Question 33 from UPSC CSE 2021 - Art & Culture

Question

Which one of the following statements is correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Waghora river.

Strategy: Associate each historical site with its specific geographical setting, such as a river or gorge. Identify the correct pairing and eliminate options with mismatched topographical contexts.

Key Info: ## Site Details

**Ajanta Caves:** A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ajanta Caves are a group of 29 Buddhist rock-cut caves dating from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE. They are located in a sweeping horseshoe-shaped gorge along the Waghora river, in the Sahyadri hills (Western Ghats), Maharashtra. The caves are renowned for their exquisite murals and sculptures, representing both Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhist traditions.

**Sanchi Stupa:** Located near Sanchi town in Madhya Pradesh, the Great Stupa at Sanchi is not positioned in a river gorge. It is situated atop a hill and is not associated with the Chambal river, which flows some distance away.

**Pandu-lena Caves:** Also called Pandavleni or Nasik Caves, these are ancient Buddhist caves situated near Nashik, Maharashtra. They are carved into the Trirashmi Hills, not on the Narmada river gorge. The caves overlook the Godavari river valley, but not a gorge of it.

**Amaravati Stupa:** An ancient Buddhist monument found in Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), this stupa lies near the banks of the Krishna river—not the Godavari. The stupa was famous for its intricate sculptures and served as an important Buddhist site in south India.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of Chambal river.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Pandu-lena Cave Shrines lie in the gorge of Narmada river.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of Godavari river.