UPSC Prelims 2014 Question:

Sl No.	Famous Shrine		Location
1.	Tabo monastery and temple complex	:	Spiti Valley
2.	Lhotsava Lhakhang	:	Zanskar Valley
3.	Alchi Temple Complex	:	Ladakh

Which of the above pairs given is/are correctly matched? 

Explanation:

• Tabo Monastery is the oldest earthen Buddhist monastery in the Himalayan region to have survived unchanged and comparatively well intact. It was established over 1,000 years ago. Today, the old temple site is made up of nine temples and several stupas, in addition to cave shrines along the mountain slope. It is located in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh. So, pair 1 is correctly matched.
  
  
• Lhotsava Lhakhang is situated in Nako village in the Kinnaur region of Himachal Pradesh. So, pair 2 is not correctly matched.
  
  
• Alchi Monastery lies about 65 km from Leh on the banks of the Indus River. Alchi is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist centres in Ladakh and also as one of the monastic jewels of Ladakh. It is known as the oldest monastery in Ladakh, Alchi Monastery is basically a monastic complex situated in Alchi Village in Leh District. The complex has four separate settlements with monuments dating back to different times. The paintings in Alchi Monastery are some of the oldest surviving paintings in Ladakh. So, pair 3 is correctly matched.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: History | Buddhism and Jainism