UPSC CSE Pre 2016

Cultural Geography

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Consider the following pairs: **Famous place** **Region** 1. Bodhgaya: Baghelkhand 2. Khajuraho: Bundelkhand 3. Shirdi: Vidarbha 4. Nasik (Nashik): Malwa 5. Tirupati: Rayalaseema Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Understanding the regional geography of India is essential for contextualizing historical and cultural sites.

Explanation Bodhgaya is in Bihar (Magadh region). Khajuraho is in Madhya Pradesh's Bundelkhand region. Shirdi is in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district (not Vidarbha). Nasik is in Maharashtra (Western Ghats/Godavari basin, not Malwa). Tirupati is in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Pair 2 (Khajuraho-Bundelkhand) and Pair 5 (Tirupati-Rayalaseema) are geographically accurate.
Logic 2: Bodhgaya, Shirdi, and Nasik are matched with incorrect geographical regions.

Active Recall

Question

Which dynasty is associated with the construction of Khajuraho temples?

Answer

The Chandela Dynasty.

Core Insight

Cultural sites are deeply rooted in their physical geography, influencing local architectural styles and materials.