Consider the following statements regarding the military and naval infrastructure of the Chola Empire:
1. The imperial army consisted of highly disciplined royal troops called 'Velaikkaras', who took an oath to protect the king at the cost of their lives.
2. The Cholas lacked permanent shipyards and instead relied completely on modified merchant vessels for naval battles.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Question

Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is correct; the Velaikkaras were the elite bodyguard forces of the Chola monarch. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Cholas possessed state-run shipyards and a sophisticated navy with specific warships, which allowed them to cross the deep open waters of the Bay of Bengal.

Answer

Answer