What was the purpose of the ‘kos minars’ constructed during the medieval period?
(a) To commemorate royal proclamations and court assemblies.
(b) To mark distances and facilitate travel and communication.
(c) To function as watchtowers for military surveillance.
(d) To serve as pillars of punishment in criminal justice.

Question

What was the purpose of the &lsquo;kos minars&rsquo; constructed during the medieval period?
(a) To commemorate royal proclamations and court assemblies.
(b) To mark distances and facilitate travel and communication.
(c) To function as watchtowers for military surveillance.
(d) To serve as pillars of punishment in criminal justice.

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Context: Recently, Kos Minar No.13 in Haryana has been proposed for delisting from the list of centrally protected monuments by the ASI, citing it as untraceable and lacking national importance.
Kos minars were distance markers built by Sher Shah Suri to guide travellers across his empire. Typically about 30 feet tall with a tapering structure and octagonal base, they were made of brick and lime mortar to ensure visibility across the countryside. In the medieval period, kos was a unit of measurement (roughly 3.23 km), and these minars were placed at regular intervals. They also supported administrative functions like message relay, with horses, riders, and drummers stationed at each kos.

Medieval Period

Kos Minars

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M Question 1	⏱ 0
What was the purpose of the ‘kos minars’ constructed during the medieval period? (a) To commemorate royal proclamations and court assemblies. (b) To mark distances and facilitate travel and communication. (c) To function as watchtowers for military surveillance. (d) To serve as pillars of punishment in criminal justice.