The Archaeology of Alaknanda Valley (Central Himalaya)

Contents: Preface. 1. Physical and geographical environment. 2. Prehistoric and protohistoric archaeology. 3. Historical archaeology. 4. History. 5. Temple architecture. 6. Art and inconography. 7. Inscriptions. 8. Coins. 9. Conclusion. List of illustrations. Bibliography.

"Garhwal Himalaya, an important geographical region of the Central Himalayan axis has been extolled as a most venerated part in Puranic literature so far as the Tirtha Yatras (religious pilgrimage) are concerned. The central river of this region, the Alaknanda, pious and sacred to every one, has figured in the Mahabharata, Puranas and also in Kalidasa's Meghaduta. The concept of Tirthayatra and religious congregations encouraged the people to settle down in this vast valley from the earliest times. The entire area is a land of rich cultural heritage and abounds in archaeological wealth.

"The present work tries to bring out the genesis of various cultural trends, artistic activities, settlement pattern and religious beliefs of the people of the area through different ages. The archaeological explorations followed by excavations in the valley have broughtforth cultural material for recasting the early historical accounts of this region. The material remains in the form of pottery, terracottas, artifacts, sculptures, temples, rock-shelters, inscriptions, coins and other antiquarian wealth are studied minutely.

"The present book is divided into nine chapters dealing with the physical and geographic environment, prehistoric and protohistoric archaeology, historical archeology, history, temple architecture, iconography, inscriptions, coins and conclusion. On the basis of the present investigations, it has been possible to conclude that the beginning of civilization in the Alaknanda valley can be traced to before the first millenium BC and continued upto the historical period." (jacket)

[B.M. Khanduri is Head, Department of History, H.N. Bahuguna Garhwal University Uttar Pradesh. He also co-authored The Emergence of Early Culture in Garhwal, Central Himalaya.]