Basohli (town) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Basohli
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Town
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 Basohli
Location in Jammu and Kashmir
Basohli
Location in India
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| Country |  India |
| Union Territory | Jammu and Kashmir |
| District | Kathua |
| Elevation | 1,200 m (3,900 ft) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 5,433 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Dogri, Pahari, Hindi, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Basohli (once called Vishwasthali) is a small town in Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It sits on the right side of the River Ravi. The town is about 1876 feet (572 meters) above sea level.
Raja Bhupat Pal founded Basohli around the year 1635. The town is famous for its old palaces, which are now mostly ruins. It is also well-known for its special miniature paintings. These paintings are part of the Basohli school of Pahari painting. A battle called the Battle of Basoli also took place here long ago.
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Basohli Paintings: A Colorful Art Style
Basohli is very famous for its unique 'Basohli Paintings'. These paintings became a major art style in the late 1600s. Dr. Herman Goltz, a well-known expert, said that Basohli paintings are "among the great achievements of Indians."
The main ideas for these paintings come from Vaishnavism, a type of Hindu religion. The stories are often from famous epics and old religious books called Puranas.
What Makes Basohli Paintings Special?
Basohli paintings show different themes. Some are religious, like stories from the Gita Govinda and Ramayana. Others are about everyday life, history, or literature. These paintings also show strong feelings and the beautiful scenery of Basohli.
People have called Basohli paintings 'Poems in colours'. They use very bright, strong colors and bold lines. They also have rich symbols and special features. All these things together create a very lively and emotional feeling.
Basohli paintings are seen as the first style of Pahari paintings. This style later led to the popular Kangra paintings in the mid-1700s. The famous painter Nainsukh finished his career in Basohli.
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Radha and Krishna in Discussion, (An illustration from Gita Govinda) Gouache on paper (c. 1730).
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Maharaja Sital Dev of Mankot in Devotion, Ink, opaque watercolor, and silver on paper (c. 1690).
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Ragaputra Velavala of Bhairava, opaque watercolour with gold on paper (c. 1710).
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In March 2023, Basohli paintings received a special geographical indication tag. This means they are officially recognized as coming from this specific area. Basohli paintings have a strong, bold, and creative art style. They are rich, stylish, and unique.
This painting style uses strong primary colors and a special way of drawing faces. It was popular in the 1600s and early 1700s. The oldest paintings in this style date back to the time of Raja Kirpal Pal (1678–93).
The Basohli painting style started in Basohli State. It then spread to other nearby hill states. These included Mankot, Nurpur, Kulu, Mandi, Suket, Bilaspur, Nalagarh, Chamba, Guler, and Kangra.
Where is Basohli?
Basohli is located at 32°30′N 75°49′E / 32.50°N 75.82°E. It is about 460 meters (1509 feet) above sea level. Basohli is found among the uneven, tall hills of the Shiwaliks. It is on the right bank of the Ravi River. Part of the Ranjit Sagar Dam is also in the Basohli area.
People of Basohli
In 2011, Basohli had a population of 5,433 people. About 52% of the people were males, and 48% were females. The town had a good literacy rate of 77%. This was higher than the national average of 59.5%. About 57% of males and 43% of females could read and write. Around 12% of the people were under 6 years old.
Most people in Basohli are Hindu, making up about 83% of the population. Muslims make up about 16%, and other religions make up a small part.
A Glimpse into History
The Battle of Basoli was an important event in Basohli's history. It was fought in 1702. In this battle, the Sikhs fought against the Mughal Empire. The Mughals were helped by the Rajputs from the nearby hill states.
See also
In Spanish: Bashohli para niños
