Monuments of India

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India has a rich cultural heritage spread over the vast precints of the country. The glorious past of the country and its colourful society & cultures lay embedded in the beautiful monumental heritage buildings. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has played a pivotal role in discovering and preserving these rich hidden treasures.

The ASI, as an organisation, has also evolved from an instrument of the colonial rulers to a modern-day pan-Indian heritage management institution.

Following the uprising of 1857, the ASI was established under Sir Alexander Cunningham, who was given the mandate to generate "an accurate description illustrated by plans, measurements, drawings or photographs and by copies of inscriptions of such remains as deserve notice and a record of the traditions that are retained regarding them."

Smt. Achala Moulik, IAS (Retd), is an eminent personality both in the bureaucratic circles as well as the writers' fraternity, During her official career spanning close to four decades, she held various positions in the State of Karnataka and Central Government. Her tenure also saw her as the Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India; and Director General, Archaeological Survey of India.

Writing, complemented by deep research on a particular subject, is a passion for Smt. Moulik. She is prolific as a writer and vivacious as a person. Till date, she has to her credit about 20 publications on history, literature, monuments and heritage. Besides, several of her write- ups have been carried by leading dailies She is also a regular on Radio talks and Television interviews on subjects like culture, archaeology and literature.

She was a Guest Lecturer at the Getty Conservation Institute at Los Angeles, Executive Member on ICOMOS Committee for Preservation of Heritage, SAARC Committee for Conservation of Monuments, a Trustee of the Indian Museum, a Trustee of the National Book Trust of India, and a Director of the United States Education Foundation in India.

Smt. Moulik studied Economics, Political Science, History and International Law at London University. Her husband Shri Mohandas Moses was a distinguished civil servant, scholar and writer.

I am pleased to present the book 'Monuments of India' which has just been published by the Archaeological Survey of india (ASI). In this book the ASI has focused attention on selected monuments. Many of them belong to the world heritage list and do indeed form part of the larger hentage of mankind such as the Taj Mahal, the Buddhist monuments at Sanchi, the grand temples of Tamil Nadu and Orissa, the magnificent ruins of Vijayanagara Empire at Hampi - the rock-cut temples of Kamataka, the churches of Goa, and the Mahabodhi temple at Bodhgaya. These have universal appeal and have counterparts in world heritage monuments of other nations. There are other monuments that may not be so well known or so frequently visited, yet they reflect not only the evolution of architectural styles and constructions but capture interesting periods in our nation's life - such as the serene Hemis gompha of Ladakh - the massive monuments of Kashmir, the exquisite step well known as Rahi-ki-Vav in Gujarat built by a queen to the memory of her husband, the last resting place of Sher Shah Suri at Sasaram in Bihar, the brick temples of Bishnupur in West Bengal, the little temples nestled among the hills of Himachal, the fortresses where battles were fought, changing the fate of people Each of these monuments carries a story of power and glory, triumph and tragedy, of piety and endurance, of love and betrayal.

The credit for preserving and maintaining this vast physical heritage of India must go to the Archaeological Survey of India. This organisation, which was established by the efforts of eminent Orientalists, has carried forward the great tradition that began a century-and-a-half ago. From reconstruction of ruined Buddhist stupas, conservation and restoration of damaged edifices, dismantling and re-assembling of endangered structures, peeling off layers of plaster to reveal beautiful murals or sculptures - the ASI has done all this with great expertise. The task of protecting and maintaining over 5,000 monuments spread across a sub-continent with different climates, varied building material and artistic styles, has been performed with great dedication.

This book is a testimony to our beautiful, eclectic and living monumental heritage, It is my hope that the book will evoke interest in the monuments depicted here and that it will bring travelers, scholars and pilgrims to see and cherish these monuments.

**Contents and Sample Pages**