Temple Architecture of the Western Himalayas: Ravi and Beas Valley

Western Himalayas have been a fascinating world of nature’s grandeur, artistic heritage and cultural delights for common visitors, nevertheless, paradise for adventure lovers and immense resource for researchers. Most of the major Indian rivers, assumed as lifeline of Indian culture and civilization, stream through the region. This book is a part of the documentation project continuing since 1976, which unfolds a fascinating world of traditional architecture in the two major river systems Ravi and Beas of the Western Himalayas. The valleys of Ravi and Beas are two major constituents of the terrain of Himachal Pradesh including the valley of Sutlej which commanded political powers through the antiquity and immensely contributed the evolution of material culture in the region and left its indelible impressions on peripheral societies in the Trans Himalayan world mainly Tibet and central Asia. The book carries a realistic approach on architectural styles whether modulated Classical North Indian or Indigenous Vernacular style emerged in uncanny space. The well organized with illustrations and drawings, the text deals with two mature styles in juxtaposition registering progression and transformation in other aesthetic expression. The emphasis is laid on the cohesive progression of the art tradition forming in a geographical area which may really be called a melting pot of cross-cultures. Evolution of the style, dealt in the book, shed light on the important components that developed in the background of a more electric, generous but heterogeneous socio-cultural milieu encircling the fertile region adjacent Punjab, ancient Kashmir and Western Tibet with a statement of human genius that was evolving on more liberal and cross-cultural attitude of medieval society in a rugged and complex terrain.