Civil Services Prepby Garima Malik & Nitin Sangwan Account

UPSC Prelims · General Studies

Ancient, medieval & culture

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Indian art and culture / Architecture

Rock-cut architecture: chaityas, viharas and cave complexes

Practise 5 PYQs

Concepts to cover

  1. Chaitya as the apsidal worship hall with a stupa; vihara as the residential hall with cells
  2. Bhaja, Karle, Kanheri, Nasik (Pandulena), Junnar, Kondane, Bedsa: Hinayana phase, wooden prototypes
  3. Ajanta (Satavahana and Vakataka phases, Waghora gorge), Ellora (Buddhist, Hindu, Jain; Kailasa), Bagh, Aurangabad caves
  4. Udayagiri and Khandagiri (Kharavela), Sittanavasal (Pandya, Jain), Ellora Jain group, Badami cave 4, Gwalior
  5. Udayagiri (Vidisha) Varaha, Elephanta, Badami, Mamallapuram mandapas and rathas, Undavalli, Masrur
  6. Sequence: Barabar (earliest), western Deccan Hinayana, Ajanta Mahayana, Badami and Ellora; Badami not the oldest
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