Cultural History of Western Himalayas

Contents: Preface. 1. Subject matter: an overview. 2. Sun-sculptures in Himachal: a study. 3. Wooen temple of Parashar: a majestic sanctuary of art. 4. Passage to Manali: a treasure of curiosity. 5. Vaidhyanath: the supremo of doctors. 6. Triple trophies in a single sojourn: occasional episode. 7. Mangarh: a sudden surprise. 8. Kangra: an old belt of civilization. 9. Here a Rani was entombed alive: a riddle of the history. 10. Mahadeva temple of Bajaura: a majestic monolith. 11. The sculpture of the shakti of Chhitrari: a subtle statue. 12. Hat: a lasting imprint. 13. Arki: a small town of glory. 14. Old Bilaspur: the town that went under the river. 15. Hari Rai: a unique sculpture. 16. Karsog valley: a wonderland. 17. The missing boulder of Brahamini Devi Nala: a rendezvous. 18. Sujanpur Tihra: the closing chapter of Katoch Kingdom. 19. Kinnaur: the land of Kinnars. 20. Bhima Kali: The ruling deity of Sarahan. 21. At the Summit of Sar-ki-dhar: a vast Panorama. 22. In search of an inscription: no loss no gain. 23. Thus speaks Kolasara boulder: history and legends. 24 Brahmour: the ancient Brahmpura. 25. The stuff of legends: indelible impressions. 26. A poetry carved on stone slab: a joy forever. 27. A princess or Goddess: an Enigma. 28. A temple of Panch Dev: an exalted encounter. 29. Gauri Shankara icon of Chamba: unrivaled and Peerless. 30. A unique sculpture: solitary and single. 31. Sidh Shambu: an untold story. 32. A 'Shiva' or 'Sidha': a peep into the past. 33. Three brass icons: flight of imagination. 34. Small but great: a shrouded fact. 35. Poetic icons: two visions. 36. Nahan: grateful to the royal ladies. 37. Samadhi of a saint: losing Sheen. 38. Ghats among the hills: age old tradition. 39. Temple architecture: a magnificiant legacy. 40. Snowclad mountain tops: threesome Kailash. 41. A sad memorabilia: rumination. Bibliography.

"The book: the Himalayan region of India is treasure house of vast information about the culturally rich past of this country. Its location and difficult terrain posed as a barriers for all those forces who marched into our mainland with lust of destroying the relics of history and archaeology. This region still offers an abundant wealth of historical and traditional inputs to preserve and protect our local, regional and ultimately national ethos. In this treatise, author has made precise attempts to unfold the events and objects which constitute the basic elements leading to high light the main ethos and issues in shape of sculptures, temples, forts, events and historical accounts embedded in them. Out of vast tract of the Himalayas, the Western Himalayas is the core area of the author's study and out of the western Himalayas, he has concentrated on the present political entity known as Himachal Pradesh. The materials pertaining to the rest of the areas are to be covered by the subsequent volumes. The objectives of this treatise has been achieved as the authors describes in the preface--partly by independent travelling, partly by consolidating the historical datas of the place and partly by curating the traditional legends and tales percolating from the wisdom of generations to generations. The wonderful blending of antiquities archaeology and history has resulted in unfolding the imprints of age old ethos and issues permeating and penetrating the vast length and breadth of the Western Himalayan terrain which constitute the wonderful and extra-ordinary chapters of thought process and their glories." (jacket)