The Splendour of Himalayan Art and Culture, by Ashok Jerath

Contents Preface I The People and Tribes 1 Gaddis--the nomads 2 Gujjars--the gypsies of the Himalayas 3 Kinners--the highlanders 4 Lahaulis 5 Malana--the oldest parliament of the world II Folk Culture 1 Chiselling the romance on sandstones 2 Folk theatres of Himachal Pradesh Karyala Bhagtan Banthara Buddha Harnatra Jhanki and Bandha 3 Pahari Rumaals and Ornamental Choulis III Art and Architecture 1 Magnificent temple Shikhra style of temples Pagoda type of temples Temples of hill style Temples of pent roofs 2 Building of hill style IV Miniature Paintings 1 Splendour of Pahari art 2 Delicate touch of Kangra Kalam 3 Miniature paintings of Guler school 4 Miniature paintings of Kullu school 5 Chamba school of miniature paintings 6 Pahari miniature paintings origin development and execution 7 Hands that created the beauty 8 Master painters of miniature world V Wall Paintings 1 Wall paintings of Arki 2 Wall paintings of Sheesh Mahal VI Famous Shrines 1 Chamunda Devi a reservoir of sculptures 2 Baijnath a marvel of architecture 3 Hidimba Devi a masterpiece of Pagoda style 4 Bijali Mahadev VII Centres of Culture and Learning 1 Sardar Sobha Singh Art Gallery Andretta 2 Open Air Theatre of Norah Richards 3 Himachal Lok Sanskirit Sansthan Mandi 4 Roerich Nicholas and Art Gallery Naggar 5 Enchanting castle of Naggar 6 Mcleodganj the mystic land 7 Viceregal lodge the center for advanced studies Shimla 8 Tara Palace a castle in the valley of Kangra VIII Legends of Art and Culture 1 Gambari Devi the legendary folklorist 2 Shanti Bisht a folk singer of repute 3 Legends of Kangra painting 4 Unsung heroes of folk ballads Bibliography IndexThe Himalayas are a source of inspiration and challenge to the researchers intellectuals and adventurers The lofty mountains with snow-clad peaks and lush green forests fascinate one and allThis work on the art and culture of people of the Himalayan region is fourth in sequence by the author After Folk Art of Duggar Ripples in the Himalayas and Rajat Shikhron Ke Rupehle Swar this work completes the first phase of studies of Himalayan culture Earlier Kumaon Garhwal Kashmir and Ladakh Himalayas and their ranges were covered in detail With the inclusion of Dhauladhar ranges and nearby surroundings of Kangra Palampur Baijnath Mandi Kullu Manali Lahaul and Spiti Kinnaur and upper regions of Shimla in this book it completes the studies of western HimalayasThe author has visited himself in most of these areas and collected the data so that first hand information can be provided to the readers In a way it is a first endeavour in this field wherein the people and the land are discussed collectively for the first time However individual tribes of Himachal Pradesh do find their place in sociological studies done in the field but we do not find a comparative study for which an objective effort has been made in this book for the benefit of readers and art historians alikeThe book covers the art architecture and cultural aspects of Himachal Pradesh References have also been made to Basohli Jammu Manket etc as the Pahari art of miniature paintings had its own legacy in these erstwhile kingdoms