Once Upon A Time: Maharanis of India

Maharaj Kumar Rani Sita Devi of Kapurthala, among the peonies.

Maharaj Kumar Rani Sita Devi of Kapurthala, among the peonies.

Cecil Beaton, 1937. Courtesy MAP / Tasveer

Maharani Chimnabai II of Baroda, née Shrimant Gajrabai Ghatge of Dewas Sr

Maharani Chimnabai II of Baroda, née Shrimant Gajrabai Ghatge of Dewas Sr

Lala Deen Dayal, 1891. Courtesy MAP / Tasveer

Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur, née Princess Ayesha of Cooch Behar

Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur, née Princess Ayesha of Cooch Behar

Derek Adkins, d. 1951. Courtesy MAP / Tasveer

Maharani Vijaya Raje Scindia of Gwalior, née Lekha Divyeshwari Devi.

Maharani Vijaya Raje Scindia of Gwalior, née Lekha Divyeshwari Devi.

Hamilton Studios, c. 1940s. Courtesy MAP / Tasveer

Nawab Begum Sajida Sultan of Bhopal, also Begum of Pataudi.

Nawab Begum Sajida Sultan of Bhopal, also Begum of Pataudi.

K. L. Syed & Co., c. 1938-1940. Courtesy MAP / Tasveer

Princess Rafat Zamani Begum or Bari Begum Sahiba of Rampur, formerly of the Najiabad Family

Princess Rafat Zamani Begum or Bari Begum Sahiba of Rampur, formerly of the Najiabad Family

Kinsey Studios, Delhi, c. 1960. Courtesy MAP / Tasveer

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Princely India, where royal palaces, resplendent jewellery and portrait photography was everyone’s fascination, is a long gone time. But photos live forever – including a collection of images, Maharanis: Women of Royal India, which chronicles the females who resided within palace walls.

Maharani Gayatri Devi sitting pretty in her chiffon saris, the Begum of Pataudi wearing royal robes, and several other regals have been captured on camera, illustrating the fashion and grace that these women stood for. This is Indian royalty at its best.

A portfolio of 20 prints selected from this collection will be on sale at StoryLTD during the course of the exhibition organised by Tasveer Arts.

Maharanis: Women of Royal India is on display at Saffronart, Mumbai (3rd Floor, Industry Manor, Prabhadevi) until November 20, 2015.