Centries Of Pahari Painting / Chandramani Singh

Includes Index

The centres of Pahari painting developed in the Himalayan foothills of North India between the 17th and 19th centuries, mainly in the present-day regions of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, and parts of Punjab. These centres were small hill states ruled by Rajput princes who patronized miniature painting for courtly, religious, and literary purposes. Important centres of Pahari painting include Basohli, known for its bold colors, vigorous lines, and dramatic expressions; Guler, which introduced softness, naturalism, and lyrical beauty under the influence of Mughal painting; and Kangra, the most refined centre, celebrated for delicate lines, pastel colors, and romantic themes, especially scenes from the Bhagavata Purana and the love of Radha and Krishna. Other significant centres such as Chamba, Nurpur, Mandi, Bilaspur, Garhwal, and Jammu developed their own variations while sharing common stylistic features like landscape settings, rhythmic composition, and emotional expressiveness. Together, these centres represent a rich and interconnected tradition of Pahari painting that blends devotion, poetry, and refined aesthetic sensibility, making it one of the most graceful schools of Indian miniature ar