Guler Paintings

Haripur Guler is a twin township which behold the heritage of Guler Riyasat. The term Guler was sought from Gwala  which means cowherd. The Riyasat or princely state of Guler was founded by Raja Hari Chand of Kangra and was later annexed by Punjab in 1813. The rulers of the state had fondness for Mughal culture and art. The school of art started under the patronage of Raja Dalip Singh during his tenure from 1675-1743. It was however, during the rule of Govardhan Chand that Haripur Guler flourished as a centre of art and thus became the birthplace of Kangra Paintings with the longest tradition in the art of painting.

Guler Paintings had an unique flair of delicacy and a sense of spirituality. The painters under the royal Hindu patronage had been trained in Mughal style of art. This contrast had brought out a different essence of the then India culture and its manifestations. The painters became masters of Rajput paintings and also started to touch Sikh themes and history.

Paintings had a special appeal about them. They carried strong strokes and grip alongwith maintaining the fineness and sensitivities of expressions. The drawing is delicate and precise.Subject matter of these miniature paintings are Bhagavata, the Gita Govinda, the Bihari Satasai, the Baramasa and the Ragamala.The style of these paintings is naturalistic, delicate and lyrical. The female type in these paintings is particularly delicate with well-modeled faces, small and slightly upturned nose and the hair done minutely.