MANALI
Former home of Russian painter Nicholas Roerich, who lived here from 1928 until 1947, with his Himalayan canvases, study and memorial in a lovely setting. A good pairing with Naggar Castle for a half-day. Closed Mondays and hours vary by season, so confirm before the drive.
Russian painter, philosopher and archaeologist Nicholas Roerich purchased this estate in Naggar in 1928-29 after negotiating with the Raja of Mandi, and lived and worked here until his death in 1947, producing many paintings from his Himalayan Series capturing the surrounding peaks. The gallery was established in 1962 by his son Svetoslav Roerich to house and display his father's work, and is now jointly maintained through a trust involving the Himachal Pradesh government and Russian cultural authorities. It remains one of the few sites in India dedicated to a single foreign artist's life and legacy, alongside the Urusvati Himalayan Research Institute Roerich also founded on the property.
