Question 54 from UPSC CSE 2022 - Geography

Question

Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Pennar

Strategy: Identify rivers flowing through Andhra Pradesh, the location of Gandikota. Confirm the Pennar River as the only major river significantly associated with this region and known for forming such canyons. Eliminate other potential rivers based on their geographic locations and lack of documented influence on the Gandikota canyon.

Key Info: Gandikota canyon, often called the 'Grand Canyon of India,' is formed by the Pennar River in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. This famous canyon features dramatic gorges and a rocky landscape, created over millions of years by the river's erosion of the Eastern Ghats' limestones.

The region is also notable for the historic Gandikota Fort, built in the 13th century by the Kakatiya dynasty and later expanded by the Pemmasani Nayakas under the Vijayanagara Empire.

The Pennar is a major river originating in the Nandi Hills of Karnataka. It flows northeast through the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. Other rivers such as Cauvery, Manjira, and Tungabhadra do not pass through or shape canyons in this specific region. Gandikota is therefore uniquely shaped by the erosive action of the Pennar, establishing it as a significant geomorphological and historical site in South India.

Answer

Option A: Cauvery

Answer

Option B: Manjira

Answer

Option D: Tungabhadra