Which of the following temples is also known as Khajuraho of Vidarbha?

The answer is A) Markandeshwar. The Markandeshwar temple complex in the Markanda area of Gadchiroli district, eastern Maharashtra, is the one often described as the 'Khajuraho of Vidarbha' because of its carved sculptural work and shrines in the Vidarbha region.

Why the others fail:

• B) Kailash is the rock-cut Kailasanatha temple at Ellora (Aurangabad district), a Rashtrakuta marvel carved top-down from a single rock. It is famous for its scale, not for Vidarbha or Khajuraho comparisons.
• C) Manudevi is not a Vidarbha temple associated with this title. Do not link it to Khajuraho on the strength of the name alone.
• D) Bhimashankar is a Jyotirlinga shrine in the Sahyadri hills of Pune district, known for its Nagara-style architecture and religious importance, not as a Khajuraho-type site.

The core concept here is regional temple architecture: Khajuraho's Chandela-era Nagara style spread in attenuated forms to other regions, and this 'Khajuraho of' label is a regional nickname, not an official designation. For Mains GS-I (art and culture), it helps to link such sites to patronage dynasties and local stone traditions.

Trap: Candidates pick Kailash because it is the most famous name on the list, and confuse the Ellora monolith with a Vidarbha site. Note that these nicknames are informal and can vary between sources, so anchor on the region first.