Prelims 2013 · archive
EasyConsider the following historical places:
- 1.Ajanta Caves
- 2.Lepakshi Temple
- 3.Sanchi Stupa
Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Ajanta's cave walls carry the best-known early Indian murals, and the Shiva temple at Lepakshi has Vijayanagara-period murals. Sanchi Stupa is known for sculpted gateways, not paintings.
- ✓ 1. Ajanta's wall paintings are the most famous in India.
- ✓ 2. The Shiva temple at Lepakshi has fine Vijayanagara paintings on its walls.
- ✗ 3. Sanchi is celebrated for stone sculpture on its torana gateways, not murals.
Remember · Murals: Ajanta (Satavahana/Vakataka), Lepakshi (Vijayanagara). Sanchi = sculpture.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Ch 4 (practise this chapter) · Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Ch 5 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 12 · Themes in Indian History, Part I, Chapter 4 “Those that have survived best are on walls of caves, of which those from Ajanta (Maharashtra) are the most famous.”
- NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 5 “In Lepakshi, near Hindupur, in present Andhra Pradesh, there are glorious examples of Vijayanagara paintings on the walls of the Shiva temple.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2013, General Studies paper. UPSC did not publish an answer key for 2013: the answer shown is the one the sources above support. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·