Shrine, Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Buddhist sculpture and paintings are some of the gentlest and most sublime art of mankind. These are also the oldest surviving art of the historic period in the Indian subcontinent. Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl This photographic exhibition provides a comprehensive perspective of the monuments and art heritage of Buddhism, from the earliest times. It also takes us on a visual pilgrimage through the life of the Buddha: to the places of his birth, enlightenment, first sermon and final renunciation. Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Chaitya-griha, Kushinagara, Uttar Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Gilded statue of the Parinirvana, Kushinagara, Uttar Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl The Buddha, 5th century AD, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Buddha in dharmachakrapravartana mudra, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, 5th century AD, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Kapilavastu, Piprawaha archaeological site, Uttar Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Vaishali, Ananda stupa and Ashokan Pillar, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Stupa and Ashoka Pillar, Vaishali, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Angulimal Stupa, Sravasti, Uttar Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Rajgir, Newly excavated stupa, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Stupa, Lauriya Nandangarh, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Inscribed Column with Lion Capital, Lauriya Nandangarh, Bihar, India Photograph by Benoy K Behl Ashokan Edict carved on the shaft of the pillar, Lauriya Nandangarh, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl The exhibition covers a wide range of the heritage of both Theravada and Mahayana-Vajrayana orders, providing a view of the richness of the whole Buddhist tradition. Buddha, Sculpture, Gandhara, Indian subcontinent. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Great Stupa, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl The Great Stupa, East Gateway, inner view, Stupa I, Sanchi, 1st century AD, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl North Gateway, Inner view, Stupa I, Sanchi, 1st century AD, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Worship of Buddha, Represented by a Tree, Inner face, East Gateway, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Riders on Animals, East Gateway, Inner Face, Great Stupa, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Shalabhanjika, East Gateway, Stupa I, Sanchi, 1st century AD, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Buddha, Gupta Period, at East Entrance of Great Stupa, Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Gateway and Railing of Bharhut Stupa 2nd century BC, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Pipaliya Stupa, Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Bulls, Mural, Bagh Caves, Madhya Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Cave 1, Guntupalli, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Guntupalli Buddhist site, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Amphitheatre, Anupu Buddhist Site, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Birth of the Buddha, recently discovered sculptural panel, 1st century AD, Panigiri, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Regal Figures in Sculpted Medallion, recently discovered sculptures, 1st century AD, Panigiri, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Prince Siddhartha on horseback, Amravati Stupa panel relief, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Sculpted panel. Collection: Government Museum, Chennai, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Nagarjunakonda Reconstructed Buddhist Site on Island in Nagarjuna Sagar, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Bavikonda Buddhist Site, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Buddha Sculpture and Stupa, 3rd / 4th centuries AD, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Urban Couple in Sculpted Medallion, recently discovered sculptures, 1st century AD, Panigiri, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Bavikonda Buddhist Site, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl The mahastupa of Amaravati, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Barabar Caves, 3rd century BC, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy Behl The Nalanda University site, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Stucco faced wall with relief sculptures in niches, next to Sariputta Stupa Nalanda Monastic University, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Detail of Stucco sculpture of standing Buddha figure Nalanda Monastic University, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Detail of sculpted figure with a sword, Nalanda Monastic University, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy Behl View of the Vikramshila monastic university, Antichak Village in Bhagalpur District, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy Behl Kesaria Stupa, Bihar, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl The Ajanta caves, 2nd century BC to 6th century AD, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl The photographer Benoy K Behl is known for his extremely sensitive photography of Buddhist art which provides a deep insight into the gentle and compassionate message of the art. He is renowned for having documented the Buddhist heritage of 19 countries. Cave 19, Ajanta, 5th century, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Mahaparinirvana, Cave 26, Ajanta, 6th century AD, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Bodhisattva Padmapani, Mural, 5th century AD, Cave 1, Ajanta, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Bodhisattava Mahajanaka, mural, 5th century, Cave 1, Ajanta, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Stupa in cave interior, Junnar Caves, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Nashik caves, 2nd century AD, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Magnificent Façade, Karle Chaitya-Griha, 1st century BC, Maharashtra. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Mithunas, chaitya-griha, Karle 1st – 2nd century AD, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Mithuna Couple, Chaitya- Griha, 1st century BC, Kanheri, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Mithunas, Chaitya-Griha, Karle 1st century BC, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Riders on horses atop tall pillars, Bedsa, 1st century AD, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Chaitya-griha, Kondawane, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Buddha head, Ratnagiri, Orissa, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Tara, Ratnagiri, Orissa, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Relief in Doorway of Temple, Ratnagiri, Orissa, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Chaitya- griha, c. 7th century AD, Ellora, Maharashtra, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Buddhist site, Harwan, c. 4th century AD, near Srinagar, Kashmir, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Remains of Monastery, 8th century AD, Parihaspura, Kashmir, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Padmapani, from Pandrethan, Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Kashmir state, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Dhyani Buddhas, Padum, Zanskar, 8th century, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Colossal Maitreya relief, Kartse, c. 7th century, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Maitreya, Mulbek, 8th or 9th century, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Phugtal Monastery, Zanskar, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Alchi temple complex, 11th century, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Sumtsek, Alchi, c. 11th century, Ladakh, India. Photograph Benoy K Behl Detail, Mural, Sumtsek, Alchi, Ladakh, 12th century, India. Photograph Benoy K Behl Vairochana Shrine, Dukhang, Alchi, 11th century, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Energetic figure, mural, Sumtsek, Alchi, 12th century, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Joyous representation of rider on mythical creature, mural, c. 11th century, Alchi, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Temple dancer, mural, c. 11th century, Alchi, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Bodhisattva, mural, sumtsek, Alchi, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Maitreya, Basgo, 16th / 17th century, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Mandala diety, Translator’s Temple, 11th / 12th century, Nako Monastery, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Graceful deity, detail of mandala, mural, 11th / 12th century, Nako Monastery, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Mandala deity, mural, 11th / 12th century, Nako Monastery, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Clay sculptures, Suglhakhang, late 10th / early 11th century AD, Tabo, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Padmasambhava, Cham dance, Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Cham, Masked monastic dance of the Lamas, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Cham dance, Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Vajralasya, clay sculpture, 11th century, Tabo, Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Bodhisattva, Tabo Monastery, Spiti, 11th century, Himachal Pradesh, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Gorsen Chorten, Tawang District, Arunachal Pradesh, 16th century AD, India. Photograph by Benoy K Behl Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India .