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Princely Palaces In New Delhi
Rajas and maharajas from all over the British Indian Empire congregated in Delhi to attend the great Delhi Durbar of 1911. A new capital city was born New Delhi. Soon after, the princely states came up with elaborate palaces in the new Imperial capital Hyderabad House, Baroda House, Jaipur House, Bikaner House, Patiala House, to name a few.
Why did the British government allot prime land to the princely states and how? How did the construction come up and under whose architectural design? Who occupied these palaces and what were the events held? What happened to these palatial buildings after the integration of the states with the Indian Republic?
This book delineates the story behind the story, documenting history through archival research, interviews with royalty and unpublished photographs from royal private collections.
Foreword; The Journey; Living with History; Hyderabad House-Guests of Honour; Baroda House - Butterfly on the Track; Bikaner House -Rajasthan Royals; Jaipur House -An Acre of Art; Patiala House -Chambers of Justice; Travancore House -Hathiwali Kothi; Darbhanga House - The 'Twain Shall Meet; The Other Palaces - Scattered Petals; Planning the Palaces -Thy Will be Done; List of Princely Palaces.
Why did the British government allot prime land to the princely states and how? How did the construction come up and under whose architectural design? Who occupied these palaces and what were the events held? What happened to these palatial buildings after the integration of the states with the Indian Republic?
This book delineates the story behind the story, documenting history through archival research, interviews with royalty and unpublished photographs from royal private collections.
Foreword; The Journey; Living with History; Hyderabad House-Guests of Honour; Baroda House - Butterfly on the Track; Bikaner House -Rajasthan Royals; Jaipur House -An Acre of Art; Patiala House -Chambers of Justice; Travancore House -Hathiwali Kothi; Darbhanga House - The 'Twain Shall Meet; The Other Palaces - Scattered Petals; Planning the Palaces -Thy Will be Done; List of Princely Palaces.
264 pages, Hardcover
Published March 18, 2016
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January 28, 2026
The music might have drifted into the unseen world of silence yet as one walks on the road, the smell of flowers could bring back the memories of the past to the discerning mind.
Sumanta K Bhowmick's Princely Palaces in New Delhi is a superb book documenting the history and architecture of the princely palaces that formed an integral part of 'New' Delhi's urban topography and adorned this new imperial capital of British India.
These princely palaces that were built for purposes might not be relevant today but they undoubtedly speak of a time that was part of the continual process of knitting an unstitched destiny.
The book not only speaks of the stories, of the gradual birth of such man palaces but also of the importance of preserving this part of history.
Also many thanks to Nyogi Books for bringing such topics to a wider audience and helping us understand our history a little more.
Displaying 1 of 1 review