Architecture

Culture of India UPSC Civil Services Examination (General Studies)

Title

45:30

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38 of 100 completed

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Indian Economy - Understanding the basics of Indian economic system

With reference to Cave Tradition in Western India, consider the following statements:

1. Junnar caves is also known as Ganeshleni.

2. Kanheri caves showcase proof of the earliest attempts at rainwater harvesting by ancient Indians.

3. Nasik caves are also known as Pandavleni due to their mythological connection to Pandavas.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

Only One

Only Two

All Three

None

The correct Statement is "1 and 2 only."
The Junnar caves are indeed also known as Ganeshleni, and they represent an important center of Buddhist cave architecture in western India, with multiple cave groups in the area. This makes statement 1 correct.
The Kanheri caves, located in the outskirts of Mumbai, show evidence of an elaborate system of water channels and cisterns, which is one of the earliest examples of rock-cut architecture aimed at rainwater harvesting in India. This makes statement 2 correct.
The Nasik caves, also known as Pandavleni caves, are a group of 24 caves carved between the 1st century BCE and the 2nd century CE. While they are often called Pandavleni caves, it is a misnomer as they have no actual connection to the Pandavas of the Mahabharata epic. This statement is incorrect as the name Pandavleni is due to a later association and not because of any evidence of the Pandavas’ stay or involvement with these caves. Therefore, statement 3 is incorrect.