Q. Consider the following pairs : Famous place and Region
- Bodhgaya : Baghelkhand
- Khajuraho : Bundelkhand
- Shirdi : Vidarbha
- Nasik (Nashik) : Malwa
- Tirupati : Rayalaseema
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched? (UPSC Prelims 2016)
Answer:
2 and 5 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[C] 2 and 5 only. This question tests the geographical correlation between famous cultural/religious landmarks and the traditional physiographic regions of India.
- Khajuraho (Pair 2 – Correct): Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is the heart of the Bundelkhand region. It is world-famous for its Nagara-style temples built by the Chandela kings.
- Tirupati (Pair 5 – Correct): Located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is a major part of the Rayalaseema region (which also includes Anantapur, Kurnool, and Kadapa). It is home to the Venkateswara Temple in the Tirumala hills.
- Bodhgaya (Pair 1 – Incorrect): Bodhgaya is in the Gaya district of Bihar, which falls under the Magadh region. Baghelkhand is a region in northeastern Madhya Pradesh and adjacent parts of Uttar Pradesh (e.g., Rewa, Satna).
- Shirdi (Pair 3 – Incorrect): Shirdi is located in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, which is part of the Desh (Western Maharashtra) or North Maharashtra region. Vidarbha is the easternmost region of Maharashtra, comprising districts like Nagpur and Amravati.
- Nashik (Pair 4 – Incorrect): Nashik is in Maharashtra, situated on the banks of the Godavari. It belongs to the Khandesh or North Maharashtra region. Malwa is a plateau region primarily in western Madhya Pradesh and parts of south-eastern Rajasthan.