Explanations:Ibn Battuta was a renowned Moroccan scholar and traveler who lived during the 14th century. His extensive travels across the Islamic world and beyond are documented in his travelogue, "Rihla," which is a significant historical source for the period. The travelogue provides valuable insights into the social, economic, and political conditions of the regions he visited, including the Delhi Sultanate.
Statement 1 is incorrect. Ibn Battuta was not a Turkish nobleman who fled to India during the Mongol rampage through Central Asia. He was born in Tangier, Morocco, and embarked on his travels as a young man, not as a refugee. The Mongol invasions of Central Asia occurred in the 13th century, while Ibn Battuta was born in 1304 and began his travels in 1325. Therefore, he was not a contemporary of the Mongol invasions in Central Asia.
Statement 2 is correct. Ibn Battuta's travelogue, "Rihla," is indeed a famous and valuable primary source for the history of the period of the Delhi Sultanate. He visited the Delhi Sultanate during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq in the mid-14th century and provided detailed accounts of the political, social, and cultural conditions of the time. His observations and descriptions are highly regarded by historians for their accuracy and detail.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Ibn Battuta was not a contemporary of Balban, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1266 to 1287. Balban lived in the 13th century, while Ibn Battuta was born in the early 14th century. Therefore, they did not overlap in their lifetimes, and Ibn Battuta could not have been a contemporary of Balban.
In summary, the correct statement is that Ibn Battuta wrote a famous travelogue that serves as a good primary source for the history of the period of the Delhi Sultanate. This makes option C the correct answer.