The glories of India's five-millennia-old artistic and architectural heritage are illuminated in this scholarly account. The book deals with the entire subcontinent, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Thirty year's research and first-hand knowledge of the area have enabled the author to trace the cultural contacts which have contributed to the rich mosaic of sculpture, temples, mosques, and painting that have gone toward the creation of one of the great civilizations of the world. Nearly four hundred photographs and line drawings and a full panoply of references accompany the text. Technical terms are explained, and an extensive index is provided. The main map pinpoints all the areas, monuments and sites referred to, ensuring the helpfulness of the volume as a guidebook alongside its main function as a definitive scholarly work.