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Q7 (IAS/2020) History & Culture › Heritage & Misc Culture › Historical sites and monuments Official Key

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs : Famous Place Present State 1. Bhilsa - Madhya Pradesh 2. Dwarasamudra - Maharashtra 3. Girinagar - Gujarat 4. Sthanesvara - Uttar Pradesh Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 1 (1 and 3 only) based on the following historical and geographical facts:

  • Pair 1 is correctly matched: Bhilsa (modern-day Vidisha) is located in Madhya Pradesh. It was a significant center of trade and commerce during the Gupta period and is famous for the Heliodorus pillar and Udayagiri caves.
  • Pair 3 is correctly matched: Girinagar refers to modern-day Junagadh in Gujarat. It is historically significant for the Girnar hill inscriptions of Ashoka, Rudradaman I, and Skandagupta.
  • Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Dwarasamudra (Halebidu) was the capital of the Hoysala Empire and is located in Karnataka, not Maharashtra.
  • Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Sthanesvara (Thanesar) was the capital of the Pushyabhuti dynasty (Harsha's lineage) and is located in Haryana (near Kurukshetra), not Uttar Pradesh.

Since only pairs 1 and 3 are accurate, Option 1 is the right choice.

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Q. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs : Famous Place Present State 1. Bhilsa - Madhya Pradesh 2. Dwaras…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 0/10

This is a classic 'Historical Geography' question. While standard books mention these capitals under their respective dynasties, they rarely provide a direct 'Ancient Site = Modern State' table. The fairness is high because these are major capitals (Hoysala, Pushyabhuti, Shunga/Gupta), not obscure villages. Success requires reading history with a modern political map open.

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
In the history of India, is the ancient place Bhilsa (Bhelsa/Vidisha) located in present-day Madhya Pradesh?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > Invasions of the Indo-Greeks > p. 134
Presence: 5/5
“After the decline of the Mauryas, the areas in the northwestern regions (roughly present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan) were an easy target for the Indo-Greeks. However, while they arrived as conquerors, they were much influenced by the rich local culture. This cultural interaction led to a blend of Greek and Indian elements in governance, art, language, and daily life, shaping the cultural landscape of the region. The Heliodorus pillar, near Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh), is a notable example of such connections. It is named after an Indo-”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names Vidisha and locates it in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Refers to an ancient monument (Heliodorus pillar) as being near Vidisha, linking an archaeological/historical site to the modern state.
Statement 2
In the history of India, is the ancient city Dwarasamudra (the Hoysala capital) located in present-day Maharashtra?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 12: Bahmani and Vijayanagar Kingdoms > Introduction > p. 175
Strength: 5/5
“At the beginning of the fourteenth century, when the Delhi Sultanate was preparing to extend southwards, the Deccan and south India were divided into four kingdoms: the Yadavas of Devagiri (Western Deccan or present Maharashtra), the Hoysalas of Dvarasamudra (Karnataka), the Kakatiyas of Warangal (eastern part of present Telengana) and the Pandyas of Madurai (southern Tamil Nadu) make Devagiri (renamed as Daulatabad) as the capital to command the vast conquered territory more effectively. But his experiments failed and brought misery to the people. When he shifted the capital back to Delhi, his subordinates in the south declared independence. Thus Madurai became an independent Sultanate in 1333.”
Why relevant

Identifies the Hoysalas as 'of Dvarasamudra (Karnataka)' while naming the Yadavas as based at Devagiri (present Maharashtra), establishing a pattern that associates Dvarasamudra with Karnataka rather than Maharashtra.

How to extend

A student could check modern-state boundaries on a map to see whether Dvarasamudra falls inside present-day Karnataka or Maharashtra.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > THINK ABOUT IT > p. 30
Strength: 4/5
“We mentioned earlier Alaud-din's push to the South, attracted by its renowned wealth. At the time, the Hoysalas ruled parts of southern India (mostly present-day Karnataka, see Fig. 2.3) and fended off several attacks from the Delhi Sultanate, remaining the only independent kingdom in the south. However, weakened by these attacks and internal conflicts, the Hoysala kingdom declined and, in the mid-14th century, was absorbed into the Vijayanagara Empire further south (see below).”
Why relevant

States that the Hoysalas ruled parts of southern India 'mostly present-day Karnataka', reinforcing a geographic association of the Hoysala polity with Karnataka.

How to extend

Combine this with a map of medieval Hoysala territory to judge whether their capital lies within modern Karnataka.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: The Rise of the Marathas > Who are the Marathas? > p. 62
Strength: 4/5
“The Marathas are a group of people native to the Deccan plateau, more specifically present-day Maharashtra. They are identified with the language they speak — Marathi — which has had a rich and continuous literary history since the 12th century. In this chapter, we will see them rise as a powerful political entity that will alter the course of India's history. During the 13th century, most of Maharashtra was ruled by the Yadava dynasty with Devagiri (present-day Daulatabad) as its capital. In the early Fig. 3.3. Sant Ramdas 62Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 8 Part 1”
Why relevant

Explains that the Yadavas ruled most of Maharashtra (Devagiri) in the 13th century, giving a contrastive example of a major Deccan capital that is in present-day Maharashtra.

How to extend

Use this contrast (Yadava/Devagiri = Maharashtra) to differentiate which medieval capitals correspond to modern Maharashtra versus Karnataka.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 5: Evolution of Society in South India > Introduction > p. 63
Strength: 3/5
“In the Deccan region, encompassing major parts of present day Telangana, Andhra, Karnataka and Maharashtra, the Satavahanas established a powerful kingdom in the first century BCE. In the south, the three family ruling houses, the Cheras, the Cholas and the Pandyas were their contemporaries, ruling the fertile parts of Tamizhagam. But the Tamil rulers started two centuries earlier as they figure in Ashoka's inscriptions of the third century BCE.”
Why relevant

Defines the Deccan region as encompassing parts of present-day Telangana, Andhra, Karnataka and Maharashtra, indicating that medieval polities in the Deccan might belong to different modern states and must be located more precisely.

How to extend

A student should not assume 'Deccan' = Maharashtra; instead, they should locate Dvarasamudra specifically on a map of the Deccan to resolve the question.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 5: Evolution of Society in South India > 5.2 South India under the Satavahanas > p. 65
Strength: 3/5
“The Satavahanas emerged in the first century BCE in the Deccan region. They ruled over parts of Andhra, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. From recent archaeological evidence it is understood that the Satavahanas started to rule in the Telengana area and then moved to Maharashtra to rule in the Godavari basin with Prathistan (Paithan in Maharashtra) as their capital. Later they moved eastwards to control coastal Andhra also. Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest of the Satavahana kings. He defeated the Shaka ruler Nahapana and reissued the coins. Nahapana with his own royal insignia. The inscription of his mother Gautami Balashri at Nashik mentions him as the conqueror of the Shakas, Pahlavas, and Yavanas.”
Why relevant

Shows that ancient dynasties (e.g., Satavahanas) ruled territories spanning present-day Maharashtra and Karnataka, illustrating that historical kingdoms often crossed modern state boundaries.

How to extend

Use this pattern to justify checking precise historical-place identifications (coordinates or modern district names) rather than inferring state from the dynasty alone.

Statement 3
In the history of India, is the ancient place Girinagar located in present-day Gujarat?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Emergence of State and Empire > Sources > p. 47
Strength: 5/5
“The most widely known are the edicts of Ashoka, which have been discovered in many parts of the country. In fact, the reconstruction of the Mauryan period to a great extent became possible only after the Brahmi script of the inscriptions at Sanchi was deciphered by James Prinsep in 1837. Let us now turn to two later sources. The first is the rock inscription of Junagadh, near Girnar in Gujarat. This was carved during the reign of Rudradaman, the local ruler and dates back to 130-150 CE. It refers to Pushyagupta, the provincial governor (rashtriya) of Emperor Chandragupta.”
Why relevant

Mentions a rock inscription of Junagadh, near Girnar in Gujarat, linking an ancient place-name (Girnar) to present-day Gujarat.

How to extend

A student could compare the name 'Girinagar' with 'Girnar/Girinagar' on a map or in gazetteers to assess whether the ancient name corresponds to a site in Gujarat.

Exploring Society:India and Beyond. Social Science-Class VI . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation > Town-Planning > p. 90
Strength: 4/5
“Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, now in Pakistan, were the first two cities of this civilisation to be discovered; their identification goes back to 1924, a century ago. Several sites followed in the Indus plains, which is why the civilisation was initially called 'Indus Valley civilisation'. Later on, other major cities, such as Dholavira (in Gujarat), Rakhigarhi (in Haryana), Ganweriwala (in the Cholistan desert of Pakistan), and hundreds of smaller sites (such”
Why relevant

Lists Dholavira as an ancient Harappan city located in Gujarat, showing that significant ancient sites are indeed situated in present-day Gujarat.

How to extend

Use this pattern (ancient sites located in Gujarat) and check archaeological or historical lists for Girinagar to see if it is similarly recorded in Gujarat.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > i) The Gujarat Coastal Plain > p. 64
Strength: 3/5
“(i) The Gujarat Coastal Plain The Gujarat plain covers almost the entire state of Gujarat, except the districts of Banaskantha and Sabarkantha. It is formed by the alluvial deposits of Sabarmati, Mahi, Luni, and numerous tiny parallel consequent streams. Part of this plain is the product of depositional activity of the winds and recession of the sea. It contains the Gondwana rocks (Umia Series), resting over the marine Jurassic rocks and capped by Lower Cretaceous (Apatian) beds. The Deccan lava lies over the Umia series. The eastern section of Gujarat Plain is a projected jet of Sindhu-Ganga alluvial tract in Peninsular India.”
Why relevant

Describes the Gujarat Coastal Plain and geographic extent of the state, providing geographic context for locating ancient sites within modern Gujarat.

How to extend

Combine this geographic outline with the probable coordinates or descriptions of Girinagar to judge whether it falls within Gujarat's present-day boundaries.

Statement 4
In the history of India, is the ancient site Sthanesvara (Sthaneshvara) located in present-day Uttar Pradesh?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Kinship, Caste and Class > 6.3 The search for convergence > p. 75
Strength: 5/5
“The Mahabharata, like any major epic, contains vivid descriptions of battles, forests, palaces and settlements. In 1951-52, the archaeologist B.B. Lal excavated at a village named Hastinapura in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh). Was this the Hastinapura of the epic? While the similarity in names could be coincidental, the location of the site in the Upper Ganga doab, where the Kuru kingdom was situated, suggests that it may have been the capital of the Kurus mentioned in the text. Lal found evidence of five occupational levels, of which the second and third are of interest to us. This is what Lal noted about the houses in the second phase ( c. twelfth-seventh centuries BCE): "Within the limited area excavated, no definite plans of houses were obtained, but walls of mud and mud-bricks were duly encountered.”
Why relevant

Gives an example (Hastinapura) of an ancient/epic-associated site identified by archaeology in present-day Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, showing that sites from textual tradition can be located in UP.

How to extend

A student could use this pattern to check whether textual references to Sthanesvara correspond to an archaeological site within UP (e.g., by comparing classical place-names and modern UP map).

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: The Gupta Era: An Age of Tireless Creativity > The Quest for Beauty > p. 160
Strength: 4/5
“The Gupta rulers created a supportive environment where creativity and craftsmanship thrived; some of the iconic works of history were produced during this time. Many key centres of art emerged during these times, including Sārnāth (near Varanasi in present-day Uttar Pradesh), known for its exquisite sculptures of the Buddha, and the awe-inspiring Ajanta caves (in present-day Maharashtra). The rock-cut caves and detailed carvings of deities at Udayagiri (Madhya Pradesh) are another example of this abundant artistic production. 'Gupta art', as it is sometimes called, set high standards of aesthetics and beauty that left a lasting impact. (See Figures 7.15 to 7.18)”
Why relevant

Identifies Sārnāth (near Varanasi) as an important ancient Buddhist site in present-day Uttar Pradesh, illustrating that major ancient religious sites are located in UP.

How to extend

One could compare the religious/administrative role of Sthanesvara in texts with known UP sites (like Sarnath/Varanasi) and then check modern maps or gazetteers for a match in UP.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 1: Early India: From the Beginnings to the Indus Civilisation > An Upper Palaeolithic Shrine > p. 5
Strength: 3/5
“An interesting find is of a possible shrine, indicated by a block of sandstone surrounded by a rubble circle, similar to the contemporary shrines. Found at Baghor in Uttar Pradesh, it is the earliest known evidence of a shrine in India. beads have been found at Jwalapuram in Andhra Pradesh, Patne in Maharashtra and Batadomba-Lena and Fa Hien Cave in Sri Lanka.”
Why relevant

Notes Baghor in Uttar Pradesh as an early shrine site, showing UP contains prehistoric/ancient ritual sites.

How to extend

Use the example of Baghor to justify searching UP archaeological records and place-name directories for Sthanesvara/Sthaneshvara entries.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > SARASWATI-THE MYSTERY OF A LOST RIVER > p. 25
Strength: 3/5
“Archaeological Evidence: Most of the archaeological sites of the then civilization are located on the Saraswati river basin. There are four Harappan and pre-Harappan sites in Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. These sites are located at Rupar (present Rupnagar), Nihang Khan, Bara and Sirsa valleys. Harappan culture flourished in the western part of Punjab around 2500 B.C. It is believed that the Harappans entered through the Indus Valley into Kalibagan valley on the left bank of Ghaggar (erstwhile Saraswati) and spread to Punjab along the Saraswati River. Carbon dating of the material at Kalibagan suggests that Harappan culture flourished around 2500 B.C. in India and existed for 1000 years.”
Why relevant

States that there are Harappan and pre-Harappan archaeological sites in Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, indicating UP is part of the geographic range of ancient Indian sites.

How to extend

A student might extend this geographic pattern by checking if Sthanesvara appears in lists of ancient sites within the broader region that includes UP.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 2: Early India: The Chalcolithic, Megalithic, Iron Age and Vedic Cultures > Eastward Expansion of the Arvans > p. 26
Strength: 3/5
“The Aryan speakers expanded from the Punjab to Western Uttar Pradesh in the Ganga Yamuna doab in the Later Vedic period. The history of ancient India was thus marked by the movement of cultures, and interactions and battles among various groups for territories and resources. It has been suggested that while the Arvans migrated to the region of eastern part of the Ganga valley, the Indo-Iranians migrated from the region of Iran to the region of Punjab. The Kurus, Panchalas, Vashat and Ushinaras are the tribes of this period. References to the Saraswati and Dhristavati rivers occur in the later Vedic texts also.”
Why relevant

Describes the Aryan expansion into western Uttar Pradesh (Ganga–Yamuna doab), implying the doab contains many ancient cultural/political centres.

How to extend

One could use this to motivate checking historical/epic references and maps of the Ganga–Yamuna doab for a place called Sthanesvara/Sthaneshvara in present-day UP.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC consistently tests the 'Modern Identity of Ancient Places'. They swap states between contemporary dynasties (e.g., swapping the location of the Yadava capital with the Hoysala capital). Always map ancient ports, capitals, and Buddhist sites to their 2024 district/state.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. All four are major historical cities covered in standard NCERTs (RS Sharma/Satish Chandra) and TN Board History.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Historical Geography & Capital Cities. The shift from asking 'Which Dynasty?' to 'Where is it now?'.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Map these immediately: Anhilwara (Patan, Gujarat), Manyakheta (Malkhed, Karnataka), Vengi (Eluru, AP), Dhanyakataka (Amaravati, AP), Tamralipti (Tamluk, WB), Sopara (Nalasopara, Maharashtra), and Tripuri (Jabalpur, MP).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When you read 'Hoysalas ruled from Dwarasamudra', do not stop there. Ask: 'Is Dwarasamudra in Karnataka or Tamil Nadu today?' Visualizing the modern boundary is the only way to retain this.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Identifying ancient place-names in modern states
💡 The insight

Vidisha is an ancient urban site now situated in present-day Madhya Pradesh, so mapping ancient names to current states is essential.

High-yield for UPSC because many questions require locating historical sites within present-day political boundaries; links historical geography with archaeology and aids quick elimination in prelims and precision in mains answers.

📚 Reading List :
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > Invasions of the Indo-Greeks > p. 134
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is the ancient place Bhilsa (Bhelsa/Vidisha) located in..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Heliodorus pillar and Indo-Greek connections
💡 The insight

The Heliodorus pillar near Vidisha exemplifies Indo-Greek cultural and diplomatic links associated with that locality.

Important for understanding foreign contacts in ancient India and using material culture as evidence; frequently appears in culture/ancient history questions and helps frame answers with concrete archaeological examples.

📚 Reading List :
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > Invasions of the Indo-Greeks > p. 134
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is the ancient place Bhilsa (Bhelsa/Vidisha) located in..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Distinguishing tribal names from place-names (Bhils vs Bhilsa/Bhelsa)
💡 The insight

Bhils refers to a tribe with distribution in Madhya Pradesh, whereas Bhilsa/Bhelsa (Vidisha) is a named ancient place; candidates must avoid conflating tribe names with toponyms.

Clarifies common confusions in both prelim and mains questions where social groups and place-names intersect; strengthens accuracy in answers on cultural geography and historical settlements.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Setting > The Bhils > p. 31
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > Invasions of the Indo-Greeks > p. 134
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is the ancient place Bhilsa (Bhelsa/Vidisha) located in..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Medieval kingdom → modern state mapping
💡 The insight

Identifies which medieval South Indian dynasties correspond to which present-day states (for example, Hoysalas → Karnataka; Yadavas → Maharashtra).

High-yield for UPSC because many questions ask to place historical polities on the modern map; it links history with political geography and helps eliminate wrong options in polity/GS prelim and mains geography-history integrated questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 12: Bahmani and Vijayanagar Kingdoms > Introduction > p. 175
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > THINK ABOUT IT > p. 30
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: The Rise of the Marathas > Who are the Marathas? > p. 62
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is the ancient city Dwarasamudra (the Hoysala capital) ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Capitals of medieval South Indian dynasties and their modern locations
💡 The insight

Focuses on identifying historic capitals (e.g., Dvarasamudra for the Hoysalas; Devagiri/Daulatabad for the Yadavas) and locating them in present states.

Crucial for answering source-based and map-based questions; mastering this reduces errors in chronology+geography linkage and supports essay and answer-writing where placement of centres of power is required.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 12: Bahmani and Vijayanagar Kingdoms > Introduction > p. 175
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: The Rise of the Marathas > Who are the Marathas? > p. 62
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is the ancient city Dwarasamudra (the Hoysala capital) ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Political geography of the Deccan and South in the medieval period
💡 The insight

Covers the territorial extent and regional divisions of medieval polities in the Deccan and south India, showing which areas belonged to which dynasties.

Useful for conceptual questions on regional interactions, invasions (north–south movements), and state formation; connects to art/architecture, trade routes and later politico-military developments tested in prelims and mains.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 12: Bahmani and Vijayanagar Kingdoms > Introduction > p. 175
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map > THINK ABOUT IT > p. 30
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 5: Evolution of Society in South India > Introduction > p. 63
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is the ancient city Dwarasamudra (the Hoysala capital) ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Mapping ancient place-names to modern states
💡 The insight

Identifying where ancient towns and sites fall in present-day political geography is essential to answer whether a historical place is in a given modern state.

High-yield for UPSC: questions often ask to locate ancient sites in current states or districts. Mastering this enables quick elimination of wrong options in map-based and history‑geography linkage questions and links history with physical and cultural geography.

📚 Reading List :
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond. Social Science-Class VI . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation > Town-Planning > p. 90
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Emergence of State and Empire > Sources > p. 47
🔗 Anchor: "In the history of India, is the ancient place Girinagar located in present-day G..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Trap' in Option 2 (Dwarasamudra - Maharashtra) likely stems from the Yadava capital, Devagiri (Daulatabad), which *is* in Maharashtra. The Shadow Fact is: Devagiri/Seuna dynasty = Maharashtra; Warangal/Kakatiya = Telangana; Dwarasamudra/Hoysala = Karnataka.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use the 'Dynasty-State Association' hack. Dwarasamudra = Hoysala Dynasty. Hoysala Art (Belur/Halebid) is the cultural identity of Karnataka. Therefore, Pair 2 (Maharashtra) is false. Eliminate options C and D. Now you only need to check Pair 4 (Sthanesvara). Sthanesvara = Thanesar = Kurukshetra = Haryana (not UP). Pair 4 is false. Answer is A.

🔗 Mains Connection

GS1 (Art & Culture): The location of the capital dictates the architectural style. Dwarasamudra (Halebidu) is the epicenter of the 'Vesara' or 'Hoysala' style of temple architecture (Star-shaped platforms), distinct from the Nagara style of Bhilsa (Vidisha) or the Dravida style further south.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2014 · Q89 Relevance score: 4.34

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?

IAS · 2015 · Q35 Relevance score: 4.17

Consider the following pairs : Medieval Indian State Present Region 1. Champaka : Central India 2. Durgara : Jammu 3. Kuluta : Malabar Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

IAS · 2016 · Q94 Relevance score: 3.86

Consider the following pairs : Famous place Region 1. Bodhgaya : Baghelkhand 2. Khajuraho : Bundelkhand 3. Shirdi : Vidarbha 4. Nasik (Nashik) : Malwa 5. Tirupati - : Rayalaseema Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?