It was also ancient name of world famous tourist destination of Sanchi

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — A, Kaknam. In its early Brahmi donative inscriptions the site of Sanchi is called Kakanava / Kakanaya (and, in Gupta-period records, Kakanadabota) — 'Kaknam' renders this ancient name. So the ancient name of Sanchi is the Kakanava/Kaknam of the Great Stupa's inscriptions.

Why the other options are wrong — (b) Vetravati is the classical Sanskrit name of the Betwa river (which flows past nearby Vidisha), not a name of Sanchi.  (c) As printed in the booklet; the place meant is Besnagar (correct spelling) — the ancient city adjoining Vidisha (famous for the Heliodorus/Garuda pillar), a separate site about 10 km from Sanchi, not Sanchi itself.  (d) Dashapura is the ancient name of Mandsaur in western Madhya Pradesh, not of Sanchi.

Concept: Sanchi (Raisen district, MP) is famous for the Great Stupa begun under Ashoka and its carved toranas (gateways). Its ancient name survives in the stupa's Brahmi donative inscriptions as Kakanava/Kakanaya, and in Gupta-period records as Kakanadabota — the 'Kaknam' of this question.

State PCS 2020 Q44 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2020 Q44 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer