UPSC CSE Prelims
Sources of Ancient Indian History Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II (also called Chandragupta Vikramaditya), in the early 5th century CE. He came to collect Buddhist texts and study Buddhist practices in India.

His travel account gives valuable insight into:

• Gupta society
• Administration
• State of Buddhism in India at that time

Chinese Pilgrims to India (for Revision)

About Chandragupta II:

• Son of Samudragupta
• Also known as Vikramaditya
• His reign = often called the "Golden Age" of Gupta dynasty
• Court had Navaratnas (nine gems) including Kalidasa

Detailed Explanation:

The correct answer is C. Rajendra I (Chola).

Rajendra Chola I, son of Rajaraja Chola I, led a famous naval expedition against the Srivijaya kingdom around 1025 CE. Srivijaya was a powerful maritime empire controlling the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and nearby islands. Rajendra I’s campaign asserted Chola naval dominance in the region and secured control over important sea trade routes.

The other rulers listed did not conduct campaigns against Srivijaya:

• Amoghavarsha (Rashtrakuta) focused mainly on the Deccan region.
• Prataparudra (Kakatiya) ruled much later and was centered in the Deccan.
• Vishnuvardhana (Hoysala) focused on South Indian affairs.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 3

This question tests the matching of archaeological sites with their respective states and descriptions. Only rows 2 and 3 contain correct information about Inamgaon (Maharashtra-Chalcolithic) and Mangadu (Kerala-Megalithic), while rows 1 and 4 have incorrect state associations.

❌ Row 1 – Incorrect: Chandraketugarh is located in West Bengal, not Odisha; it was indeed a trading port town known for terracotta figurines and maritime trade.

✅ Row 2 – Correct: Inamgaon in Maharashtra is a prominent Chalcolithic site (circa 1600-700 BCE) known for evidence of agriculture, domesticated animals, and burial practices.

✅ Row 3 – Correct: Mangadu in Kerala contains megalithic monuments consisting of laterite blocks, part of the widespread megalithic culture of South India.

❌ Row 4 – Incorrect: Salihundam in Andhra Pradesh is a Buddhist site with stupas and monastic remains, not rock-cut cave shrines; it was an important pilgrimage center of ancient Kalinga.

📝 Short Notes: Important Archaeological Sites of India