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The marble-carved Dilwara Jain temples are located at:
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Answer: Option C — Mount Abu, Rajasthan
Detailed Solution
The Dilwara Temples are a group of five Jain temples located at Mount Abu, in the Sirohi district of Rajasthan, about 2.5 km from the town centre.
About the Dilwara Temples:
- They were built between the 11th and 13th centuries CE, mainly during the rule of the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty of Gujarat.
- They are famous for their extraordinarily fine and delicate carving in white marble, especially on the ceilings, pillars, doorways and arches.
- The marble was brought from the Arasuri hills at Ambaji, and is said to have been carried up the mountain on elephants.
- The plain exterior hides the rich carving inside.
The five temples are:
Vimal Vasahi: the oldest, built in 1031 by Vimal Shah, a minister (dandanayaka) of the Chaulukya king Bhima I. It is dedicated to Adinath (Rishabhanatha), the first Tirthankara.
Luna Vasahi: built in 1230 by the brothers Vastupala and Tejapala, ministers of the Vaghela ruler of Gujarat, in memory of their brother Luna. It is dedicated to Neminath, the 22nd Tirthankara. Its central dome has a famous hanging lotus-like pendant.
Pittalhar Temple: dedicated to Adinath; it has a large metal (brass) idol.
Parshvanath Temple (Khartar Vasahi): the tallest of the group, dedicated to Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankara.
Mahavir Swami Temple: a small temple dedicated to Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara.
About Mount Abu:
- It is the only hill station in Rajasthan, in the Aravalli Range.
- Guru Shikhar (about 1,722 metres), the highest peak of the Aravallis, is near Mount Abu.
- Nakki Lake is a famous lake in the town.
Other famous Jain temples:
Ranakpur Temple (Rajasthan): built in the 15th century by the merchant Dharna Shah, with support from Rana Kumbha; famous for its 1,444 carved pillars, no two alike.
Palitana (Gujarat): on the Shatrunjaya hills; it has more than 800 temples. In 2014, Palitana was declared the world's first "vegetarian city".
Shravanabelagola (Karnataka): the statue of Gomateshwara (Bahubali).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Ranakpur has a Jain temple with 1,444 pillars.
- ✗Palitana has the Shatrunjaya temples.
- ✗Shravanabelagola has the Bahubali statue.
Quick tip
Remember: Dilwara temples = Mount Abu, Rajasthan (white marble; Vimal Vasahi 1031 by Vimal Shah; Luna Vasahi 1230 by Vastupala-Tejapala); Ranakpur = 1,444 pillars; Palitana = Shatrunjaya.
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This topic covers India's important monuments, temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras and pilgrimage sites, who built them and when, their architectural styles, and India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Questions ask who built a monument, where it is located, or which dynasty or style it belongs to. For example, the Qutub Minar was begun by Qutbuddin Aibak, and the Sun Temple at Konark was built by the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I. Revise the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as a list, noting the most recent additions. Practise the monuments and religious places questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.