With references to the history of India, consider the following pairs:

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 1 and 4 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 2 and 4 only

Explanation

Pair 1 is correct

• Vidisha is an important historical city in the state of Madhya Pradesh. During the medieval period, it was known as Bhelsa (later Bhilsa). Situated at the confluence of the Betwa and Bes Rivers, and about 10 km from Sanchi, Vidisha occupied an important place among the ancient cities of India. In the 6^th and 5^th centuries BCE, it emerged as a major trade centre and flourished under the rule of the Shunga dynasty, Naga dynasty, Satavahana dynasty and Gupta Empire. Ashoka served as the governor of Vidisha, and the city also finds mention in Kalidasa’s immortal work Meghaduta. Until 1956, the city was known as Bhilsa, after which it was renamed Vidisha due to its proximity to the ancient city of great antiquity.

Pair 2 is incorrect

• Dwārasamudra, also known as Halebidu, is a historic town in the Hassan district of Karnataka. It served as the regal capital of the Hoysala Empire in the 12th century and is renowned for its exquisite Hoysala architecture, particularly the Hoysaleswara Temple. The term “Dwārasamudra” translates to “Gateway to the Ocean” in Sanskrit, reflecting its historical significance as a prominent capital during Hoysala rule.

Pair 3 is correct

• Girnar, also known as Girinagar or Revatak Parvata, is a group of mountains in the Junagadh District of Gujarat. It is an important pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Jains. Girnar is one of the five major ‘tirthas’ attributed to the ‘panch kalyanakas’ of various ‘Jain tirthankaras’.

Pair 4 is incorrect

• Thanesar (sometimes called Thaneswar and, archaically, Sthanishvara) is a historic town and an important Hindu pilgrimage centre on the banks of the Ghaggar River in the state of Haryana.

Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium