Mountain Temples and Temple Mountains

"In this beautifully illustrated and carefully researched book, Chanchani offers an innovative breakthrough study of the religion, art, architecture, and culture of the northern Ganga River and central Himalayan area. . . . This study is as pleasurable to read as it is informative. The ideas Chanchani puts forth are provocative and will interest scholars, in various disciplines, who work on the region. Nonspecialists who are curious about the region will also appreciate this work."

"[A]n indispensable resource."

"[B]eautifully written, deeply engrossing, and insightfully interdisciplinary book."

"This delightful, well-illustrated study of Central Himalayan temple architecture and statuary marks a significant addition to the history of Uttarakhand."

"The author’s holistic approach is particularly stimulating; he does not look at temples simply as archaeological monuments inserted into an often-blurry historical context, but as symptoms of larger phenomena that he investigates, combining geographical, ecological, literary, historical, political, social, epigraphical, religious, cultural, stylistic and architectural perspectives."

"An essential text for art historians, central Himalayan scholars, or anyone interested in artifact-based research. It is carefully and incisively written, visually lush with over 100 images...and almost every chapter has a dedicated map focused on that chapter’s sites."

"Amid both environmental and health crises, Chanchani's timely work brings to light the symbolic and physical dynamics between humans and nature exemplified by the ancient worship of mountains and temples. Carefully written and researched, this book is a welcome addition to any South Asian scholar's library and would be useful reading in an advanced undergraduate or graduate class that incorporates Himalayan architecture or pilgrimage imagery."

"A very contemporary view of sacredness as something constructed, changing, and developing over time. Mountain Temples and Temple Mountains gives a compelling picture of the infusion of Sanskritic culture into the Central Himalayas and the growing mythological importance of the Himalayas in far-flung parts of India."

"An ambitious and engaging book that encourages readers to consider how this geographically challenging and stunningly beautiful region gradually emerged as a sacred landscape with some of South Asia’s most important Hindu pilgrimage sites located in its farthest reaches."

"Arguing for parallels in temple architecture and evolving places of pilgrimage in both the Central Himalaya and more distant places such as Gujarat, Nachiket Chanchani introduces hitherto less explored aspects of potential connections to enrich studies of early medieval India. A fine example of the dialogue between history and art history."