Q. Consider the following pairs : - Medieval Indian State Champaka : Central India
- Durgara : Jammu
- Kuluta : Malabar
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched? (UPSC Prelims 2015)
Answer:
2 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[B] 2 only.This question identifies the locations of various "Hill States" (Pahari States) of medieval India, most of which were located in the Himalayan region rather than Central or Southern India.
- Champaka (Pair 1 – Incorrect): Champaka is the ancient name for Chamba in present-day Himachal Pradesh. It was a prominent hill state in the Western Himalayas, not Central India. It is famous for its distinct school of Pahari painting and the Lakshmi Narayan Temple complex.
- Durgara (Pair 2 – Correct): Durgara is the ancient/medieval name for Jammu. The Dogra dynasties ruled this region, and the name "Durgara" is found in several copper plate inscriptions and historical texts like Kalhana's Rajatarangini.
- Kuluta (Pair 3 – Incorrect): Kuluta refers to the Kulu (Kullu) Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It was an ancient kingdom located in the upper valley of the Beas River. It has no connection to Malabar, which is the coastal region of present-day Kerala in South India.
Regional Summary Table:
| Medieval State | Modern Location | Region |
| Champaka | Chamba | Himachal Pradesh (Western Himalayas) |
| Durgara | Jammu | Jammu & Kashmir (Himalayan Foothills) |
| Kuluta | Kullu | Himachal Pradesh (Western Himalayas) |
| Trigarta | Jalandhar/Kangra | Punjab/Himachal Border |