Garhwal School of miniature painting emerged in Srinagar Garhwal in mid 17^th century, and flourished there for almost two centuries. It is a hybrid style of painting, drawing elements from Pahari, Mughal and Rajput style of paintings, but is marked by some very distinctive characteristics of its own. The subject matter is primarily religious and mythological (themes from Ramayana and Mahabharata and scenes from the Radha-Krishna lore). There are also some depictions of historical events and a few single figure paintings of the royalty. Characteristic to this style is the use of stark natural colours, serene mountainous landscape, flowering mandar trees, hill architecture, vibrant attire, detailed ornaments, chandan tika upon the forehead, and a placid idealised form of bodily beauty of the slender and charming Nayikas.

The most prolific painter of the Garhwal School is Mola Ram (1743-1833) whose ancestors belonged to the Mughal school of painting, and had moved to the hill court in the mid 17^th century. He was also influenced by the contemporary Kangara style. Due to lack of patronage by the then ruling British, Mola Ram’s descendants left painting and this saw the end of the Garhwal School of miniature.

Barrister and art collector Mukundi Lal brought this otherwise lost style in conversation with his book, Garhwal Painting, published in 1968.