The royal palaces of India

by George Michell

As early as the fourteenth century, stories glorifying the exotic palaces of Indian rulers began to circulate in the West, stories which closer acquaintance only confirmed. Even today, they are magical places - small towns rather than single buildings, in which the Hindu and Muslim rulers of the subcontinent dispensed their laws and enjoyed their wealth. The beauty and atmosphere of these palaces is displayed here in Antonio Martinelli's exceptional color photographs, composed with the eye of a painter and a trained architect who enjoyed unrivaled access to the buildings. George Michell, a recognized authority on Indian architecture and art, tells the story of the palaces. He evokes life within these complexes and describes their many elements: defenses, spacious audience halls and courtyards, temples and mosques, private apartments and service quarters. At the heart of the book are the palaces themselves. The oldest surviving are those erected by the Muslim conquerors who swept down t