bai’s Chhatri.

Hague, The : (The Netherlands) Seat of International Court of Justice; Art galleries.

Hampi : site ruins of Vijayanagar - ancient capital of Vijayanagar empire. It is in Karnataka.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon : one of the Seven Wonders of the World; planted near the Euphrates in 603 B.C.

Hiroshima : in Central Honshu (Japan) close to the ‘Island of Light’ with the famous Shinto temples; first city destroyed by atom bomb in the Second World War.

Howrah Bridge : a cantilever span bridge constructed over the river Hooghly connecting Howrah Railway Station with Kolkata.

Hyderabad-Secunderabad : Twin city-capital of Andhra Pradesh.It stands on the river Musi, known for Charminar, Osmania University, Salarjung Museum - one of the richest and most varied collections in Asia.

India Gate : A memorial in New Delhi facing the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Jaipur : capital of Rajasthan is famous for pottery, brassware, sculpture, ivory and sandalwood work and jewellery. Famous for Maharaja’s palace; Jai Singh’s observatory. Amber (ancient capital) Hawa Mahal.

Jallianwala Bagh : a garden in Amritsar; scene of massacre of innocent Indians by the British on 13th April 1919.

Jama Masjid : (Delhi) built by Shah Jehan, India’s biggest mosque.

Jamshedpur : (Bihar) centre of iron and steeel industry;Tata Iron and Steel Factory is located here.

Jantar Mantar : in Delhi, is an Observatory constructed in 1724 during the days of Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber.

Jerusalem : ancient city and capital of Palestine known as ‘Holy City’. Christ was crucified here.

Jog Falls : also called Gersoppa Falls in Karnataka are one of the highest warerfalls in the world. These falls are formed by the river Sharasvati which takes a big leap down a steep rock from a height of 253 metres.

Juma Masjid, Mandu : is in Madhya Pradesh; it depicts a synthesis of Hindu and Muslim styles in architecture.

Kailasha Temple : rock-cut temple in Ellora caves.

Kalpakkam : near Chennai in Tamil Nadu is known for Chennai Atomic Power Project (MAPP).

Kanchi or Kancheepuram : Near Chennai was the ancient capital of ancient Pallavas; famous for ancient temples.

Kandahar : This is a town in Afghanistan where Pakistan backed 5 terrorists and forced the hijacked Indian Airlines lane IC 814 with 155 passengers and crew aboard to land at Kandahar Airport on December 25, 1999, keeping them hostage for seven days.

Kanya Kumari : in Tamil Nadu, famous temple (the Virgin Goddess) situated at Cape Comorin on the extreme southern tip of India where the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean meet; a picturesque spot. Vivekananda Rock Memorial Buddha.

Kapilavastu : small kingdomin the north of India; associated with Mahatma Buddha.

Kaziranga : is a Game Sanctuary in Assam. It is the centre of the great Indian one-horned rhinos.

Khajuraho : in Madhya Pradesh famous for the group of highly ornate medieval Hindu temples.

Kodaikanal : is a town in Tamil Nadu famous for its Observatory for the study of Solar Physics.

Konarak : small town 16 km north of Puri (Orissa) famous for its Black Pagods; Sun Temple.

Kovalam : is a sea-beach about 16 km from Trivandrum in Kerala. Developed as a Tourist Resort by India Tourism Corporation.

Kremlin : Large fortified citadel in Moscow, now the headquarters of Russia. The Kremlin, originally built in 1156 by Yuri, (George) Dolgoruki, price of Suzdal became the centre around which Moscow has grown.

Qutub Minar : in Delhi (88.4 m high) is one of the master - pieces of Indian architecture and art. It is the biggest minaret in the world. Completed by Altamash in 1232 A.D.

Leaning Tower : (Pisa, Italy) 55 metres high.

Lumbini : birth place of Buddha. It is in Nepal. The Nepalese Government have plans to develop the place with the U.N. assistance as an Internatinal Tourist Resort. Madurai : in Tamil Nadu, famous for Meenakshi Temple, dedicated to Lord Siva.



Mahabalipuram : in Tamil Nadu on the Eastern Ghats, famous for temples and monumental architectures. An atomic power station is being set up near here at Kalpakkam.

Mathura : a holy city in Uttar Pradesh; Birth-place of Lord Krishna, Hindu temples; oil refinery.

Mecca : the holiest cityof the Mohammedan world in Arabia, where the Prophet was born. It stands in the desert. It is a place of pilgrimage and Muslims from all parts of the world visit the place it for Haj in every year.

Mount Blanc : highest mountain peak in Europe. It is in the Alps on the confines of Italy and France, longest road tunnel in the world.

Munich : (West Germany) scene of Munich pact; art galleries; The 20th Olympic Games (1972) were held here.

Nilgiris : mountain range in Tamil Nadu, tea plantations.

Panna : in M.P. Panna district is known for diamond mines. Panna town has several buildings of historical interest including Shri Baldeoji temple.

Pearl Harbour : in Hawaii Island (USA) Naval Base; scene of Japanese attack in World War II.

Pentagon : in Washington. It houses many Government offices of the War Department of the USA.

Petronas Twin Towers : Located in Kuala Lumpur with 88 storeys high, these are the tallest buildings in the World.

Philadelphia : (USA) place where Americans framed their Constitution and declared their Independence son 4th July, 1776.

Plassey : a village on the Ganges (West Bengal) Battle of Plassey was fought here in 1757 in which Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah and laid the foundation of British Rule in India.

Pokhran : The Nuclear test site in Rajasthan, 600 kms from Jaipur. The first nuclear test was conduted on May 18, 1974 and five more on May 11 and 13 1998.

Pondicherry : formerly a French possession, since taken by the India Govenement and now specified as a Union Territory. Aurobindo Ashram is established here. ‘Auroville’, an international township inmemory of Sri Aurobindo has been built here.

Pyramids of Egypt : are vast stone or brick-built structures on west bank of the Nile. They date back to about 300 B.C. The largest is called the Great Pyramid which is 146 metres high and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Three lakh men were employed for 20 years to build it. These Pyramids have inner chambers and subterranean entrances built by pharaohs as oval tombs.

Raj Ghat : On the bank of Jamuna in Delhi, Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

Rashtrapati Bhavan : official residence of the President of India in New Delhi; known as Viceragal Lodge during British reign.

Red Fort : Red-stone Fort built by Shah Jehan in Delhi near the Jamuna.

Red Square : It is a famous open space in Moscow linked with the Kremlin by three gates used for political demonstrations and processions. Lenin’s mausoleum is in the Red Square.

Rome : capital of Italy; on the River Tiber; one of the most famous cities of the world also known as Eternal City.

Sabarmati : in Gujarat State near Ahmedabad; Harijan Ashram founded by Mahatma Gandhi.

Sarnath : situated 8 km outside Varanasi. Saranath is the famous place of Buddhist pilgrimage in India. In the ‘Deer Park’ of Sarnath, Gautama Buddha preached his First Semon. Also located here is the famous Ashoka Pillar of polished sand-stone whose lion capital was adopted by the new Republic of India as the State Emblem.

Scotland Yard : the Metropoliton Police Headquarters in London from which the force is administered CID headquarters.

Seringapatnam : Seringapatnam was the capital of Karnataka during the rule of Tipu Sultan. The fourth and the last Mysore war was fought here. Tipu Sultan died here fighting bravely against the British forces.

Sriharikota : in the Nellore district on the Andhra coast is India’s Satellite Launching Centre. The Sriharikota Range (SHAR) comprises the Sriharikota Launch Complex, Rocket Shed Facility, Static Test and Evaluation Complex, Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant and Sriharikota Common Facilities.

Suez Canal : Ship canal (Egypt) it connects the Mediterranean (Port Said) with the Red Sea (Suez).

Sunderbands : is a tract of forests and swamps - 264 km long and 129 km wide fringing the delta of the Ganges.

Taj Mahal : the white marble mausoleum built at Agra by Shah Jehan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Tanjore : (Tamil Nadu) famous for museum, temples and library. Brihadeeswara temple.

Taxila : in West Pakistan; site of excavation, old seat of Buddhist culture and famous for ancient Taxila University.

Tel Aviv : magnificent city in Palestine built by the Jews; capital of Israel.

Thumba : near Trivandrum in Kerala State is known as rocket launching station.

Tirupati : in Andhra State about 160 km to the northwest of Chennai is one of the holiest places in South India. This hill temple of Sri Venkateshwara is an example of early Dravidian architecture and is one of the finest in the south.

Trafalgar : Cape Trafalgar is famous for the naval battle fought between the British led by Admiral Nelson and an allied naval force of France and Spain in 1805. Admiral Nelson won the battle though he was himself killed in action.

Triveni : in Allahabad (UP) Confluence of the Ganges, the Jamuna and the mythical Saraswati; a place of pilgrimage for the Hindus.

Varanasi : or Banares is a town in UP very sacred to the Hindus. It is known as the religious capital of Hindu India. Famous for Banares Hindu University, Vishwanath Temple, Manmandir with Jaisingh’s Observatory, Ramnagar Fort etc.,

Vatican : the Papal State of Italy; an independent territory; the palace of Pope in Rome. It includes the Church of St. Peter.

Victoria Falls : on the River Zambesi, Zambia-Central Africa. These Falls, the greatest in the world are 1700 metres wide.

Victoria Memorial : a magnificent building in Calcutta having an art gallery and a well-laid out garden attached to it.

Vijay Ghat : On the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi is Samadhi of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, former Prime Minister of India.

Visakhapatnam : big harbour on the eastern coast of India; ship building yard.

Viswa Shanti Stupa : (World Peace Pagoda) 45 m high stupa raised a top, the picturesque Ratnagiri hill, it is the first stupa of its kind in India.

Vivekananda Rock : is situated near Kanyakumari at the southern tip of India’s coastline. It has been so named in memory of Swami Vivekananda.

Wagah Border : This is a border between India and Pakistan. Indian Prime Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee crossed the border to enter Pakistan by bus as part of his peace initiative with India's neighbour on February 20, 1999.

Wall Street : a street in New York, centre of US Banking and Finance.

Wardha : (Maharashtra State) Mahatma Gandhi lived here for several years; centre of cotton trade.

Waterloo : Belgium; famous for the battle of Waterloo which marked the end of Napoleon’s power.

Wellington : in the Nilgiris hills (Tamil Nadu) is known for Defence Services Staff College.

White Hall : London, Government Offices.

White House : is the Official Residence of the President of the USA. It is located at 600. Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.

Wimbledon : in London, famous for Lawn Tennis Court.

Yellow Sea : Sea between northern China and Korea.

Zambesi : River in South East Africa. It flows east to Mozambique Channel, Indian Ocean.

Zojila : a pass in the way from Srinagar (Kashmir) to Leh and then to Yerkand in Tibet.