Alchi: Ladakh's Hidden Buddhist Sanctuary, by Roger Goepper

Reviewed by Donna Seaman

Booklist(Nov 15, 1996)
Vol.93 No.6
pp.562-563

COPYRIGHT 1996 American Library Association

    Goepper, Roger. Dec. 1996. 288p. index. illus. Shambhala; dist. by 
    Random. 

    Alchi is an astonishingly beautiful, well-preserved, 800-year-old 
    Buddhist temple complex nestled within the folds of the splendidly 
    isolated region of Ladakh, which skirts the foot of the Himalayas. 
    The main temple's richly ornate murals and sculpture evince a rare 
    and lyrical style of Buddhist art remarkable for its Persian and 
    Greco-Roman influences. Goepper's lavish, large-scale book contains 
    300 sumptuous color photographs of this mesmerizing manifestation of 
    faith. In his introduction, he provides a cogent history of Ladakh, 
    but much of the story of the building of Alchi remains a mystery. 
    Happy to leave speculation behind, Goepper luxuriates in meticulous 
    descriptions and analyses of each work of art and each decorative 
    detail. Published in a limited edition, this distinctive volume is 
    an ideal gift to the library from trustees and library friends 
    groups. 
    Ladakh was one of the many places master photographer Ortner visited 
    during 20 years of pilgrimages to sacred sites in Asia. Goepper's 
    book is a tightly focused assessment of works of art, whereas 
    Ortner's stunning photographs record both the wonders of 
    manufactured beauty and the glories of the earth. His juxtaposition 
    of majestic mountains and rivers with awe-inspiring temples, stupas, 
    and shrines illuminates the intimate connection between nature and 
    spirituality, sense of place and artistic expression. As Ortner 
    chronicles his journeys to Nepal, India, Angkor, lava, Thailand, 
    Myanmar, and Bali, he not only links the radiant realms of earth and 
    sky with the world of people-from spare and modest settlements 
    clinging to the mountains to a dense, colorful swarm along the 
    Ganges-but also celebrates the profound and enduring traditions of 
    each Hindu or Buddhist culture.