HistoryMedieval India: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara

In which century did British travellers give the Lotus Mahal at Vijay…

In which century did British travellers give the Lotus Mahal at Vijayanagara its name?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Nineteenth century

The Lotus Mahal got its romantic name from British travellers in the nineteenth century, long after the city was sacked; its real use is still uncertain.

NCERT (2026-27): “4.2 Other buildings in the royal centre
One of the most beautiful buildings in the royal centre is the Lotus Mahal, so named by British travellers in the nineteenth century. While the name is certainly romantic, historians are not quite sure what the building was used for. One suggestion, found in a map drawn by Mackenzie, is that it may have been a council chamber, a place where the king met his advisers.”