There is no dearth of general books on the art and architecture of India or of the treatment of even Buddhist architecture and monuments in smaller or larger compass. Yet, this is a book with a difference, for it deals comprehensively with Buddhist monuments with a suitable analysis of Buddhist architecture to serve laymen and specialists alike.

Thus, one would get here the salient facts in respect of practically all important Buddhist sites and monuments of India, Pakistan and the central part of the Nepalese Tarai, covering art and architecture in the service of the diverse cults of Buddhist that were evolved in India through the ages. Apart from brief notices of various Buddhist places, no less that sixtyeight sites have been individually dealt with in Part III of this book. In the fitness of things it begins, in Part I, with a sketch of Buddha’s life which had a great bearing on the growth of the Buddhist monuments and sculptures. In the first portion of Part II a historical background of Buddhist monuments from the beginning to the last days has been presented, while in the remaining portion of this Part the evolution, growth and ramifications of stupas, monasteries, chaityagrihas and temples—the main components of Buddhist architecture—have been traced with copious illustrations.