Great monuments of india, bhutan, nepal, pakistan and sri lanka

Lord Curzon described the architectural heritage of the Indian subcontinent as 'the greatest galaxy of monuments in the world'. This guide to the great monuments of India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Shri Lanka offers the reader and visitor an opportunity to experience 5,000 years of civilization. Coverage of over two hundred of the region's important historical monuments and sites draws upon the author's scholarship and passion for architecture and art history, providing a comprehensive introduction to the history and development of architecture, its various styles and schools, innovations and experiments. Each monument is examined in its geo-climatic environment, its historical and political context and its relationship with mythology and literary traditions. Maps, plans and travel information complete each chapter. The monuments presented in this guide encompass a broad historical framework ranging from the Indus Valley civilization to well-known Buddhist, Jain, Hindu and Christian shrines and masterpieces of Islamic architecture.