RAS question
Sandstone from Rajasthan, used in many heritage buildings including Rashtrapati Bhawan, comes mainly from:
Correct answer: (D) Jodhpur and Dholpur.
The Rajasthan sandstone associated with heritage buildings such as Rashtrapati Bhavan comes mainly from Jodhpur and Dholpur.
Explanation
Jodhpur and Dholpur are the key Rajasthan sources because the standard examples link each district to well-known building stones. Dholpur is associated with red and beige sandstone: the official Rajasthan Mines publication states that Rashtrapati Bhavan incorporates Beige Sandstone from Dholpur, and that the Red Fort is built with Red Sandstone from Sarmathura and Dholpur. Jodhpur supplies the chittar or dun-coloured sandstone associated with Umaid Bhawan Palace; the official Rajasthan Mines publication describes Umaid Bhawan Palace at Jodhpur as crafted from locally sourced dun-coloured sandstone. This is why the paired answer is Jodhpur and Dholpur, not a general list of Rajasthan stone districts.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Udaipur and Bhilwara are not the main sandstone-source pair tied to Rashtrapati Bhavan, Red Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace.
- (B) Jaipur and Ajmer are not the main sandstone-producing districts for Rashtrapati Bhavan, Red Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace.
- (C) Kota and Bundi do not fit the tested pair; Kota is better known here for Kota Stone, not as the source of sandstone used in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Red Fort or Umaid Bhawan Palace.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan's mineral geography, especially the mapping of building stones to source districts and landmark uses. It recurs in RAS because sandstone, marble and other dimensional stones connect physical geography with Rajasthan's economy and heritage architecture.