Kullu and Mandi Paintings

The art of painting in Kullu style are an exquisite expression of its iconic beauty. They share many common features with Basholi art as the similarities are stretched to the extent, that same painters from Basholi were sent to Kullu to depict life of Lord Rama, the family deity of Pahari rulers on canvas. The painters have prepared an album of Rama which is famous as ‘Shangari Ramayana’. Various sections of Ramayana have been portrayed like Bal Kanda, Ayodhya Kanda, Uttar Kanda etc.
Latter is a rich collection of 270 paintings having anecdotes marked beneath them. These are in possession of Raja Raghbir Singh of Shangari in Kullu valley. The paintings under the royal patronage are a precious heritage and a showcase of elegance and aesthetics of the then ruling classes who were both sensitive to art and religion.
The paintings in Mandi also had their share from Mughal strokes as on the break-up of Mughal empire, the painters who had decorated the Mughal courts saw no appreciation and interest in the eyes of later rulers. Mandi painters portrayed religious legends of Shiva, parts from Bhagwata and Ramayana. Some paintings have been devoted to the actions of ‘Madho Rai’, as Krishna was known in Mandi. The paintings from this part were known for hardness of facial expressions.