
1782–1800
In 1782, the 17-year-old king of Kangra fought to retake his ancestral kingdom from the Mughals, who had controlled the territory since 1620. He rides a dark brown horse in front of the camel at the far right, blending in among his army and allies. The leftmost panel shows the residents of Kangra fleeing the conflict with their belongings on their heads to the safety of the fortress at the far left, from the walls where cannons are being fired. The main temple, built of gray stone, is in the middle of the composition, marked by red flags.