Question
Which of the following statements on the Amaravati Stupa and its relief sculpture is/are correct?
1
It was located in the lower Krishna valley.
2
In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size.
3
The Amaravati school of sculpture made a lasting impact on the later South Indian sculpture, and its products were carried to Sri Lanka and South-east Asia.
A1 only
B1 and 3 only
C2 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
⚠️ The UPSC Trap — Famous ≠ Biggest
Most students know Sanchi Stupa as India’s most famous stupa — UNESCO World Heritage Site, covered in NCERT, constantly photographed. So when Statement 2 says Amaravati was “next only to Sanchi in size,” it sounds plausible — Sanchi seems the biggest since it’s the most famous.
But the opposite is true: Amaravati’s outer vedika had a diameter of ~59 metres and the stupa itself ~50 metres diameter, with an original height possibly reaching 73 metres. Sanchi’s Great Stupa is only 36.6 metres in diameter and 16.46 metres tall.
Sanchi is more famous. Amaravati was bigger. UPSC exploits the gap between fame and fact.
But the opposite is true: Amaravati’s outer vedika had a diameter of ~59 metres and the stupa itself ~50 metres diameter, with an original height possibly reaching 73 metres. Sanchi’s Great Stupa is only 36.6 metres in diameter and 16.46 metres tall.
Sanchi is more famous. Amaravati was bigger. UPSC exploits the gap between fame and fact.
Each Statement — Detailed Verification
1
“It was located in the lower Krishna valley.”
Fully verified: The Amaravati Stupa — also called the Mahachaitya (Great Stupa) or Maha Chaitya — is located at Amaravathi village, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. The village sits on the right bank of the lower Krishna River valley.
Location: Lower Krishna valley
✓ Correct
Ancient name: The town was known as Dhanyakataka in ancient times — a major Buddhist centre during the Satavahana and Ikshvaku periods.
Why “lower” Krishna? The Krishna River flows southeast through the Deccan before meeting the Bay of Bengal. Amaravati sits in the lower (downstream/delta) section of the valley — near where the river approaches the coast through Andhra Pradesh.
✓ Confirmed location
Amaravathi village · Guntur district · Andhra Pradesh · right bank of lower Krishna River valley · ancient Dhanyakataka
2
“In India, it was next only to the Sanchi Stupa in size.” — FALSE
The truth is the opposite: Amaravati was LARGER than Sanchi — not smaller than it.
Size: “Next only to Sanchi Stupa in size”
✗ Incorrect
Amaravati Stupa dimensions:
• Outer vedika (railing) diameter: ~59 metres
• Inner stupa diameter: ~50 metres
• Original height: possibly up to 73 metres (241 feet) — though much is now ruined
Sanchi Great Stupa dimensions:
• Diameter: 36.6 metres (120 feet)
• Height of dome: 16.46 metres (54 feet)
Conclusion: In diameter, Amaravati (~50–59m) was significantly larger than Sanchi (36.6m). At its peak height, Amaravati may have been the tallest stupa in India. Amaravati was not “next only to Sanchi” — it was larger than Sanchi.
✗ Statement 2 is factually wrong
Amaravati (~50–59m diameter) > Sanchi (36.6m diameter). Amaravati was the larger stupa — not second to Sanchi.
3
“The Amaravati school of sculpture made a lasting impact on the later South Indian sculpture, and its products were carried to Sri Lanka and South-east Asia.”
The Amaravati School of Art: Also called the Andhra school or Vengi school. Used distinctive white/cream-coloured Palnad limestone. Active from ~2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE, flourishing under Satavahanas and later Ikshvakus.
Amaravati school — South India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia
✓ Correct
Impact on South Indian sculpture:
• Directly influenced Pallava art — dynamic figures, narrative depth
• Laid the foundation for Chola sculpture — fluid forms, ornamental richness
• Influenced Ikshvaku art at Nagarjunakonda
Sri Lanka: Amaravati’s style profoundly shaped early Buddhist sculpture in Lanka — particularly during the Anuradhapura period. Limestone relief panels similar to Amaravati have been found in Sri Lankan monasteries.
Southeast Asia: Amaravati’s style spread through maritime Buddhist trade networks to Dvaravati (Thailand), Sumatra (Indonesia), and Myanmar. The fluid, dynamic Amaravati figures became a template for early Southeast Asian Buddhist art.
✓ Fully verified
Amaravati school → influenced Pallava + Chola sculpture (South India) · shaped Anuradhapura art (Sri Lanka) · spread to Dvaravati, Sumatra, Thailand (SE Asia)
Stupa Size Comparison — Amaravati vs Sanchi
🏆 Larger Stupa
Amaravati Mahachaitya
Outer vedika diameter~59 m
Inner stupa diameter~50 m
Original heightup to ~73 m
Period3rd c. BCE – 3rd c. CE
LocationGuntur, Andhra Pradesh
MaterialWhite Palnad limestone
Smaller (but more famous)
Sanchi Great Stupa No.1
Outer diameter36.6 m
Dome height16.46 m
Total height~23 m
Period3rd c. BCE (Ashoka)
LocationRaisen, Madhya Pradesh
StatusUNESCO World Heritage Site
Key takeaway: Amaravati’s diameter (~50–59m) is significantly larger than Sanchi’s (36.6m). Statement 2 claims Amaravati was “next only to Sanchi” — i.e. smaller than Sanchi. This is factually wrong. Sanchi is more famous (better preserved, UNESCO listed, in textbooks), but Amaravati was the larger structure. Popularity ≠ Size.
Amaravati Stupa — Key Facts Table
| Parameter | Detail |
| Ancient Name | Mahachaitya / Maha Chaitya (“Great Stupa”) |
| Location | Amaravathi village, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh — right bank of lower Krishna River |
| Ancient Town Name | Dhanyakataka — a major Buddhist city during Satavahana period |
| Period | 3rd century BCE to ~250 CE (enlarged in phases) |
| Ruling Dynasty | Satavahanas (early) → Ikshvakus (later) — both major Buddhist patrons |
| Size | Outer vedika ~59m diameter; inner stupa ~50m; possibly 73m tall — LARGER than Sanchi (36.6m) |
| Material | White/cream Palnad limestone — distinctive feature of the Amaravati school |
| Artistic Style | Highly dynamic narrative figures; richly ornamental; “horror vacui” (no empty space) |
| Current state | Largely ruined — most sculptures in Government Museum Chennai, British Museum London, Amaravati Site Museum |
| Sculpture influence | South India (Pallava, Chola) + Sri Lanka (Anuradhapura) + SE Asia (Dvaravati, Sumatra, Thailand) |
| First excavated by | Colin Mackenzie (1797) · further by Walter Elliot (1845) · James Burgess (1882) |
| NCERT source | Class XI An Introduction to Indian Art Chapter 4 — most important UPSC source for this question |
UPSC Prelims — Previous Questions on Amaravati
UPSC Prelims 2020
“Which of the following historical places is/are known for mural paintings? 1. Ajanta Caves 2. Lepakshi Temple 3. Sanchi Stupa” — Amaravati tested indirectly as context for Buddhist art sites and whether it has mural paintings (it has sculptural relief, not murals).
Answer: 1 and 2 only — Sanchi and Amaravati have relief sculpture, not murals
UPSC Prelims (Various)
Amaravati school of art tested repeatedly — its link to Satavahana patronage, white limestone characteristic, influence on South Indian and Sri Lankan art, and comparison with Mathura and Gandhara schools. A perennial UPSC Art & Culture topic.
Key facts: Satavahanas · white Palnad limestone · Andhra Pradesh · influenced Pallava/Chola/Sri Lanka
UPSC Prelims 2026 ← THIS QUESTION
First time UPSC directly tested the SIZE comparison between Amaravati and Sanchi (Statement 2). The trap: Sanchi is more famous → students assume it’s bigger. Reality: Amaravati was larger. This is the key distinguishing fact that makes Statement 2 false and answer (B) correct.
Answer: (B) 1 and 3 only — Statement 2 wrong (Amaravati was BIGGER than Sanchi)
Source Reference
NCERT Class XI — An Introduction to Indian Art, Chapter 4 (Buddhist, Jain and Hindu Art). Also: R.S. Sharma India’s Ancient Past; Wikipedia Amaravati Stupa (diameter ~50m, vedika 59m). The statement about Amaravati’s influence on Sri Lanka and SE Asia is directly from NCERT.
Primary source: NCERT XI Art Ch.4 · Wikipedia Amaravati Stupa · Government Museum Chennai catalogue
Memory Trick — Never Forget This
🧠 Remember It This Way
FAMOUS ≠ BIGGEST: Sanchi = most famous stupa (UNESCO, textbooks, perfectly preserved). Amaravati = the larger stupa (~50–59m vs Sanchi’s 36.6m). Don’t let fame fool you into assuming size.
Amaravati’s “White Limestone” identifier: Any question mentioning white/cream limestone + Andhra + dynamic figures = Amaravati school. This is its calling card — completely different from Sanchi’s sandstone or Gandhara’s schist.
The influence chain: Amaravati → Pallava → Chola → South Indian temples AND Amaravati → Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) → Dvaravati (Thailand) → Sumatra (Indonesia). Maritime Buddhist trade = art highway.
Mahachaitya = Amaravati: If any question mentions Mahachaitya or Dhanyakataka → it is Amaravati. These are the alternative names used in UPSC questions.
Where are the sculptures now? Most of Amaravati’s limestone panels were removed and are now in: Government Museum, Chennai (largest collection) · British Museum, London · Amaravati Site Museum (on location). The stupa itself is mostly ruined.
