Top Five Art Treasures of India

torryquine

Those who have access to the BBC will no doubt have been following Dan Cruikshank's Around the World in 80 Treasures, and possibly questioning his choices of treasure. Here's your opportunity to state your top five art treasures of India - whatever 'does it' for you - the obscure little statuette you found in a museum or the Elora Caves. What should I definiately not miss on my next trip? To start it off, here's my top five from our recent 'surface scratching' trip.

1) The Taj Mahal. Yes I know it's THE most obvious choice, but has anyone been dissapointed by it? It is a masterpice of symetry and proportion, it plays tricks with your eyes. The decoration is elegant and restrained and the standard of craftsmanship unsurpased. All of this has been said before of course, but I'd be interested to hear if others have different views on it.

2) The central pillar of the Diwan i Khas at Fatehpur Sikri. An expression of supreme power, carved into a single block of stone.

3) The Zandog Palri sculpture at Pemayangtse Monestary, Sikkim. Built by one monk (Dungzin Rinpoche) over five years, it is an extraordinary vision of heaven and hell in three dimensions.

4) The paintings inside Rumtek Monastery. Some of the older monastries have finer paintings, but they are often faded with age and harder to appreciate. The ones here are exquisite, as is the interior of the monastry in general.

5) The Itmad id Dullah tomb in Agra. Clearly a fore-runner to the Taj, the pietra dura stonework is courser but needs to be seen close-up to appreciate the subtle use of stone filled with tiny fossils. The internal geometry of the ceiling is extraordinary. And all designed by one woman.

Name yours....

abracax

For me, it's the Jain temple complex at Sravanabelagola. Not just the famous Gomatesvara statue everybody goes to see, but the shrines on the other hills as well. For instance, there are a pair of footprints carved into the top of the hill opposite the statue, and when you stand in them the view is so splendid you really begin to understand the art and beauty thing.

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byronic

The number one top art treasure in India has to be the "Fixed Thali" special meal at the Saravana Bhavan in Janpath New Delhi.

http://www.saravanabhavan.com/

Its a cullinary treasure.

The next best art treasure I've seen would be the Dasavtar Temple at Deogarh

http://www.theindiatravel.com/travel...p/deogarh.html


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crvlvr

Clearly, Dan Cruikshank did not make it to south india.

AK74

CAN YOU ELABORATE OR IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT SOUTH INDIA

crvlvr

Google, maybe? Here is one link to start with (FYI, Deccan is part of south india).

AK74

thankyou for the link it will be of good use

rangss

The auto rickshaw is an art form too...

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edwardseco

Karnataka all over..

somnath

Hi all,
I know you are well aware of Indian Art Treasures. As some of us don’t prefer to travel through Bihar, so a real gem is hidden to us, it is Sher Shah’s tomb at Sasaram. Friends, if we follow the analysis done by the archeologists this is placed immediately after the Taj (architectural beauty / miracle).

Unfortunately I had never been to Rajasthan, but according to pix and info from other visitors I think, Dilwara temple will certainly capture a place along with Khajuraho.

And TQ, I am sure Sikkim has mesmerized you ! yes it is a lovely place. Allow me to add another piece of art in the list made by you. It is the “Thanka” – made from silk and designed by threads of pure gold at Institute of Tibetology, Gantok.

But I must appreciate your observation TQ , the central pillar of of the Diwan i Khas at Fatehpur Sikri – it is the only one of its class. It is observed that three distinct types (Hindu, Islamic and Western) of archeological characteristics are prominent in that single pillar.

If anything (art treasure) has attract your eyes, it is a nice beginning, plz share with us and contribute here.

Cheers,
Somnath

torryquine

Hi Somnath Believe it or not, I thought long and hard about that Thanka when compiling my list! Eventually the Idmad ud Dullah won out (for me) for it's sheer complexity. The Institute of Tibetology has indeed a very fine collection.

You are right, I thought Sikkim was heavenly!

Thanks for the recommendations
TQ

artwallah

In four trips to india I have yet to see the taj or Khajuraho, but my top choices (not in any order) would be:

The blue houses of Jodhpur. Some of the narrow streets have the most amazing colors in the air. you can swim through it!

The Shore temples at Mahaballipuram. they're not as lonely and evocative as they used to be, but still wonderful.

The big temple in Thanjavore--the equal of Gothic cathedrals

The Jain temples on Mt Abu. Astonishing marble carving.

The bronze statue of Krishna leaning on a bull in the museum in Thanjavore. We were about to leave, weary with a day of travel and sightseeing when my friend and I were stopped in our tracks by this magnificent work of art, which we had somehow overlooked. It is astounding!

somnath

I knew it TQ !! that you wont be able to ignore those Thankas. Ha ha….

Actually, this limitation of 5 will create some problem. So I am taking another advantage (sorry ) to mention the Ivory art works at Salarjang museum, Hyderabad and at Ramnagar Rajbari museum, Varanasi. Those are magnificent.

I’ll request the photographer friends (like Volga, Rob, Mistral and everyone who are kind enough to share their beautiful pix with us) to share their top 5.

Thanks,
Somnath

lonelyaztec

Hi,

My top 5 treasures is not based on how beautiful a certain place looks or how difficult it must have been to make it.....my ranking, is as per what i believe is most important..and what we need to give utmost importance and preserve...

1. Wildlife in India...including the forests
2. The rivers...Ganga, Yamuna in particular..they r getting spoilt
3. The mountains...especially the ones in the south. They are destroyed every day to make granite and cement
4. All the beautiful buildings..Taj mahal, Kajuraho, Hampi, Belur, Halebid, Mahabalipur, the forts in Rajasthan, let's preserve them for our future generation and for the world to see
5. The tribals who live in India..coz they are the key to learn lots about our past....and how mankind would have coped with nature in the past...theres lot we can learn from them.

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lonelyaztec

Suddenly realised..the thread is abt top 5 art treasures...
so, i am making another post in the regard....

top 5...among the places i have visited are
1. Hampi ruins
2. Mahabalipuram
3. Bijapur Gol Gumbaz and other buildings there
4. Tanjore Brihadeshwara temple
5. Madurai Meenakshi temple...

Can add loads to this list....like Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Red fort etc...all r wonderful.