Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, raided which famous Indian temple?

Somnath Temple, Gujarat

The correct answer is Option 1- Somnath Temple, Gujarat

- In 998 AD, the Turkish conqueror, Mahmud of Ghazni, succeeded his father, and established a huge empire in Central Asia, with capital at Ghazni, the present-day South Kabul.

- He was 27 years old then and the first ruler to get the title as "Sultan", which means authority, thereby implying his power and strength.

- For 17 times, he attacked India during the period between 1000 and 1027 AD, a significant event in the history of India.

- In 1027, he attacked the Somnath temple. The brave Hindu Rajputs tried to defend the temple when the enemy tried to get inside it. The Hindus fought very bravely and initially the enemies could not damage the temple. However, after 3 days of fights, Mahmud Ghazni's troops were successful in plundering the Somnath temple, in which the sacred idol, Linga was destroyed. Ghazni looted all the treasures of the temple, which was at that time worth 20-million Dinars, more than eighty times of what he had collected in his first invasion. Around 5000 Hindus died during this last invasion.