The Museum of Kangra Art at Dharamshala has artifacts dating back to the 5th century. The museum also includes a gallery of Kangra's famous miniature paintings and a representative collection of sculptures, pottery, and anthropological items. The other items on display include Shamiyanas and local dresses used by local royalty, old carved doors, coins , jewellery and manuscripts.
The Kangra school of painting began during the reign of Raja Goverdhan Chand of Guler (1744-73).The main centres of Kangra paintings were Guler, Basohli, Chamba, Nurpur, Bilaspur and Kangra. Later on this style also reached Mandi, Suket, Kulu, Arki, Nalagarh and Tehri Garhwal.
A number of factors contributed to the development of Kangra style. The Mughal technique of painting, the inspiration of Vaishnavism, the charm of Sanskrit poetry, the beauty of the people of the Kangra Valley, and the lovely landscape of the Punjab Hills. All these elements combined together gave birth to the art known as Kangra painting. With its rhythmic lines and glowing colours, Kangra painting is one of the finest achievement of the human spirit. There is delicacy and sensitiveness in it combined with rare beauty of colour
