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Q65 (IAS/2016) History & Culture › Art & Architecture › Rock-cut architecture Official Key

What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram? 1. Both were built in the same period. 2. Both belong to the same religious denomination. 3. Both have rock-cut monuments. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is option B (3 only) because only the statement about rock-cut monuments is accurate for both sites.

Ajanta has 30 caves that have been scooped out of volcanic rocks[2], making them rock-cut monuments. Similarly, Mahabalipuram also features rock-cut architecture, as evidenced by the monolithic rathas known as the Panchapandava Rathas[4], which are carved from single rocks.

Statement 1 is incorrect because the patrons of Ajanta were kings who ruled the Deccan plateau during c. 200 BCE to 200 CE[1], while the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram was constructed during the reign of Rajasimha (CE 700-728)[4], showing a significant time gap of several centuries.

Statement 2 is also incorrect regarding religious denomination. The Hinayana sect of Buddhism started the excavation of caves in Ajanta[1], making it a Buddhist site, whereas the temple at Mamallapuram comprises shrines dedicated to Siva and Vishnu[4], indicating it is a Hindu temple. Therefore, only statement 3 is correct.

Sources
  1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Cultural Development in South India > 9.4Ajanta > p. 128
  2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Cultural Development in South India > 9.4Ajanta > p. 128
  3. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Cultural Development in South India > 9.5 Mamallapuram > p. 129
  4. [4] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Cultural Development in South India > 9.5 Mamallapuram > p. 129
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram? 1. Both were built in the same period. 2. Both belong …
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10
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This is a classic 'Comparative Art & Culture' question. It rewards clarity over rote memorization by testing if you can distinguish major heritage sites on three specific parameters: Chronology (Time), Theology (Religion), and Technology (Rock-cut vs Structural). It proves that reading sites in isolation is insufficient; you must study them comparatively.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Construction dates/periods of the Ajanta caves and the Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) monuments; were they built in the same historical period?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Cultural Development in South India > II. Elora - Ajanta and Mamallapuram > p. 127
Presence: 5/5
“Aurangabad district in Maharashtra is the centre of the groups of caves in Ellora and Ajanta. The Ellora group of caves are famous for sculptures while the Ajanta group of caves are famous for paintings. The dates of these temples range from c. 500 to c. 950 CE. But the activity of creating cave temples may have started two hundred years earlier. The first cave temple was created for the Ajivikas. Some of the temples are incomplete.”
Why this source?
  • Gives a clear date-range for Ajanta temples as c. 500 to c. 950 CE.
  • This range directly includes the early medieval centuries when Mamallapuram monuments were built, allowing comparison.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Cultural Development in South India > 9.5 Mamallapuram > p. 129
Presence: 5/5
“The iconic Shore Temple of Pallavas at Mamallapuram (Mahabalipuram) was constructed during the reign of Rajasimha (CE 700-728). The temple comprises three shrines, where the prominent ones are dedicated to Siva and Vishnu. The exterior wall of the shrine, dedicated to Vishnu, and the interior of the boundary wall are elaborately carved and sculpted. In southern India, this is one amongst the earliest and most important structural temples. The monolithic rathas are known as the Panchapandava Rathas. The Arjuna Ratha contains artistically carved sculptures of Siva, Vishnu, mithuna and dwarapala. The most exquisite of the five is the Dharmaraja Ratha, with a three-storied vimana and a square base.”
Why this source?
  • Specifies the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram was constructed during Rajasimha (CE 700–728).
  • Provides a precise date for major Mamallapuram monuments, enabling overlap assessment with Ajanta's date-range.
THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > Fig. 4.24 An image of Durga, Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), c. sixth century CE > p. 106
Presence: 4/5
“Fig. 4.25 A temple in Deogarh (Uttar Pradesh), c. fifth century CE Ü Identify the remains of the shikhara and the entrance to the garbhagriha. shikhara, was built over the central shrine. Temple walls were often decorated with sculpture. Later temples became far more elaborate – with assembly halls, huge walls and gateways, and arrangements for supplying water (see also Chapter 7). One of the unique features of early temples was that some of these were hollowed out of huge rocks, as artificial caves. The tradition of building artificial caves was an old one. Some of the earliest (Fig. 4.27) Fig.”
Why this source?
  • Dates an image/monument at Mahabalipuram to c. 6th century CE, indicating activity there in the early medieval period.
  • Supports the view that Mamallapuram monuments belong to the same broad early-medieval timeframe as parts of Ajanta.
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Statement analysis

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2013 · Q82 Relevance score: 1.43

Consider the following historical places : 1. Ajanta Caves 2. Lepakshi Temple 3. Sanchi Stupa Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?

CAPF · 2010 · Q58 Relevance score: 0.54

Which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. The Ajanta caves have been painted with scenes from Jainism. 2. The crowning achievements of Ellora caves is the colossal monolithic Kailasanath temple. 3. The Ajanta caves have been built over a period of eight centuries by different rulers. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

CDS-II · 2013 · Q112 Relevance score: 0.35

Which of the following are UNESCO recognized world heritage sites ? 1. Caves of Ajanta 2. Temple and caves at Ellora 3. Mandapas of Mahabalipuram 4. Caves of Kanheri Select the correct answer using the code given below :

IAS · 2014 · Q85 Relevance score: 0.22

With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs: 1. A grand image of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana with numerous celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers below - Ajanta 2. A huge image of Varaha Avatar (boar incarnation) of Vishnu, as he rescues Goddess Earth from the deep and chaotic waters, sculpted on rock - Mount Abu 3. "Arjuna's Penance" / "Descent of Ganga" sculpted on the surface of huge boulders - Mamallapuram Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

IAS · 2021 · Q17 Relevance score: -2.15

Consider the following pairs : (Historical place) (Well-known for) 1. Burzahom : Rock-cut shrines 2. Chandraketugarh : Terracotta art 3. Ganeshwar : Copper artefacts Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?