At which of the following places are Buddhist caves NOT found?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — C and D (both accepted). Ajanta (Maharashtra) and Bagh (Madhya Pradesh) are both famous rock-cut Buddhist cave complexes, so they are ruled out. Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh) is celebrated for its Great Stupa and carved gateways (toranas) rather than excavated caves, so it correctly qualifies as a place where Buddhist caves are not found; Bulsar (Valsad, on the Gujarat coast) is likewise not a recognised Buddhist rock-cut cave site, and the official key extended grace credit to it as well.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Wrong to pick — Ajanta is precisely where Buddhist caves ARE found; its rock-cut chaitya halls and viharas (2nd century BCE–6th century CE) are world-famous.  (b) Wrong to pick — the Bagh Caves (Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh) are a well-known Buddhist rock-cut site, home to rare surviving Gupta-era murals.

Concept: Not every celebrated Buddhist heritage site in central-western India takes the form of caves — some, like Sanchi, are stupa-and-gateway complexes built on a hilltop platform rather than excavated cave shrines. Recognising this cave-vs-stupa distinction (rock-cut viharas & chaityas versus a solid, free-standing stupa) is central to this question.

State PCS 2022 Q70 — Art & Culture PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2022 Q70 — Art & Culture PYQ with Answer