UPSC Prelims 2014 Q89: Art & Culture – Architecture & World Heritage
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?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Explanation
Buddhist shrines of the western Himalaya
| Pair | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tabo monastery and temple complex : Spiti Valley | Correct | In Himachal Pradesh; founded in 996 CE; the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas' |
| 2. Lhotsava Lhakhang temple, Nako : Zanskar Valley | Incorrect | Nako is in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh |
| 3. Alchi temple complex : Ladakh | Correct | On the Indus, near Leh; famous for 11th-century wall paintings |
The common link:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Builder | Many of these are credited to Rinchen Zangpo, the 'Great Translator' (Lotsawa) |
| Period | 10th and 11th centuries, the second spread of Buddhism in Tibet |
| Art | Murals in a Kashmiri-influenced style |
Zanskar is in Ladakh; its known monasteries are Karsha and Phugtal.
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Pair 3 is also right: Alchi is in Ladakh.
- (b) Incorrect. Nako is in Kinnaur, not the Zanskar Valley.
- (c) CORRECT. Tabo - Spiti and Alchi - Ladakh are correctly matched.
- (d) Incorrect. Pair 2 is wrong; Nako lies in Kinnaur.
Key point
Tabo: Spiti (996 CE, 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'). Nako: Kinnaur. Alchi: Ladakh. Many are linked to Rinchen Zangpo.
Remember
Tabo = Spiti; Nako = Kinnaur; Alchi = Ladakh.
Common mistakes
- Placing Nako in Zanskar instead of Kinnaur.
- Confusing Spiti (Himachal Pradesh) with Zanskar (Ladakh).
- Forgetting Tabo's nickname: Ajanta of the Himalayas.
Exam tip
Spiti and Kinnaur are in Himachal Pradesh; Zanskar and Alchi are in Ladakh.
Sources
- Archaeological Survey of India — Tabo Monastery and Alchi Choskhor
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India (Tentative List)