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With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs : Famous shrine Location 1. Tabo monastery and temple complex : Spiti Valley 2. Lhotsava Lhakhang temple, Nako : Zanskar Valley 3. Alchi temple complex : Ladakh Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
The Tabo Monastery and temple complex is indeed located in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh[2], making pair 1 correct.
The Lhotsava Lhakhang temple at Nako is located in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh[4], not in Zanskar Valley as stated in the question. Zanskar Valley is in Jammu and Kashmir[5], making pair 2 incorrect.
The Alchi monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastic complex located in Alchi village in the Leh District of Ladakh[6], making pair 3 correct.
Therefore, only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched, making option C the correct answer.
Sources- [6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchi_Monastery
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis question disguises Geography as Art & Culture. While Tabo and Alchi are standard textbook examples (Nitin Singhania/CCRT), the real test is Pair 2. The examiner checked if you could distinguish between the 'Kinnaur' region (Nako) and the 'Ladakh' region (Zanskar). Strategy: Always map Himalayan cultural sites to their specific river valleys, not just states.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Tabo Monastery and Temple Complex - Spiti Valley: The Tabo Monastery is indeed located in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, which matches the given pair correctly."
Why this source?
- Explicitly states the match between Tabo Monastery and Spiti Valley is correct.
- Directly names Himachal Pradesh as the state containing Spiti Valley in this context.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Tabo monastery and temple complex is located in the Tago village of Spiti valley, Himachal Pradesh."
Why this source?
- States the Tabo monastery and temple complex is located in Tago village of Spiti Valley.
- Specifies Spiti Valley and Himachal Pradesh together, tying the monastery to that region.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Location: Tabo, Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh"
Why this source?
- Lists the location line showing Tabo is in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh.
- Provides travel/attraction context reinforcing the geographic placement.
- Explicitly states the match between Tabo Monastery and Spiti Valley is correct.
- Directly names Himachal Pradesh as the state containing Spiti Valley in this context.
- States the Tabo monastery and temple complex is located in Tago village of Spiti Valley.
- Specifies Spiti Valley and Himachal Pradesh together, tying the monastery to that region.
- Lists the location line showing Tabo is in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh.
- Provides travel/attraction context reinforcing the geographic placement.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > 2. The Himachal Himalaya > p. 15
Strength: 4/5
“Stretching over Himachal Pradesh, it occupies an area of about 45,000 sq km. All the three ranges (the Greater, the Lesser, and the Outer Himalaya) are well represented in this region. The northern slopes of the Himachal Himalaya are clothed with thick forests and show plains and lakes, while the southern slopes are rugged and forest clad. Rohtang, Bara-Lacha, and Shipki-La are the important passes which join Himachal Pradesh with Tibet (China). The beautiful and highly productive valleys of Kangra, Kullu, Manali, Lahul, and Spiti lie in Himachal Pradesh. These valleys are well known for orchards and scenic beauty. Shimla, Dalhousie, Chamba, Dharamshala, Kullu-Manali are the important hill stations of this region.”
Why relevant
Identifies Spiti as one of the well-known valleys of Himachal Pradesh, establishing that 'Spiti Valley' is a recognized geographic unit within Himachal.
How to extend
A student could take this as a prompt to check a map or gazetteer for named sites (like Tabo) within the Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Chandra Taal Lake > p. 31
Strength: 4/5
“It has a crescent shaped basin. It is located in Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh at an elevation of 14,100 ft. It was a resting point for the travellers and traders coming from Tibet or Ladakh. The lake is accessible only during June-September months and remains frozen for the rest of the time. It is one of the famous but least trekked lake of Himachal Pradesh. It is flanked by the green carpeted Chandra Bhaga mountain range.”
Why relevant
States that Chandra Taal (a high-altitude lake) is located in the Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, showing that notable high-altitude sites (and districts) are in Spiti.
How to extend
A student could use this to narrow searches to Spiti district maps or district-level lists of monasteries/temples to look for Tabo.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Chandra Tal > p. 29
Strength: 3/5
“It is a high altitude lake in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. It is about 4300 m above sea level. The Kunzam Pass, which connects Lahaul and Spiti, is only about 6 km from this lake.”
Why relevant
Notes Chandra Tal is in Lahaul and Spiti district, confirming administrative naming (Lahaul and Spiti) used for the region where high-altitude religious sites occur.
How to extend
A student could check administrative (district) maps for 'Lahaul and Spiti' to see if Tabo appears as a settlement/monastery within that district.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Nako Lake > p. 30
Strength: 3/5
“Situated in the district of Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh), it is a high altitude lake. This lake is surrounded by willow and poplar trees. Near the lake there are four Buddhist temples. It is considered a sacred lake.”
Why relevant
Mentions Buddhist temples adjacent to high-altitude lakes in Himachal (Nako in Kinnaur), indicating a pattern of Buddhist religious sites occurring in Himalayan valleys of Himachal.
How to extend
A student could generalize this pattern and look specifically for Buddhist monasteries listed in Himachal’s high valleys (Spiti among them) to see if Tabo appears.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 16: India–Political Aspects > The Middle Sector > p. 33
Strength: 3/5
“The middle sector boundary between India and China is about 625 km long which runs along the watershed from Ladakh to Nepal. The states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand touch this border with Tibet (China). The boundary of Himachal Pradesh follows the water parting between the Spiti and Para Chu rivers and continues along the watershed between the eastern and the western tributaries of the Satluj. The Uttarakhand boundary is demarcated by the watershed”
Why relevant
Describes the boundary and watershed between India and Tibet running along Spiti, situating Spiti geographically as part of the trans-Himalayan sector where Tibetan Buddhist sites might be expected.
How to extend
A student could combine this geographical context with knowledge that Tibetan Buddhism is common in trans-Himalayan valleys and then search for named Tibetan Buddhist sites (e.g., Tabo) in Spiti.
Identifies Spiti as one of the well-known valleys of Himachal Pradesh, establishing that 'Spiti Valley' is a recognized geographic unit within Himachal.
A student could take this as a prompt to check a map or gazetteer for named sites (like Tabo) within the Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh.
States that Chandra Taal (a high-altitude lake) is located in the Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, showing that notable high-altitude sites (and districts) are in Spiti.
A student could use this to narrow searches to Spiti district maps or district-level lists of monasteries/temples to look for Tabo.
Notes Chandra Tal is in Lahaul and Spiti district, confirming administrative naming (Lahaul and Spiti) used for the region where high-altitude religious sites occur.
A student could check administrative (district) maps for 'Lahaul and Spiti' to see if Tabo appears as a settlement/monastery within that district.
Mentions Buddhist temples adjacent to high-altitude lakes in Himachal (Nako in Kinnaur), indicating a pattern of Buddhist religious sites occurring in Himalayan valleys of Himachal.
A student could generalize this pattern and look specifically for Buddhist monasteries listed in Himachal’s high valleys (Spiti among them) to see if Tabo appears.
Describes the boundary and watershed between India and Tibet running along Spiti, situating Spiti geographically as part of the trans-Himalayan sector where Tibetan Buddhist sites might be expected.
A student could combine this geographical context with knowledge that Tibetan Buddhism is common in trans-Himalayan valleys and then search for named Tibetan Buddhist sites (e.g., Tabo) in Spiti.
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