UPSC Prelims 2010·GS1·art-and-culture·paintings

There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where is the other surviving example of Gupta paintings?

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. ABagh cavesCorrect
  2. BEllora caves
  3. CLomas Rishi cave
  4. DNasik caves

Explanation

The correct answer is Bagh caves. While the Ajanta caves represent the most famous example of Gupta era wall paintings, the Bagh caves in Madhya Pradesh are the only other surviving site from this period. The paintings at Bagh are very similar to Ajanta in terms of style, execution, and theme, though they are more secular in nature. Other options are incorrect because Ellora caves primarily belong to a later period involving the Rashtrakuta and Yadav dynasties. Lomas Rishi cave belongs to the Maurya period and is known for its architecture rather than paintings. Nasik caves, also known as Pandav Leni, are associated with the Satavahana period and early Buddhism.
art-and-culture: There are only two known examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of A
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