"The 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 all. This 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 & Spiti, Kinnaur and upper regions of Shimla in this book, it completes the studies of western Himalayas. The 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 alike. The 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 minature paintings had its own legacy in these erstwhile kingdoms." -- Cover description.

Featuring gorgeous photography of ancient Himalayan architecture, recent restoration projects, and modern trends in building and crafts, Himalayan Style celebrates the vitality, diversity, and potential of Himalayan forms and designs. Himalayan Style combines a treasury of beautiful full-color photographs and engrossing essays to offer a comprehensive look at Himalayan design, style, and culture. Himalayan Style explores the many meanings of style, from the historic structures in Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Tibet that have been renovated and adapted for new purposes, to the icons and rituals of the spiritual traditions of the Himalayas, from the distinctive shapes of stupas to offerings of flowers and tikka powder. Intimate photos of the homes and furnishings reveal how construction methods, materials, and decorative detail impact the lives of its citizens. This vibrant book celebrates creative ways of living and working in the Kathmandu Valley. Here, designers and craftspeople work together, creating innovative homes and crafts utilizing local materials and techniques. Renowned for his Himalayan photography, Thomas Kelly’s curated collection of images range in focus from a small detail of a Tibetan tea table to a vast mountain landscape dotted with stupas. Himalayan Style offers a fresh look at the beautiful aesthetics of the Himalayas, and so deepens one’s understanding and appreciation of this powerfully stunning region. THE OLD AND THE NEW: Encompassing both ancient and modern architecture, Himalayan Style provides a comprehensive guide into the rich culture, history, and artistry of this magnificent region. BEAUTIFUL ADDITION TO YOUR COLLECTION: Himalayan Style will captivate you and your guests with page after page of stunning architecture and interior design. ARMCHAIR TRAVEL: Explore the beauty of Himalayan architecture and style from the comfort of your own home. A STYLISH GIFT: The perfect gift for design enthusiasts, travelers, and adventurers.

This broad treatment of architecture throughout the region of the Himalaya mountains is the first book of its kind. The author has based this study on many years of research in Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam, and the Darjeeling area of northeast India, northern Pakistan, and Himachal Pradesh in India's northwest. These areas make up an artistic and, to some degree, a cultural unit. It is unique and definable for its design qualities as well as its use of materials. Dramatic and lofty structures rise as towering palaces and as temples dedicated to Hindu and Buddhist ideals. The impact of neighboring Tibet and India is often evident in the art, but other influences are found as well. The area has not been isolated, as some studies suggest, but was in fact always linked to the rest of Asia and to the West by means of the Silk Road, at least since the second century B.C. This study progresses from east to west, beginning in the foothills of India's Assam. It is richly illustrated with photographs, most of which are the author's or his wife's, and many of the photographs are published here for the first time. The archives of the Archaeological Survey of India and the Department of Archaeology of His Majesty's Government of Nepal are also used here.

Himalayan Bronzes focuses on a complete study of 340 medieval-period copper alloy sculptures from the Himalayan regions of Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Nepal, and Tibet. For more than 1,500 years, artists in isolated valleys in and adjacent to the mountains of the Himalayas have created magnificent copper-based statues representing deities and spiritual leaders of the Hindu, Buddhist and Bon-Po religions. Author Chandra L. Reedy's multidisciplinary approach to the study of these statues integrates methods and techniques from art history, art conservation, geology, chemistry, statistics, archaeology, and ethnography to answer art historical and anthropological questions. Her guiding premise is that gathering and combining several types of information will result in more and better answers than any one type alone.

In Himalayan Style: Shelters and Sanctuaries, photographer Thomas L. Kelly and author Claire Burkert present exquisite examples of vernacular architecture, sacred spaces and interiors found in Tibet, India, Bhutan and Nepal.