Which one of the following statements about Buddhist Stupas in India is not correct?

Buddhist stupas were primarily repositories for the sacred relics of the Buddha and other revered monks, such as their bodily remains or objects they used [2]. Emperor Ashoka played a pivotal role in popularizing the stupa cult by distributing these relics to every important town and ordering the construction of stupas over them, as recorded in the Ashokavadana [4]. Architecturally, stupas were strategically located near trade routes and urban centers to ensure visibility and accessibility for pilgrims and merchants [4]. For instance, Sanchi was located near the prosperous trade center of Vidisha, and many stupas were built in important towns rather than isolated rural areas [2]. Therefore, the statement that they were located in rural areas is incorrect, as their placement was intentionally linked to urban hubs and commercial networks to facilitate the spread of Buddhism.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 5: Evolution of Society in South India > Numismatic > p. 63
2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > 7.1 Why were stupas built? > p. 96
3. [4] https://www.britannica.com/topic/stupa