Consider the following historical places:

1. Ajanta Caves

2. Lepakshi Temple

3. Sanchi Stupa

Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

Key Points

• Lepakshi temple is a good repository of mural paintings of the Vijayanagar Kings.
  • Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Sanchi is known for sculptures whose designs are similarly painted in Ajanta Caves murals.
  • Hence statement 3 is not correct.
• Indian Mural Paintings are paintings made on walls of caves and palaces.
  • These pieces of art are symbolic of the life, culture and traditions of the people of the contemporaneous periods.
  • The paintings on the caves of Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta and also on the Bagh caves and Sittanvasal are vivid reminders of great art that flourished centuries ago.
  • Hence statement 1 is correct.

​​Additional Information 

• Mural Paintings
  • The mural is the only form of painting that is truly three-dimensional since it modifies and partakes a given space.
  • Mural paintings are applied on drywall with the major use of egg, yolk, oil, etc.
  • Notable examples → Ajanta Caves, Bagh Caves, Sittanavasal Caves, Armamalai Cave (Tamil Nadu), Kailasa temple (Ellora Caves).
  • Murals from this period depict mainly religious themes of Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu.
  • Depict a large number of incidents from the life of the Buddha (Jataka Tales).
  • Exclusively Buddhist, excepting decorative patterns on the ceilings and the pillars.
  • ​