What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Ma...
The Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, a World Heritage Site, are 30 rock-cut cave Buddhist temples carved into the sheer vertical side of a gorge near a waterfall-fed pool located in the hills of the Sahyadri mountains. Guntapalle is a rock-cut cave site near Eluru. The other important site where rock-cut stupas have been excavated is Anakapalle near Vishakhapatanam.
The Pallavas were one of the ancient South Indian dynasties that were active in the Andhra region from the second century CE onwards and moved south to settle in Tamil Nadu. Their early buildings, it is generally assumed, were rockcut, while the later ones were structural. The tradition of rock-cut cave continued in the Deccan and they are found not only in Maharashtra but also in Karnataka, mainly at Badami and Aihole, executed under the patronage of the Chalukyas; in Andhra Pradesh in the area of Vijayawada; and in Tamil Nadu, mainly at Mahabalipuram, under the patronage of the Pallavas.
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What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Ma...
Ajanta and Mahabalipuram
Introduction:
Ajanta and Mahabalipuram are two historical sites in India known for their architectural significance and cultural heritage. While both places have their unique features, they also share some commonalities. In this response, we will explore these commonalities and explain why option C, "3 only," is the correct answer.
1. Both have rock-cut monuments:
- One common feature between Ajanta and Mahabalipuram is that both sites have rock-cut monuments.
- Ajanta Caves, located in Maharashtra, are a series of Buddhist cave temples carved into the rock face of a horseshoe-shaped cliff.
- Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, is a town in Tamil Nadu famous for its rock-cut temples and sculptures, including the iconic Shore Temple.
2. Difference in the religious denomination:
- The second statement in the question suggests that both places belong to the same religious denomination, which is incorrect.
- Ajanta Caves primarily belong to the Buddhist tradition and were built and decorated between the 2nd century BCE and 5th century CE.
- On the other hand, Mahabalipuram has Hindu and Buddhist elements in its rock-cut architecture, but it also includes significant Hindu temples like the Shore Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
3. Difference in the period of construction:
- The first statement in the question suggests that both places were built in the same period, which is also incorrect.
- Ajanta Caves were constructed and embellished over several centuries, starting from the 2nd century BCE and continuing until the 5th century CE.
- Mahabalipuram, on the other hand, flourished during the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries CE, making it relatively younger than Ajanta.
Conclusion:
To summarize, Ajanta and Mahabalipuram are both remarkable historical sites in India with rock-cut monuments. However, they differ in terms of their religious denominations and the periods in which they were constructed. Therefore, the correct answer is option C, "3 only."