PaintingMaharashtra
Ajanta Caves
Ancient Buddhist narratives painted in luminous mineral pigments.
EXPLORE INDIA THROUGH ART, HERITAGE & CULTURE
Journey Through India’s Artistic Heritage
Discover centuries of Indian creativity through an interactive journey across the places, traditions, monuments and communities that shaped the country’s artistic identity.
8 Destinations • Centuries of Art • One Interactive Journey
A COUNTRY AS CANVAS
Art Across India
India’s artistic heritage is deeply connected to geography. From ancient Buddhist cave paintings and monumental temple sculptures to vibrant folk and tribal traditions, every region tells a unique artistic story.
Ancient Heritage
Traditions spanning more than two millennia.
Regional Traditions
Geography and communities shaped distinctive forms.
Living Art
Practices carried forward by artists today.
THE LIVING ATLAS
Explore art across India
Select a marker to enter a place, period and artistic tradition. Filter the map or search by city, state and art form.
8 curated destinations
Opening the map…
THE COLLECTION
Explore Art Destinations
Eight places. Distinct traditions. A shared story of artistic imagination.
Painting
ArchitectureMaharashtra
Ellora Caves
A monumental meeting of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain art.
PaintingTamil Nadu
Thanjavur
Gold-leaf devotion and the monumental vision of Chola artists.
ArchitectureMadhya Pradesh
Khajuraho
Nagara temples alive with intricate sandstone sculpture.
PaintingBihar
Madhubani
Bold lines, symbolic nature and stories from the Mithila region.
PaintingMaharashtra
Warli Region
Community life expressed through elemental geometry and rhythm.
PaintingOdisha
Puri
Cloth scrolls shaped by line, ornament and Jagannath devotion.
PaintingRajasthan
Jaipur
Fine court painting shaped by royal patronage and precise detail.
ACROSS THE CENTURIES
A Journey Through Indian Art
1
2nd Century BCE
Ajanta artistic traditions begin
2
6th–10th Century
Ellora’s rock-cut monuments
3
Chola Period
Thanjavur becomes a temple art centre
4
10th–12th Century
Khajuraho temple art flourishes
5
Regional Traditions
Miniature painting and Pattachitra develop
6
Living Traditions
Madhubani and Warli continue to evolve
DETAILS IN THE MARGINS
Did You Know?
Ajanta’s murals were created using mineral and natural pigments.
Ellora contains monuments associated with Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Madhubani paintings traditionally decorated the walls of homes in the Mithila region.
Warli artists use simple geometric forms to represent people, animals and everyday community life.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
About the Interactive Indian Art Map
The Interactive Indian Art Map is an educational digital experience designed to explore the geographic spread and cultural diversity of Indian art. By connecting artistic traditions to the places where they developed, the project demonstrates how geography, religion, royal patronage, communities and local culture contributed to India’s rich artistic heritage.
Project Objective
To explore the geographic spread and influence of different art styles across India through an interactive digital experience.