UPSC Prelims 2006 Q12: Art & Culture – Architecture & World Heritage
Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
- (a) Vikramsila Monastery : Uttar Pradesh
- (b) Hemkund Gurudwara : Himachal Pradesh
- (c) Udayagiri Caves : Maharashtra
- (d) Amaravati Buddhist Stupa : Andhra Pradesh
Answer: (d) Amaravati Buddhist Stupa : Andhra Pradesh
Explanation
Matching places with their states
| Pair | Actual location | Correct? |
|---|---|---|
| Vikramsila Monastery : Uttar Pradesh | Bhagalpur, Bihar | No |
| Hemkund Gurudwara : Himachal Pradesh | Chamoli, Uttarakhand | No |
| Udayagiri Caves : Maharashtra | Odisha (and Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh) | No |
| Amaravati Buddhist Stupa : Andhra Pradesh | Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh | Yes |
Only the Amaravati pairing is right.
Answer: (d) Amaravati Buddhist Stupa : Andhra Pradesh.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Vikramsila is in Bhagalpur district of Bihar, not Uttar Pradesh.
- (b) Incorrect. Hemkund Sahib is in Uttarakhand, not Himachal Pradesh.
- (c) Incorrect. Udayagiri Caves are in Odisha (and Madhya Pradesh), not Maharashtra.
- (d) CORRECT. Amaravati Stupa stands in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
Key point
Vikramsila is in Bihar, Hemkund in Uttarakhand and Udayagiri in Odisha; only the Amaravati Stupa pairing with Andhra Pradesh is correct.
Remember
Amaravati Stupa is in Andhra Pradesh.
Common mistakes
- Placing Vikramsila with Nalanda in the wrong state.
- Putting Hemkund Sahib in Himachal Pradesh instead of Uttarakhand.
- Not recalling that Udayagiri is in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh.
Exam tip
Vikramsila = Bihar; Hemkund = Uttarakhand; Udayagiri = Odisha/MP; Amaravati = Andhra Pradesh.
Sources
- Archaeological Survey of India — Amaravati (Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh): Buddhist stupa site and museum
- Archaeological Survey of India — Vikramshila Mahavihara, Antichak, Bhagalpur (Bihar)