The famous hill school of miniature painting, known as Basohli and Kangra kalam, flourished under the patronage of the rulers of various Himalayan principalities during the 17th and 18th centuries. Which ruler of Kangra is regarded as the greatest patron of the Kangra school of painting?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra, who ruled from 1776 to 1823 CE, was the preeminent patron of the lyrical Kangra style of miniature painting, attracting master artists trained in the Mughal tradition to his court at Sujanpur Tira. Under his patronage, the painting tradition reached its zenith, depicting themes from Gita Govinda, Bhagvata Purana, and romantic courtly life with exquisite natural pigments and delicate brushwork. The Kangra kalam remains one of the most celebrated cultural achievements of medieval Himachal Pradesh.