UPSC Prelims 2015 Question:

Consider the following pairs:

Sl. No.	Place of Pilgrimage	:	Location
1	Srisailam	:	Nallamala hills
2	Omkareshwar	:	Satmala hills
3	Pushkar	:	Mahadev hills

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched ?

Explanation:

• Srisaila Mahakshetram is considered as Kailasa on Earth. It is in the Northernmost part of the Nallamalas hill range, Andhra Pradesh. The presiding deity of the place is Brahmaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy in natural stone formations in the shape of Lingam and is listed as one of the twelve Jyotirlingas existing in the country. The Temple was built in the 14th Century and the walls are carved with depictions of elephants hunting scenes and Lord Shiva. It is the living embodiment of ancient and spiritual-cultural traditions and was visited by great saints Sri Rama, Adi Shankaracharya. So, pair 1 is correctly matched.
  
  

• Omkareshwar, a holy site on the Mandhata hill on the Narmada River's bank, draws pilgrims from all over the world. It is one of Lord Shiva's twelve Jyotirlingas. Omkareshwar is an island shaped in the shape of the most sacred Hindu symbol, 'Om'. The island has two temples, one for Omkareshwar and the other for Amareshwar. Omkareshwar is home to a number of Hindu and Jain temples. So, pair 2 is not correctly matched.
  
  

• Pushkar is one of India's oldest cities, located in the Ajmer District of Rajasthan. Pushkar is located in a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides and sand dunes on the fourth. Pushkar is nestled in the picturesque Aravalli Hills. Nag Parbat, also known as Snake Mountain, is a mountain range near the city that separates Ajmer and Pushkar. Mahadev hills are located in Madhya Pradesh. So, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
  
  

Therefore, option (1) is the correct answer.

Subject: Geography | Miscellaneous(geo)