With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs: Famous shrine Location 1. Tabo monastery and temple complex Spiti Valley 2. Lhotsava Lhakhang temple, Nako Zanskar Valley 3. Alchi temple complex Ladakh Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Q 18 / 33

UPSC CSE Prelims 2014

With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India, consider the following pairs:

Famous shrine	Location
1. Tabo monastery and temple complex	Spiti Valley
2. Lhotsava Lhakhang temple, Nako	Zanskar Valley
3. Alchi temple complex	Ladakh

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

EXPLANATION

Correct Option

Pair 1: The Tabo monastery and temple complex is correctly located in the Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the oldest Buddhist monastic complexes in India, known for its well-preserved murals and stucco sculptures, often referred to as the 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'.

Pair 3: The Alchi temple complex is correctly located in Ladakh. It is a significant Buddhist monastery known for its unique Indo-Tibetan art and ancient murals, which are distinct from the Tibetan style found in other monasteries of the region.

Incorrect Options

Pair 2: The Lhotsava Lhakhang temple, Nako, is incorrectly matched with Zanskar Valley. Nako village, along with its temple complex, is situated in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, not the Zanskar Valley, which is located in Ladakh.

SOURCEIndian Art and Culture by Nitin Singhania, Chapter 3: Indian Architecture, Sculpture and Pottery