Photographs Archive


Benoy K Behl, world renowned photographer, has over 28 years, extensively photographed  monuments, paintings and other aspects of cultural history, as well as scenic views all over India and in many places around the world.  A huge archive of over 30,000 high quality photographs all taken personally by Benoy K Behl has been created.               

NEWS: 

National Geographic magazine story and interactive map on Benoy K Behl's documentation of ancient Indian art: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2008-01/india-ancient-art/interactive-map.html 

The India International Centre, New Delhi, are holding an exhibition of Behl's photographs from the 24th of October, 2007 onwards.  It is entitled "The Monasteries of Rinchen Zangpo, in Tibet and India".  It covers the period of the Second Great Diffusion of Buddhism, from the 10th to the 12th centuries.

The Government of India are holding an exhibition of Behl's photographs at New York, from 23rd September, 2007 onwards.  It is entitled "Incredible Compassion & Diversity" and is part of the event Incredible India @ 60. 

June & July 2007: Photo-documentation carried out of Buddhist sites and art in China on the Northern Silk Route and the monasteries of Central and Western Tibet.  http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2007082350820200.htm&date=2007/08/23/&prd=th 

Recently Completed

26 films on THE SCULPTURE OF INDIA

This follows upon 26 films completed in 2003 on THE PAINTINGS OF INDIA

Recently Completed

12 films on THE STORY OF BUDDHISM Buddhist Sites and Art Heritage

"THE PATH OF COMPASSION" Buddhist Sites and Art Heritage, photographed by Benoy K Behl placed on permanent display at the Dunhuang Research Academy, Dunhuang, China from June, 2006 onwards.

 "THE PATH OF COMPASSION" Buddhist Sites and Art Heritage, photographed by Benoy K Behl placed on permanent display at the Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai, from January, 2006 onwards.

An exhibition of the photographs of Buddhist sites and art heritage is presently showing in Matsushima, Japan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and in Mandalay, Myanmar.  It has also been taken for permanent display in Kyoto and in the Tabo Monastery, Spiti and has been recently displayed at the National Gallery of Thailand, at Beijing, Moscow, Ulan Bator, Colombo, Kathmandu, Tokyo and other cities. It is on permanent display at the Ryukoku University, Kyoto; Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai; Dun Huang Research Institute, Dun Huang; at the Buddhist tourist sites of Mt. Wutai and the Yungang Grottoes in China, at Ulan Bator and at the Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon.  

Exhibition: THE PATH OF COMPASSION Buddhist Sites and Art Heritage

An exhibition on the churches of Old Goa was held at Paris, Copenhagen, Rome, Lisbon, Dublin, Berlin, Arequipa, Lima, Ica, New Delhi, Kolkata, Panaji and other cities in various countries.  It is on display for a year at the University of Sacramento, California.  The pictures were taken as a labour of love over 26 years.  

Exhibition: VELHA GOA Churches of Old Goa.

VELHA GOA has been installed for permanent display at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in November, 2004

 

AJANTA: THE UNSEEN JEWEL PHOTOGRAPHED BY BENOY K BEHL: A major exhibition of the photographs of the Ajanta paintings created by the National Museum of India.  It has been held at The National Museum, New Delhi,  Lumbini, Kathmandu, Bhutan, Guwahati, Shillong and other cities. 

The rarely-visited monastery of Range-rig-rtse, in the remote village of Charang in Kinnaur, has been photographed by Behl in June, 2004)

Articles on Indian Art 

Subject list  follows:  

    The clickable items show  a few of the pictures. 

Ajanta (world-acknowledged photographs)

Ellora (including murals)

Pitalkhora (rarely photographed)

Khajuraho

Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu

Taj Mahal, Agra

Brhadisvara Temple, Thanjavur (mural paintings of the 10th century, photographed for the first time)

Monasteries of Ladakh (world-acknowledged coverage) 

Monasteries of Spiti (including rarely photographed murals)

Monasteries of Kinnaur (including rarely photographed murals and the scarcely-seen monastery of Charang)

Monasteries of Lahaul

Konarak, Orissa

Sittanavasal  (rarely photographed)

Hampi, Karnataka (including rarely photographed murals)

Badami (including rarely photographed murals)

Belur

Halebid

Monuments of Kashmir ( rarely photographed )

Mural paintings of Rajasthan (including rarely photographed murals)

Mural paintings of Punjab (including rarely photographed murals)

Mrikula Devi temple and Trilokinath temple, Himachal Pradesh

Lakshana Devi Temple, Bharmaur, Himachal Pradesh

Shakti Devi, Chhatrari, Himachal Pradesh

Shiva Temple, Baijnath, Himachal Pradesh

Masrur Rock-cut Temple, Himachal Pradesh

Christ Church, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

St. Michael’s Cathedral, shimla, Himachal Pradesh

GPO Building, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

St. John’s Church, Mac Leod’s Gunj, Himachal Pradesh 

Mural paintings of Himachal Pradesh (including rarely photographed murals)

Parihaspura Buddhist site, Kashmir

Avantipura, Kashmir

Fathigarh, Kashmir

Pandrethan, Kashmir

Patan, Kashmir

Tappar, Buddhist site, Kashmir

Jama Masjid, Srinagar, Kashmir

Chraar-e-Sharif Ziarat, Kashmir

Martand Sun Temple, Kashmir

Payar Shiva Temple, Kashmir

Loduv Temple, Kashmir

Wangath Group of Temples at Narayan Nag, Kashmir

Ziarats of Shah Hamadan and Dastagir Sahab, Kashmir

Harwan Buddhist site, Kashmir

Colossal Buddha, Sod Area, Zanskar

Colossal Buddha, Kartse

Colossal Buddha, Mulbek

Colossal Buddha, Sankoo, Zanskar

Incised rock carving of Buddha, Suru Valley, Zanskar

Karsha Monastery, Zanskar

Rangdum Monastery, Zanskar

Zangla Fort, Zanskar

Zangla Nunnery, Zanskar

Sani Stupa, Zanskar

Padum Rock Carving, Zanskar 

Churches of Goa (world-acknowledged coverage)

Mural paintings of Santa Monica, Old Goa (photographed for the first time)

Goa

Daman

Diu

Sun Temple, Modhera

Shravanbelgola

Mattancherry Palace murals, Kerala 

Padmanabhapuram Palace murals, Kerala

Kerala backwaters

Jewish Synagogue, Kochi

Sanchi

Bodh Gaya

Sarnath

Kushinagar

Vaishali

Lumbini

Nalanda

Rajgir, Bihar

Pawapuri, Bihar

Kesariya Stupa, Bihar

Barabar caves, Bihar

Vikramshila University, Bihar

Sher Shah Suri's Tomb, Sasaram, Bihar

Lauriya Nandangarh, Ashoka Pillar and Stupa, Bihar

Nandangarh Buddhist Stupa, Bihar

Nashik caves, Maharashtra

Kondivte caves, Maharashtra

Sopara 3rd cent. Stupa, Maharashtra

Kondawane caves, Maharashtra

Kanheri caves, Maharashtra

Karle caves, Maharashtra

Aurangabad caves, Maharashtra

Bhaja Buddhist caves, Maharashtra

Bedsa Buddhist caves, Maharashtra

Junnar Buddhist caves, Maharashtra

Bibi Ka Maqbara, Maharashtra

Anwa Temple, Maharashtra  

Lonar Temple, Maharashtra

Daulatabad Fort, Maharashtra

Elephanta caves, Maharashtra

Lalitgiri, Orissa

Ratnagiri, Orissa

Udaygiri, Orissa  

Kichhingeshwara Temple, Orissa

Bharhut railings at Indian Museum

Ancient sculpture (including Mauryan and Gupta period)

Sikkim, including scenic views and monasteries

Arunachal Pradesh

Monuments of Assam

Monuments of Tripura

Monuments of Manipur

Monuments of Orissa 

Mural paintings of Mysore Palace

Murals of Viranchinarayan temple, Orissa

Bhimbetka (pre-historic rock art)

Raisen (pre-historic rock art)

Adamgarh (pre-historic rock art)

Edakkal (pre-historic rock art)

Pattadakkal

Aihole

Golconda Fort

Ajaygarh Fort

Kalinjar Fort

Charminar, Hyderabad

Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra

Itmad ud Daulah’s Tomb

Fatehpur Sikri

Agra Fort

Victoria Terminus, Mumbai

Flora Fountain, Mumbai

Gateway of India, Mumbai

Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai

Parsi Agiari, Mumbai

Old Fort, Mumbai

Jami Masjid, Mumbai

Mumbai University, Mumbai

Jogeshwari Caves, Mumbai

Afgan Church, Mumbai

Clock Tower,  Mumbai

Crawford Market, Mumbai

Qutb Minar, Delhi

Purana Qila, Delhi

Jami Masjid, Delhi

Lodi Gardens,Delhi

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

Tughluqabad Fort, Delhi

Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

Red Fort, Delhi

Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi

Ashokan Bull Capital (Rampurva, Bihar, 3rd century BC), at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.

Parliament, New Delhi

Secretariat, New Delhi

Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab

Durgyana Mal Temple, Amritsar, Punjab

Govindwal Gurudwara, Punjab

Kishankot Temple, Gurdaspur, Punjab

Qila Mubarak, Patiala, Punjab

Bandhavgarh Fort, MP

Bharut site, MP

Satdhara, including Murals of Gupta period, MP

Stupas at Pipaliya

Stupas at Sonari

Stupas at Gyaraspur

Nachna Gupta period temple, MP

Khajuraho (recently excavated site), MP

Orcha Palace (including mural paintings), MP

Deogarh Gupta period temple, MP

Jain temple trust, Deogarh, MP

Datia Fort (including mural paintings), MP

Gwalior Fort, MP

Jaina caves, Gwalior, MP 

Padavli temple, MP

Mitavli temple, MP

Sihonia temple, MP

Batesar group of temples, MP

Shivpuri temple, MP

Mahakala temple, Ujjain, MP

Mandu Fort, MP

Rajwada, Indore, MP

Bagh caves, MP

Bhojpur temple, MP

Udaigiri caves, MP

Eran Gupta period temple, MP

Heliodorous pillar, Vidisha, MP

Bhojpur stupas, MP

Mala Devi Temple, Gyaraspur, MP

Dhekinath Stupa, Gyaraspur, MP

Sonari stupas, MP

State Museum, Shahdol, MP

State Museum, Ramvan, MP

State Museum, Panna, MP

State Museum, Gwalior, MP

State Museum, Vidisha, MP

State Museum, Bhopal, MP

ASI Museum, Khajuraho, MP

ASI Museum, Gwalior Fort, MP

ASI Museum, Sanchi, MP

ASI Museum, Bagh, MP

Lakshmana Temple , Sirpur, Chattisgarh

Teevardev Vihara, Sirpur, Chattisgarh

Anand Prabhu Kutir, Sirpur, Chattisgarh

Svastika Vihar, Sirpur, Chattisgarh

Rajiva Locana temple, Rajim, Chattisgarh

The mosques of Champaner, Gujarat

Jama Masjid, Bharuch, Gujarat

The mosques of Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Mazhaar of Sultan Ahmad Shah Badshah, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Raje Shah’s Durgah, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Tomb of Saiyad Usman, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Shaking Minars, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Shaikh Ahmad Khattu’s Durgah, Sarkhej, Gujarat

Tomb of Sultan Mahmud Shahi, Sarkhej, Gujarat

Monuments and step well at Shamalaji, Gujarat

Shiva Temple, Wadnagar, Gujarat

The mosques of Dholka, Gujarat

Step Well, Adalaj, Gujarat

Malao-Talao or Kund at Dholka, Gujarat

Lothal, Harappan site and dock, Gujarat

Ganga Vav, Wadhwan, Gujarat

Ranak Devi temple, Wadhwan, Gujarat

Buddhist Caves at Talaja near Bhavnagar, Gujarat

Jain temples at Shatrunjaya Hill, Gujarat

Rani ka Mahal, Junagarh, Gujarat

Mahabat Khan ka Makbara, Junagarh, Gujarat

Bahauddin ka Makbra, Junagrah, Gujarat

Buddhist caves at Junagarh, Gujarat

Somnath Temple, Gujarat

Kankesvara Mahadeva Mandir, Gujarat

Temples at Dwarka, Gujarat

Swami Narayan temple, Mandvi, Gujarat

Rao Nakhaji ki Chattri, Bhuj, Gujarat

Temples at Narayan Sarovar, Gujarat

Lakhpat fort and tombs, Kutch, Gujarat

Siyot Caves, Kutch, Gujarat

Dholavira, Harappan site, Kutch, Gujarat

Rani ka Vav and other monuments at Patan, Gujarat

Modhera Sun Temple, Gujarat

Temples at Roda, Gujarat

Early European tombs at Surat, Gujarat

Tomb of Qutbuddin Khan, Vadodra, Gujarat

Jain Temples, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan

Chittorgarh Fort and Victory Tower, Rajasthan

Adinath Jain temple, Ranakpur, Rajasthan

Ranakpur, Rajasthan

Bundi Fort, Rajasthan

Suryanarayan Vishnu Temple, Ranakpur, Rajasthan

Parsunath Temple, Ranakpur, Rajasthan

Swarnamandir Jain Temple, Falna, Rajasthan

Udaipur, Rajasthan

Jain and Hindu Temples, Osian, Rajasthan

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Kotah Palace, Rajasthan

Kuchaman Fort, Rajasthan

Mehrangarh Fort, Rajasthan

Mt. Abu, Jain temples, Rajasthan

Nagaur Fort, Rajasthan

Badshahi Mahal, Pushkar, Rajasthan