Official Question UPSC 2026
Which of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct ? 1. It was located in the lower Krishna valley. 2. In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size. 3. The Amaravati school of sculpture made a lasting impact on the later South Indian sculpture, and its products were carried to Sri Lanka and South-east Asia. Select the answer using the code given below :
Solution & Analysis
Answer: B
Let us evaluate the history and architecture of the Amaravati Stupa (Maha Chaitya):
•Statement 1 is Correct: Built under the patronage of the Satavahanas, this monumental stupa was strategically located in the fertile lower Krishna River valley (in present-day Andhra Pradesh).
•Statement 2 is Incorrect: The examiner uses Sanchi's fame as a trap. While Sanchi is better preserved today, archaeological evidence proves that at its zenith, the Amaravati Stupa had a diameter of nearly 50 meters, making it larger than the Great Stupa at Sanchi (approx. 36.5 meters). It was the largest stupa built in ancient India.
•Statement 3 is Correct: The indigenous 'Vengi' or Amaravati school of art heavily influenced later Pallava and Chola bronzes. Furthermore, because of its proximity to eastern seaports, Amaravati artifacts and stylistic blueprints were widely exported via maritime trade, profoundly shaping the Buddhist iconography of Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.
Conclusion: Statements 1 and 3 are factually sound, making Option B the correct choice.