RAS question
Ana Sagar Lake in Ajmer was built in the 12th century by whom?
Correct answer: (D) Anaji Chauhan.
Ana Sagar Lake in Ajmer was commissioned and built in the 12th century by Anaji Chauhan, also known as Arnoraj Chauhan.
Explanation
Ana Sagar Lake is an artificial lake in Ajmer associated with the Chauhan period. Rajasthan Tourism's Ajmer page states that Anasagar Lake was commissioned and built by Arnoraj Chauhan between 1135 and 1150 AD, and that Arnoraj was also known as Anaji, which explains the lake's name. The lake was built in the 12th century by Anaji Chauhan, the grandfather of Prithviraj Chauhan. The key is to connect the monument, its place, and its patron: Ana Sagar belongs to Ajmer's Chauhan history, not to later Rajput or Mughal names attached to other sites.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Ajaypal Chauhan is not the builder in the official account; Rajasthan Tourism identifies the builder as Arnoraj Chauhan, also known as Anaji, and describes him as Ajaypal Chauhan's son.
- (B) Rana Sanga is not linked to Ana Sagar Lake; Rajasthan Tourism attributes the lake to Anaji or Arnoraj Chauhan.
- (C) Prithviraj Chauhan is the wrong generation here, because the builder was his grandfather, Anaji Chauhan.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan History, Art & Culture through monument-builder attribution for major Ajmer heritage sites. Such questions recur in RAS because site, dynasty, patron and period are compact facts that connect political history with cultural geography.