Over six years spent travelling around India, Louis Rousselet learned photography and captured some of the most beautiful scenes of the Subcontinent, from the Himalayas to the Nilgiris and from coast to coast
This double-die-struck silver coin from the Gwalior Mint (Madhya Pradesh) was issued by Alamgir II in 1753-54. Mughal Emperor Alamgir II (1699–1744), also referred to as Aziz–ud–Din Muhammad, ruled Delhi between 1754 and 1759. Regarded as a “puppet” monarch, Alamgir II was manipulated by other court officials and rulers. His four-year tenure saw a rise… Read more »
This photograph is of Jayajirao Scindia (1834-1886), the Maharaja of Gwalior, with his counsels. The Maratha Confederacy was an invincible force in 18th-century India. Ranoji Shinde, a Peshwas lieutenant who was pivotal in the Peshwas’ fight against the Mughals in Malwa, was one of the army’s rising stars. In 1731, Ranoji established his rule in… Read more »
The architecture, iconography and divine design of Hindu temple architecture through the lens of its royal patrons
In this painted photograph of Jiwaji Rao Scindia of Gwalior (r.1925-1948), one can notice how the backdrop has been painted over the picture. Here, the setting is that of a European garden. Some rudimentary architecture is in place, but the rest of the space is left blank. Look closer at the young prince’s face, and… Read more »
The map shows the route the army of Tantia Topi took when escaping after being defeated at Gwalior. Tantia Tope, an employee of the Peshwa Bajirao, was a prominent leader of the 1857 Uprising. For a while, he made Gwalior his stronghold, from which he was defeated by Colin Campbell. He kept escaping the British… Read more »
Roll back the years with vintage photographs of Indian palaces from Sarmaya’s collection