- The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
- The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
- At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.
Answer: 3 only
Notes: The correct answer is [C] 3 only. Indian rock-cut architecture represents some of the most spectacular religious and artistic monuments in the world, evolving significantly from the Mauryan period to the medieval era.
- Caves at Badami (Statement 1 is Incorrect): The Badami cave temples in Karnataka date back to the 6th century AD (Chalukya Dynasty). They are certainly not the oldest. The oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India are the Barabar Caves in Bihar, which date back to the 3rd century BC (Mauryan Empire).
- Barabar Rock-cut Caves (Statement 2 is Incorrect): While it is true that the Barabar caves were originally made for the Ajivika sect, they were commissioned by Emperor Ashoka, not Chandragupta Maurya. Ashoka’s inscriptions on the walls of these caves (such as the Lomas Rishi and Sudama caves) confirm his patronage.
- Caves at Ellora (Statement 3 is Correct): Ellora is a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its multi-religious nature. Unlike Ajanta, which is exclusively Buddhist, the 34 caves at Ellora were carved between the 5th and 10th centuries AD for three different faiths: Buddhism (Caves 1–12), Hinduism (Caves 13–29), and Jainism (Caves 30–34). This demonstrates the religious harmony and secular nature of the period.
