Q. The Ajanta Caves were built during the period of
(a) Guptas
(b) Kushans
(c) Mauryas
(d) Chalukyas
Ans: (a) Guptas
Explanation: The Ajanta Caves were built during the period of the (a) Guptas.
The Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Maharashtra, India, are a series of rock-cut cave monuments. They are renowned for their exquisite Buddhist art and paintings. The construction of the Ajanta Caves began around the 2nd century BCE during the Maurya period, but the majority of the caves were created during the Gupta period, from the 5th to the 6th centuries CE.
The Gupta Empire, which ruled over a significant part of the Indian subcontinent from the 4th to the 6th centuries CE, patronized the creation of the Ajanta Caves. The caves served as places of worship, meditation, and religious instruction. They feature intricate carvings, sculptures, and paintings that depict various scenes from the life of the Buddha and Buddhist mythology.
While the Kushans were a prominent dynasty in Central Asia and northern India during the 1st to the 3rd centuries CE, they were not directly associated with the construction of the Ajanta Caves. The Mauryas were an ancient Indian dynasty that ruled during the 3rd century BCE, predating the construction of the caves. The Chalukyas, on the other hand, were a later dynasty associated with the rock-cut cave temples of Ellora, not Ajanta.
Therefore, the correct answer to your question is (a) Guptas.
