66ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2021

Pachchikari/Parchinkari (Pietra dura) is related to which of the following?

aDecorating the walls with floral designs made of semi-precious stones✓ Correct
bBuilding sloping walls in Minarets
cUse of arches in construction
dUse of marble in buildings
eNone of the above/More than one of the above

Explanation

Pachchikari/Parchinkari (pietra dura) is related to making floral designs by inlaying semi-precious stones into walls. It should be noted that in India, pietra dura inlay work was first carried out in the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah. This tomb was built by Nur Jahan, the wife of Jahangir. Like Akbar’s Fatehpur Sikri, Shah Jahan founded a city in Delhi in his own name called ‘Shahjahanabad’ in 1638 A.D., and tried to adorn it by constructing many beautiful and magnificent buildings. Among the buildings of Shahjahanabad, the Red Fort is the most prominent. This fort is of an irregular octagonal shape and is called the Red Fort because it is built of red sandstone. Its construction began in 1639 A.D. and was completed in about nine years. The western gate of the fort is called the Lahori Gate, and the southern gate is called the Delhi Gate. It is unique in beauty and splendour and is perhaps incomparable in the world. <!-- layout: ufhy, awob, paoz, fenz -->

medieval-history