Classical Dances of India
| Dance | State of Origin |
|---|
| Bharatanatyam | Tamil Nadu |
| Kathak | Uttar Pradesh |
| Kathakali | Kerala |
| Odissi | Odisha |
| Kuchipudi | Andhra Pradesh |
| Manipuri | Manipur |
| Mohiniyattam | Kerala |
| Sattriya | Assam |
Temple Architecture Styles
| Style | Region | Feature |
|---|
| Nagara | North India | Curvilinear tower (Shikhara) |
| Dravida | South India | Pyramidal tower (Vimana); gopurams (gateways) |
| Vesara | Deccan (hybrid) | Combines Nagara and Dravida features |
Music — Hindustani vs Carnatic
| Tradition | Region | Key Figure |
|---|
| Hindustani | North India | Tansen (Akbar's court, one of the Navaratnas) |
| Carnatic | South India | Tyagaraja (one of the Carnatic Music Trinity) |
Buddhist and Rock-Cut Architecture
- Stupa — dome-shaped structure housing Buddhist relics (e.g., Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh).
- Ajanta Caves — Buddhist rock-cut caves, famous for paintings.
- Ellora Caves — Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain rock-cut caves together (Kailasa Temple).
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India (Selected)
| Site | State |
|---|
| Taj Mahal | Uttar Pradesh |
| Ajanta & Ellora Caves | Maharashtra |
| Khajuraho Group of Monuments | Madhya Pradesh |
| Sun Temple, Konark | Odisha |
| Hampi | Karnataka |
| Red Fort Complex | Delhi |
📌 Exam Note: India has one of the highest numbers of UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally — the list is periodically updated, so verify the current count closer to your exam.
Quick Revision Table
| Topic | One-Line Recall |
|---|
| Bharatanatyam | Tamil Nadu's classical dance |
| Nagara vs Dravida | Curvilinear tower vs pyramidal tower |
| Kailasa Temple | Single-rock excavation at Ellora |
✅ SSC Focus: Classical dance-state matching · Nagara/Dravida/Vesara architecture distinction · Hindustani vs Carnatic music figures · UNESCO site-state matching.