UPSC Prelims 2015 Q15: Geography – Indian Physical Geography
Consider the following pairs: Place of Pilgrimage : Location
1. Srisailam : Nallamala Hills
2. Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills
3. Pushkar : Mahadeo Hills
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
Places of pilgrimage and their location
| Pair | Verdict | Actual location |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Srisailam : Nallamala Hills | Correct | On the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh; Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga |
| 2. Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills | Incorrect | On Mandhata island in the Narmada, Madhya Pradesh; the Satmala Hills are in Maharashtra |
| 3. Pushkar : Mahadeo Hills | Incorrect | In the Aravalli range near Ajmer, Rajasthan; the Mahadeo Hills are in the Satpura range |
The hills:
| Hills | Location |
|---|---|
| Nallamala | Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana |
| Satmala | Northern Maharashtra (Nashik area) |
| Mahadeo | Satpura range, Madhya Pradesh (Pachmarhi) |
Answer: (a) 1 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Only Srisailam - Nallamala Hills is correctly matched.
- (b) Incorrect. Omkareshwar is on the Narmada and Pushkar is in the Aravallis.
- (c) Incorrect. Pushkar is in the Aravalli range, not the Mahadeo Hills.
- (d) Incorrect. Pairs 2 and 3 are wrongly matched.
Key point
Srisailam - Nallamala Hills (Andhra Pradesh); Omkareshwar - Narmada island (Madhya Pradesh); Pushkar - Aravalli (Rajasthan).
Remember
Srisailam = Nallamala; Pushkar = Aravalli.
Common mistakes
- Linking Mahadeo (a name of Shiva) with any Shiva shrine.
- Not knowing that Satmala Hills are in Maharashtra.
- Forgetting that Pushkar has the famous Brahma temple, in the Aravallis.
Exam tip
Fix the State first: Pushkar is in Rajasthan, so it must be the Aravallis.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — India: Physical Environment, Ch 2 (Structure and Physiography)
- Oxford School Atlas — India: Physical