The Ajanta Caves, by Benoy K. Behl (Thames and Hudson, 1998,
published in New York by Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated). An excellent
large-format presentation of the Ajanta site, concentrating on
The Ajanta Caves, by Benoy K. Behl (Thames and Hudson, 1998,
published in New York by Harry N. Abrams, Incorporated). An excellent
large-format presentation of the Ajanta site, concentrating on the
major painted caves (1, 2, 16, and 17). Color photography is used
throughout. An informative text narrates the Jataka stories
of the Buddha's prior incarnations, which are illustrated by the
paintings in the cave.
Architecture and Art of Southern India: Vijayanagara and the successor states, by George Michell
(The New Cambridge History of India, I:6, Cambridge University
Press, 1995). A pioneering art and architectural survey of the
Vijayanagara and Nayaka periods in Southern India, concentrating on
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries with some earlier and later
The Art of Ancient India, by Susan Huntington (Weatherhill, 1985, third printing 1999). A scholarly, yet very readable, reference.
Highly recommended for those with more than a passing interest in
The Art and Architecture of India: Buddhist-Hindu-Jain, by Benjamin Rowland (The Pelican History of Art, Penguin Books, 1974).
First published 1953. The 1974 paperback is based on the third revised ed. of 1967. Particularly good on Indian art before 1000 AD, which occupies the entire first half of the book.
The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, by J. C. Harle (The Pelican History of Art, Penguin Books, 1986, reprinted 1990).
A useful, if rather dry and technical, reference.
The Art of Indian Asia, by Heinrich Zimmer, ed. Joseph
Campbell (Pantheon Books, 1955). Volume I text, Volume II black and
white photographic plates. Long out of print, but worth having if
you can find it. The book is a detailed exploration of myth and
symbol in Indian art. (Islamic art and architecture is not included, and southeast Asia is touched upon comparatively lightly.)
The text volume includes chapters on Mesopotamian patterns
in Indian art, Indian ideals of beauty, The symbolism of the lotus,
Indian architecture, and sculpture. In Volume II, over 600 large-format
black and white photographs, fully cross-referenced to the text in Volume I, provide a valuable record of India's artistic heritage.
The Blue Guide to Southern India by George Michell
(1997). A comprehensive guide book to Southern India which is
informed by Michell's encyclopaedic knowledge of the region. The guide includes a basic level of information about
transportation and accommodations.
The Book of Hindu Imagery, by Eva Rudy Jansen (Binkey Kok Publications BV, Havelte, Holland, 1993, fifth printing 1999).
One of the few
readily available works on Hindu iconography in English,
it was on the shelves of Borders Books in 2001. The American distributor is Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1-800-423-7087.
The book, while usable, is neither scholarly nor thorough.
Elephanta, by George Michell, photography by Bharath Ramamrutham (The India Series, India Book House Pvt Ltd, 2002). This small-format (5 1/2 by 8 inches), 143-page paperback is an excellent
the Elephanta cave-temple of Shiva. The book displays every distinction
that one has come to rely upon from its author:
a superbly well-organized presentation, authoritative yet accessible and engaging text, and marvellous photographs which have been expertly reproduced by the publisher.
Hampi, by John M. Fritz and George Michell (The India
Series, India Book House Pvt Ltd, 2003). A compact guide to Hampi (the
site of medieval Vijayanagara), from the directors of the Vijayanagara
Research Project. A welcome carry-along when visiting the site,
although the casual visitor is likely to want more explanation,
and the serious student more detail, than it was possible to fit
into the book's allotted length.
Hindu Art, by T. Richard Blurton (Harvard Univers