Ancient Art: Caves, Stupas and Schools
Barabar to Bagh: the caves, stupas and sculpture schools, with the patron and century for each.
Asked in exams
Actual questions from UPSC and state PCS papers that this map answers. The key detail column carries the correct fact behind each question.
| Exam | Question | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| UPSC 2023 | Bhaja is well known for a Buddhist cave shrine | — |
| UPSC 2010 | Only two known Gupta cave paintings: Ajanta and Bagh caves | — |
| UPSC 2017 | Bodhisattva Padmapani painting: Ajanta | Cave 1 |
| UPSC 2021 | Ajanta caves lie in the gorge of the Waghora river | — |
| UPSC 2010 | The other surviving Gupta-period cave painting site besides Ajanta: Bagh caves | — |
| UPSC 2012 | Nagara, Dravida and Vesara are the three main styles of Indian temple architecture | — |
| UPSC 2015 | Made earliest among the four options: the rock-cut elephant at Dhauli | — |
| UPSC 2016 | Common between Ajanta and Mahabalipuram: rock-cut monuments only | answer: 3 only |
| UPSC 2009 | Famous Virupaksha temple is located at Hampi | not Bhadrachalam, Chidambaram or Srikalahasti |
| UPSC 2017 | Famous for a Sun temple: Arasavalli only | not Amarkantak or Omkareshwar |
| UPPCS | Great Stupa at Sanchi: built by Ashoka | — |
| UPPCS | Kailasa temple at Ellora: built by Rashtrakuta Krishna I | — |
| UPPCS | Brihadeshwara temple at Thanjavur: built by Rajaraja I Chola | — |
| UPPCS | Sun temple at Konark: built by Narasimhadeva I | — |
| UPPCS | Khajuraho temples: built by the Chandellas | — |
| UPPCS | Gandhara school of art flourished under: Kanishka | — |
About this map
The rock-cut caves from Barabar to Ellora, the great stupas, and the sculpture schools. Each marker notes the patron, the period, and the art tag.
Cave-to-dynasty matching is the core: Barabar (Mauryan/Ajivika), Ajanta (Vakataka/Gupta Buddhist), Ellora (multi-faith), Elephanta (Shaiva). The stupa set (Sanchi, Bharhut, Amaravati, Sarnath) is asked through railing and torana details.
Sculpture schools (Gandhara, Mathura, Amaravati) are asked as style-to-region with the Greco-Roman influence as the Gandhara giveaway.