Kasha Art is the most ancient art and architecture of Himachal Pradesh. It is a form of Temple Architecture. The basic material of Kasha style is wood. There are four distinct styles of Temple Architecture that we can see throughout Himachal Pradesh. They are based on the different areas of religious beliefs.
1. The Pent Roof and Verandah
2. Pyramid shaped structure
3. Pagoda style with layers of wooden roofs one on top of other
4. Sutluj Valley style – Mix of Pyramid (slope) and Pagoda type roofs
Each region of the state has its own specific style of architecture. Since it is mainly a hilly area, different styles are found for low lying hilly areas, mid and higher as well as high mountainous areas. The low levels follow the Shikhara – the doomed and flat roofed temples. Pagoda roofed and Pent-Roofed temples are found in mid levels. Higher levels follow flat-roofed ones with a different style.
The Pent style is the most ancient one. Pyramid roofs are found in Jubbal Valley and Pagoda Style is found in upper Sutluj Valley, adopted from Nepal, where it is common to most of the temples in Kathmandu.
Pent Style
Lakshana Devi Temple – Bharmour in Chamba
Shakti Devi Temple – Chhatrari in Chamba
Mirkula Devi Temple – Udaipur (Lahaul-Spiti)
Pyramidical Style
Shiva Temples and Hatkoti and Mahasu (Shimla)
Shiva Temples at Deora in Jubbal (Shimla)
Hateshwari Devi Temple in Hatkoti (Shimla)
Pagoda Style
Prashar Temple in Mandi
Hadimba Temple in Manali (Kullu)
Tripura Sundari Temple in Nagar (Kullu)
Sutluj Valley Style
Bahna Mahadev Temple (Kangra)
Dhaneswari Devi Temple at Nethar (Kullu)
Read more at: Himachal Pradesh General Studies
