Question

What was the period of the reign of Veera Ballala III?
A) 1285-1335 A.D
B) 1292-1343 A.D
C) 1274-1320 A.D
D) 1266-1311 A.D

Answer 1

Hint: Veera Ballala III was a ruler from the Hoysala Empire. The Hoysala Empire was a Kannadiga power emerging from the Indian subcontinent that ruled most of present-day Karnataka, India between the 10th and the 14th centuries. The empire capital was initially located at Belur but was later shifted to Halebidu.

Complete answer:
The Hoysala Empire is seen as a prominent South Indian empire. By the thirteenth century, they ruled most of present-day Karnataka, parts of Tamil Nadu and parts of western Andhra Pradesh in Deccan
India.

Veera Ballala III was the last great king of the Hoysala Empire who ruled from 1292 A.D to 1343 A.D. It was during his reign, the northern and southern branches of the Hoysala Empire including much of modern Karnataka and northern Tamil Nadu were consolidated and administered from Halebidu.

He battled numerous wars with the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Pandyan Dynasty of Madurai and other minor dynasties of South India. It was his conflict with the invading forces of Alauddin Khalji, and Muhammad bin Tughluq, the Sultan of Delhi, that restructured the history of South India. For his bravery and resilience, the historians Suryanath Kamath, Chopra, Ravindran and Subrahmanian have called him a "great ruler".

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘B’ i.e, 1292-1343 A.D was the period of the reign of Veera Ballala III.

Note: The Hoysala era arose as a significant period in the development of art, architecture, and religion in South India. The empire is famously commemorated today primarily for its temple architecture. Over a hundred surviving temples exist across Karnataka, comprising the renowned Chennakesava Temple at Belur, the Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple at Somanathapura. The Hoysala rulers also patronized the fine arts and this patronage encouraged literature to grow at a rapid pace in Kannada and Sanskrit.