Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) Chaitya is a place of worship, while Vihara is the dwelling place of the monks
A chaitya is a prayer hall with a stupa, used for congregational worship; a vihara is a monastery with cells where monks lived. Option a reverses the two.
- ✗ (a) This reverses the two terms.
- ✓ (b) A chaitya hall is the place of worship with a stupa; a vihara is the residence of the monks.
- ✗ (c) The stupa is inside the chaitya hall; a vihara is a monastery with cells, not a hall axial to a stupa.
- ✗ (d) The two have different plans and purposes.
Remember · Chaitya = prayer hall with stupa; Vihara = monks' residence with cells. Karle is a chaitya; Nashik (Pandavleni) and Ajanta have viharas.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Ch 4 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 · An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Chapter 4 “all of which are viharas or resting places for monks, having a quadrangular plan. A small chamber, usually at the back, forms the Chatiya — the prayer hall.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2013, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 24 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·
