Question

The Chola king who after successfully raiding Bengal took the title of Gangaikonda and also founded the new capital [Gangaikonda Cholapuram]
A. Rajaraja I
B. Rajendra I
C. Rajadhiraj I
D. Rajendra II

Answer 1

Hint: Chola kingdom was founded in 850 AD and reached its zenith during the early twelfth century, with constant Gangetic expeditions and military naval expeditions for the first time in the history of any south Indian kingdom.
Complete answer: Chola kingdom was founded by a Pallava feudatory called Vijayala as he captured Tanjore in 850 AD. It was a very well administered kingdom with a ruler at the centre supported by a council of ministers. Kingdom was further divided in Mandalams (provinces), then Valanadu and Nadu leading to Kurram which meant a small group of villages. Local self-governance remained characteristic to the Chola administration.
The Chola dynasty saw two major rulers as Rajaraja known for the construction of the famous Vrihadeshwar Shiva temple. His son Rajendra I was the second one known for his successive eastern and Gangetic conquest comprising present-day Bengal, Orissa, Andaman and Nicobar. This remained the peak time for Cholas as Rajendra I assumed the title of Gangaikondachola. He built a new capital city here around 1020 AD named as Gangaikondacholapuram meaning ‘the town of the Chola who conquered the Ganges’. He also constructed a Shiva temple here called Gangaikondacholeswaram.
Another important mention would be of his naval expeditions described in his inscriptions to South-East Asian lands and ports. Kaddram was the first one to be captured where description mentions its ruler being captured along with his elephants and treasury. Among the total thirteen expeditions, the most popular one remains to Sri Vijaya which hampered Chola trade.
Hence, option (B) is the correct answer.

Note: Chola dynasty temples followed a distinct style called as Dravida temple architecture. It had 3 major elements as Gopuram (entrance tower), Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) and Vimana (pyramidal tower). Art of image-making also flourished simultaneously with the most advanced example of dancing Shiva as Nataraja.