📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Architecture: Stupas, Caves, Temples
- Sanchi Stupa — built by Ashoka, gateways from Shunga-Satavahana times; Ajanta (Buddhist, paintings) and Ellora (Buddhist, Hindu, Jain — 34 caves) in Maharashtra; Barabar caves (Bihar) — given by Ashoka to the Ajivikas; Elephanta — Trimurti (Mahesha).
| Style | Region | Feature | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nagara | North India | Curvilinear shikhara, amalaka | Khajuraho, Konark Sun Temple, Lingaraja |
| Dravida | South India | Pyramidal vimana, gopuram (gateway) | Brihadeeswara, Shore Temple, Meenakshi |
| Vesara | Deccan | Mix of Nagara and Dravida | Hoysala temples (Belur, Halebidu), Pattadakal |
- Konark Sun Temple (Odisha) — Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I; chariot-shaped; "Black Pagoda".
- Dilwara Jain temples (Mount Abu) — marble; Gommateshwara (Bahubali) statue, Shravanabelagola.
📌 2. Painting
| Style | Region | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Madhubani (Mithila) | Bihar | Natural colours; GI tag |
| Warli | Maharashtra | Tribal; geometric figures |
| Pattachitra | Odisha, West Bengal | On cloth; Jagannath themes |
| Kalamkari | Andhra Pradesh | Pen on cloth |
| Tanjore | Tamil Nadu | Gold foil |
| Gond | Madhya Pradesh | Tribal; dots and lines |
| Phad | Rajasthan | Scrolls of folk deities on cloth |
| Pahari / Kangra | Himachal | Radha-Krishna themes |
📌 3. Dance & Music
| Classical dance | State |
|---|---|
| Bharatanatyam | Tamil Nadu |
| Kathak | Uttar Pradesh (North India) |
| Kathakali | Kerala |
| Mohiniyattam | Kerala |
| Kuchipudi | Andhra Pradesh |
| Odissi | Odisha |
| Manipuri | Manipur |
| Sattriya | Assam |
- Sangeet Natak Akademi recognises 8 classical dances; the basic text is Bharata Muni's Natyashastra.
- Music: Hindustani (north) and Carnatic (south); Carnatic Trinity — Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Shyama Shastri; "Father of Carnatic music" — Purandara Dasa.
- Hindustani forms: dhrupad, khayal, thumri, tappa; Tansen at Akbar's court.
- Selected UNESCO cultural sites: Ajanta, Ellora, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort (1983 — India's first sites), Konark, Mahabalipuram, Khajuraho, Hampi, Fatehpur Sikri, Qutub Minar, Bhimbetka, Rani ki Vav, Dholavira, Ramappa Temple, Santiniketan, Hoysala temples.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- Kathakali and Mohiniyattam are both from Kerala; Kuchipudi is from Andhra Pradesh.
- Gopuram marks Dravida style; shikhara marks Nagara style.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. What is the main feature of Nagara-style temples? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Nagara (north Indian) temples have a curvilinear shikhara.
Nagara (north Indian) temples have a curvilinear shikhara.
Q2. The 'gopuram' is associated with which temple style? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Dravida temples of the south have large gateway towers called gopurams.
Dravida temples of the south have large gateway towers called gopurams.
Q3. Who built the Konark Sun Temple? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I built it in the 13th century.
Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I built it in the 13th century.
Q4. Kathakali is a classical dance of which state? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Kathakali is a dance-drama of Kerala.
Kathakali is a dance-drama of Kerala.
Q5. Sattriya dance comes from which state? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Sattriya developed in the Vaishnava sattras of Assam (Sankaradeva).
Sattriya developed in the Vaishnava sattras of Assam (Sankaradeva).
Q6. Madhubani painting belongs to which state? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Madhubani (Mithila) painting is from Bihar.
Madhubani (Mithila) painting is from Bihar.
Q7. Warli painting is a tribal art of which state? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Warli is a tribal art of Maharashtra with geometric figures.
Warli is a tribal art of Maharashtra with geometric figures.
Q8. Which is the basic text of Indian classical dance? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Bharata Muni's Natyashastra is the basic text of dance, drama and music.
Bharata Muni's Natyashastra is the basic text of dance, drama and music.
Q9. The Ellora caves relate to which religions? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Ellora's 34 caves include Buddhist, Hindu and Jain ones.
Ellora's 34 caves include Buddhist, Hindu and Jain ones.
Q10. Who is called the 'Father of Carnatic music'? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Purandara Dasa systematised the teaching of Carnatic music.
Purandara Dasa systematised the teaching of Carnatic music.
Q11. The Hoysala temples (Belur, Halebidu) are in which style? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
They exemplify Vesara, a mix of Nagara and Dravida.
They exemplify Vesara, a mix of Nagara and Dravida.
Q12. Kuchipudi is a classical dance of which state? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Kuchipudi is named after a village in Andhra Pradesh.
Kuchipudi is named after a village in Andhra Pradesh.
Q13. To which sect did Ashoka donate the Barabar caves? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Ashoka gave the Barabar caves in Bihar to Ajivika monks.
Ashoka gave the Barabar caves in Bihar to Ajivika monks.
Q14. The Konark temple is also known as the: Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Sailors called it the Black Pagoda; Puri's Jagannath temple is the White Pagoda.
Sailors called it the Black Pagoda; Puri's Jagannath temple is the White Pagoda.
Q15. In which year were India's first UNESCO World Heritage Sites inscribed? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Ajanta, Ellora, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal were inscribed in 1983.
Ajanta, Ellora, Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal were inscribed in 1983.
Q16. Who is NOT in the Carnatic 'Trinity'? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The Trinity are Tyagaraja, Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri; Purandara Dasa is the 'father'.
The Trinity are Tyagaraja, Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri; Purandara Dasa is the 'father'.
Q17. Kalamkari painting is mainly linked with which state? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Kalamkari (pen-drawn cloth painting) is from Andhra Pradesh.
Kalamkari (pen-drawn cloth painting) is from Andhra Pradesh.
Q18. Who originally built the Sanchi Stupa? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Ashoka built the original brick stupa; the gateways were added later.
Ashoka built the original brick stupa; the gateways were added later.
Q19. Mohiniyattam is a classical dance of which state? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Mohiniyattam is a graceful dance of Kerala.
Mohiniyattam is a graceful dance of Kerala.
Q20. Phad painting belongs to which state? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Rajasthan's Phad scrolls depict folk deities like Pabuji and Devnarayan.
Rajasthan's Phad scrolls depict folk deities like Pabuji and Devnarayan.