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
Where to study

An Introduction to Indian Art Part I, Class XI, ch. 4 Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture

  • ch. 4 Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture, pp. 1-34 (printed 27-60)
  • ch. 4 Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture, Cave Tradition in Western India (chaitya halls and viharas), pp. 8-10 (printed 34-36)
  • ch. 4 Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture, Cave Tradition in Western India (Bhaja, Karla, Kanheri, Nasik, Junnar, Kondane, Pitalkhora), pp. 8-10 (printed 34-36)
  • ch. 4 Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture, Ajanta; Ellora; Elephanta Caves and Other Sites (Bagh, Aurangabad), pp. 10-16 (printed 36-42)
  • ch. 4 Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture, Ellora (Jain caves); Cave Tradition in Eastern India (Udayagiri and Khandagiri), pp. 14-18 (printed 40-44)
  • ch. 4 Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture, Elephanta Caves and Other Sites (Badami, Sittanavasal), p. 17 (printed 43)
  • ch. 4 Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture, Elephanta Caves and Other Sites, pp. 16-17 (printed 42-43)
  • ch. 4 Post-Mauryan Trends in Indian Art and Architecture, Cave Tradition in Western India; Ajanta; Ellora; Elephanta Caves and Other Sites (phases of cave excavation), pp. 8-17 (printed 34-43)

Indian Art and Culture · Nitin Singhania

  • ch. 2

Themes in Indian History Part I, Class XII, Theme 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings: Cultural Developments

  • Theme 4 Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings, pp. 1-33 (printed 82-114)

Our Pasts I, Class VI, ch. 11 Buildings, Paintings and Books

  • ch. 11 Buildings, Paintings and Books, How were stupas and temples built?, p. 4 (printed 117)

Tamil Nadu State Board Class XI History, Volume I

  • Lesson 9 Cultural Development in South India, 9.3 Ellora; 9.4 Ajanta, pp. 154-155 (printed 150-151)
  • Lesson 9 Cultural Development in South India, 9.5 Mamallapuram, pp. 156-157 (printed 152-153)

UNESCO World Heritage Convention: India, properties inscribed on the World Heritage List (with inscription years) and Tentative List

  • Cultural properties: Ajanta Caves (1983); Ellora Caves (1983)

An Introduction to Indian Art Part I, Class XI, ch. 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture

  • ch. 6 Temple Architecture and Sculpture, The Dravida or South Indian Temple Style (Mahabalipuram rathas and mandapas); Five Rathas, Mahabalipuram, pp. 16-18 (printed 83-85)

An Introduction to Indian Art Part I, Class XI, ch. 3 Arts of the Mauryan Period

  • ch. 3 Arts of the Mauryan Period, Pillars, Sculptures and Rock-cut Architecture (Barabar, the earliest rock-cut caves), p. 2 (printed 20)
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