Maharaja: Princely States

This wonderful book shows the hidden world of princely India in all its glory, both past and present, through period as well as contemporary photographs of former rulers and their living descendants, many of whom are as revered today as their forebears were in the past, despite the more modest lifestyle they have been obliged to adopt. Modern tourists can become princes for a night or two by paying for a room in one of several expensive hotels that have been made out of former palaces. But only the maharaja's guests, including the author and photographer of this fascinating book, will be invited to the ancient ceremonies taking place nearby or to their private quarters where they and their families extend legendary Indian hospitality. This hidden world of the past and present is presented in full glory in this all-color book that will delight anyone who has visited India, or anybody interested in the history of the subcontinent, its pageantry, jewelry, and traditions.