Pahari Schools of Painting

About this unit

Pahari means "of the hills". This unit covers painting in the small hill states of the western Himalaya, in present-day Jammu, Himachal Pradesh and nearby areas, from the late 17th to the 19th century. Major centres include Basohli, Guler, Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Nurpur and Jasrota. Pahari painting moved from the bold, intense Basohli style to the gentle, lyrical Guler-Kangra style. It is especially admired for its poetic treatment of Radha-Krishna themes.

Key ideas

• Pahari painting is the second main branch of Rajput painting.
• Basohli is the early, bold phase; Guler and Kangra form the later, refined phase.
• Patrons were rulers of small hill states such as Kirpal Pal of Basohli and Sansar Chand of Kangra.
• The family of Pandit Seu, including Manaku and Nainsukh, shaped Pahari painting.
• Favourite texts: Gita Govinda, Bhagavata Purana, Rasamanjari, Ramayana.
• Kangra painting is known for soft colours, naturalistic landscapes and graceful women.

How to prepare

• Learn the change from Basohli to Kangra as a set of contrasting bullets in your notes.
• Memorise patrons and artists, and the texts each centre illustrated.
• Expect questions asking you to identify a style from a verbal description.