India Sublime: Princely Palace Hotels of Rajasthan
Rajasthan's maharaja palaces are something else entirely. Bold pigments, intricate carved stonework, and interiors dripping with ornamentation define these forts, mansions, and royal residences, where mirrored chambers catch the light and vast marble halls seem to stretch on forever. What's striking is the sheer range of architectural ambition on display, from Art Deco flourishes and English Colonial grandeur to vibrant Indian folk traditions, all produced across a span of more than a thousand years. Far from feeling like relics, these buildings carry a vitality that still feels remarkably alive. Many have since been converted into hotels, giving visitors the rare chance to actually sleep within those storied walls. Melba Levick's book gathers twenty-one of the finest such properties, documented through over 250 specially commissioned photographs that linger on decorative detail, pleasure gardens, courtyard pools, and ornamental pavilions. It's a thorough and visually generous record of spaces that once belonged to princes and princesses. Whether you're planning a trip to Rajasthan or simply enjoy armchair travel at its most atmospheric, this is a book that rewards slow, repeated browsing. Each page offers something new to notice.
- Author: Melba Levick
- Publisher: Rizzoli Intl Pubns
- Genre: Photography
- ISBN: 978-0847829798
- Pages: 272 pages