Himalayan Architecture

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.

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.

The Present Study, Divided Into Two Parts, Deals With The Socio-Geographical Mosaic, The Racio-Cultural Background And Discusses The Factors Responsible For The Development Of The Wooden Temple Architecture In The Western Himalayas.

This volume comprises 17 contributions that address the architecture and geodynamic evolution of the Himalaya–Karakoram–Tibet (HKT) system, covering wide aspects, from the active seismicity of the present day to the remnants of the Proterozoic orogen. The articles investigate the HKT system at different scales, blending field research with laboratory studies. The role of various lithospheric components and their inheritance in the geodynamic and magmatic evolution of the HKT system through time, and their links to global geological events, are studied in the field. The laboratory research focuses on the (sub-)micrometre scale, detailing micro-structural geology, crystal chemistry, geochronology, and the study of circulating fluids, their preservation (trapped in fluid inclusions) and their evolution, distribution, migration and interaction with the solid host. An orogen over 2000 km long can be understood only if the processes at the nanometre and micrometre scales are taken into account. The contributions in this volume successfully combine these scales to enhance our understanding of the HKT system.

First published in 2002. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

"The volume thoroughly examines the origins and principal types of Buddhist architecture in Asia primarily between the third century BCE-twelfth century CE with an emphasis on India. It aims to construct shared architectural traits and patterns alongwith the derivative relationships between Indian and Asian Buddhist monuments. It also discusses the historical antecedents in the Indus Civilization and the religious and philosophical foundations of the three schools of Buddhism and its founder, Buddha. Previously obscure topics such as Aniconic and Vajrayana (Tantric) architecture and the four holiest sites of Buddhism will also be covered in this comprehensive volume. The author further investigates the influences of Buddhist architecture upon Islamic, Christian, and Hindu architecture that have been overlooked by past scholars."