Craft Name: Kangra Miniature Painting
Region: Himachal Pradesh (primarily Kangra, Chamba, and Guler regions)
CRAFT
HISTORY
Kangra Miniature Painting emerged in the mid-18th century in the Kangra Valley under the patronage of the Kangra and Guler royal families. It is considered one of the finest schools of Pahari miniature painting.
The style evolved from the earlier Guler School and flourished under the rule of Raja Sansar Chand.
WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:
- Renowned for its lyrical beauty, delicate features, and romantic themes
- Specialises in Bhakti (devotional) and Sringara (romantic) genres
- Exceptionally fine brushwork with natural pigments
- Fluid lines, soft colours, and emphasis on nature
Received a
GI tag in 2023
COLOURS
- Soft greens, blues, pinks, saffron
- White for highlights
- Gold and silver for embellishment
MOTIFS
- Lord Krishna and Radha: Ras Leela, forest scenes
- Gopis, nature, lotus ponds, birds
- Mythological themes from Bhagavata Purana and Gita Govinda
- Delicate floral borders
RAW MATERIAL
- Base: handmade paper (Sialkoti paper), old manuscripts, cloth
- Pigments:
- Minerals (lapis lazuli for blue, malachite for green)
- Gold and silver leaf
- Vegetable dyes
- Brushes: fine squirrel-hair brushes
- Burnishing stones for polishing
CRAFT MAKING PROCESS
HOW TO IDENTIFY GENUINE KANGRA PAINTING
- Very fine facial features and soft expressions
- Subtle shading and delicate colour palette
- Romantic-naturalistic themes, especially Krishna-Radha stories
- Smooth burnished surface
- Best sourced from Kangra, Guler, and Chamba clusters in Himachal Pradesh