The Deccan’s rugged landscape, filled with hills and narrow passes, was perfectly suited for the Maratha “Ganimi Kava” (guerrilla tactics). By avoiding open-field battles, the Marathas used the terrain to trap larger enemy forces. Their reliance on light cavalry ensured extreme mobility, allowing them to harass supply lines and retreat into mountain strongholds before the enemy could retaliate. ANSWER: (B) Exploited difficult terrain and mobility
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The Maratha military success in the Deccan was deeply rooted in their ability to turn the environment into a weapon. Unlike the Mughals, who moved with heavy baggage trains and slow infantry, the Marathas traveled light and fast. This mobility allowed them to perform “hit-and-run” raids on Mughal camps. The Sahyadri mountain ranges provided a natural defensive line with numerous hill forts. By exploiting these geographical features, the Marathas exhausted the resources and morale of invading imperial armies, proving that a smaller, more agile force could defeat a massive conventional empire.