Himalayan Encounters – Hidden Views from 170 Years Ago

The Schlagintweit Drawings in India

Step into a rare visual journey across the Himalayas as seen through the eyes of 19th-century explorers. Himalayan Encounters presents a remarkable collection of drawings created by the Schlagintweit brothers, whose scientific expeditions through India captured landscapes, cultures, and architectural forms that remain largely unseen today.

Rendered with a delicate balance of observation and artistic sensitivity, these works offer more than scenic beauty—they are historical documents. The drawings reflect a time when the Himalayan region was being studied, mapped, and interpreted through both scientific curiosity and aesthetic appreciation. From remote hill settlements to dramatic mountain terrains, each piece reveals a layered narrative of discovery, environment, and cultural exchange.

The exhibition resonates deeply with the traditions of Pahari visual culture, a style of art that flourished in the Himalayan foothills between the 17th and 19th centuries. Known for its lyrical landscapes, refined detail, and emotional depth, Pahari painting captures the essence of life, mythology, and nature in the hill regions of North India.

At the heart of this exhibition is the collaboration with PAHAR, a non-profit initiative dedicated to preserving and promoting awareness of the Himalayan environment and its rich cultural heritage. PAHAR brings together researchers, artists, environmentalists, and local communities to foster a deeper understanding of mountain ecosystems and societies. Inspired by grassroots movements such as the Chipko movement, the organization emphasizes sustainability, research, and cultural continuity across Himalayan regions and beyond.

By bridging historical European documentation with indigenous artistic traditions and contemporary environmental perspectives, Himalayan Encounters invites viewers to reconsider how we see—and value—the Himalayas. It is not only an exhibition of art, but a dialogue between past and present, science and aesthetics, and global exploration and local knowledge.

Exhibition Locations: New Delhi, Dehradun, and Nainital
Dates: April–May 2026

The exhibition in Delhi opens on the 22nd of April and ends on the 29 April 2026

Venue: India International Centre, Art Gallery, Annexie Building, KK Birla Marg, Lodhi Gardens
New Delhi 110003

Timings 11 AM to 7 PM

Discover the Himalayas as they were seen 170 years ago—and reflect on what they mean today.