Question

What was the capital of Avanti Mahajanapada?
(A) Gaya
(B) Ujjain
(C) Satna
(D) Vallabhi

Answer 1

Hint: The capital is the fifth largest city in Madhya Pradesh by population. It is a famous Hindu pilgrimage centre and the Kumbh Mela is held here every 12 years. It is one among the five places in India where Jantar Mantar is located. It is the city where one of the twelve Jyotirlingas is located.

Complete step by step answer: The capital of Avanti Mahajanapada is Ujjain. Avanti Mahajanapada corresponds to present day Malwa region. This janapada was divided into two parts by the Vindhyas, having its northern capital known as Ujjayini and southern capital as Mahishmati. Ujjain is located in the north of the upper limit of the Vindhya mountain ranges. Avanti kingdom was one of the sixteen mahajanapadas.

So, the correct answer is an option (B).

Note:
Ujjain was declared one of the smart cities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship Smart Cities Mission. The famous temple of Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is present in Ujjain and is a place of religious significance to Shaivites, Vaishnavites and followers of Shakta. In the 4th century BCE, the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta incorporated Avanti to his empire. Ujjain was the capital of the Western province, one of the four provinces of the Mauryan Empire, mentioned by Ashoka. It was also an important city and first capital of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. After the Mauryans it was controlled by a number of dynasties like the Shungas, the Western Satraps, the Satavahanas, and the Guptas. It was an important city to the Guptas during the 4th and 5th centuries. The richness of Ujjain and its people is described in the epic work of Gupta king Vikramaditya, called Meghaduta.