Princely Palaces in New Delhi

Book Details

• Author: Sumanta K. Bhowmick

• Publisher: Niyogi Books

• Language: English

• Edition: First Edition

• ISBN: 9789383098910

• Pages: 264

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.3 x 1.1 inches

About the Book

Palaces of New Delhi: Stories Behind the Princely Mansions by Sumanta K. Bhowmick takes readers on a captivating journey through the princely palaces that dot the landscape of New Delhi. Published in the First Edition hardcover format, this 264-page book uncovers the fascinating history behind the grand residences built by the maharajas and rajas from across British India, congregating in Delhi for the Delhi Durbar of 1911.

These royal estates, including the iconic Hyderabad House, Baroda House, Jaipur House, and Bikaner House, stand as reminders of an era that shaped the city’s architectural and cultural heritage. Through meticulous archival research, interviews with royalty, and rare photographs from private collections, Bhowmick presents a rich narrative about the construction, purpose, and subsequent fate of these palaces. The book dives deep into the questions surrounding the British government’s allocation of prime land to these princely states, the design and construction processes, and the events that took place in these regal spaces.

The narrative also explores the fate of these palaces after the integration of the princely states into the Indian Republic and how they have evolved in the modern urban landscape of New Delhi. Through vivid descriptions and historical context, the book immerses the reader in the sights and sounds of a bygone era, capturing the grandeur of the royal procession, the military guards, and the music-filled nights.

A beautifully documented piece of history, this book is essential for anyone fascinated by India’s architectural heritage, the colonial past, and the transformation of New Delhi into the modern capital it is today.