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.
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Answer: B. Statement 1 is wrong: Ajanta caves date from about the 2nd century BCE to 6th century CE; Mahabalipuram monuments are Pallava works of the 7th-8th century CE. Statement 2 is wrong: Ajanta is Buddhist, Mahabalipuram is Hindu. Statement 3 is correct: both have rock-cut monuments. So only 3.
Watch for: Students who know both as rock-cut sites assume they share period and religion too.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Wrong because they differ in period and religion.
- C. Wrong because they were not built in the same period.
- D. Wrong because Statement 3 is correct.
Source to check: NCERT Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Chapters on Ajanta caves and temple architecture (Mahabalipuram); UNESCO World Heritage listings
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.