Mughal Architecture & Gardens Hardcover – October 16, 2011

I fell in love with this book when I saw it at a bookstore in Jaipur. Unfortunately, it is large and heavy, and because I travel lightly, there was no way I could take it with me. I was estatic to find it on Amazon after I got home. It is one of the best books on Indian architecture that high I've ever seen. My partner is an architect, and he says this is one of his favorite books as well.

This book meets all expectations. The picture quality is of a very high caliber, and there are many images of buildings and rooms which are difficult to find elsewhere. The book does not limit itself to just the monuments which are most often photographed, or to just the imperial capitals, or indeed just to India itself. All these attributes are very much appreciated. As the previous reviewer commented, if one buys this book expecting a detailed thesis, one might be disappointed. But that was never the intent of this book, and as picture book with relatively broad scope and intersting diagrams and informed commentary, its an outstanding volume.

I have lived in India for about 40 years, and am a practicing architect and writer, leading me to have a rather large collection of books on Indian architecture. In terms of organisation and quality of the photographs there is just no other book that reviews in so much detail, and with so much knowledge, and with such incredible visual material, the entire landscape of the Mughal era. This is a must own book for anyone seriously interested in the architectural history of India or perhaps anyone who truly loves beautiful things. Christopher Benninger [Pune, India]

This book is lavishly and beautifully illustrated but also includes an interesting scholarly commentary. The text combines a discussion of the technical and aesthetic features of the architecture with a consideration of the artistic and political contexts of Mughal India and the Mughals' Central Asian roots.

Superbly presented and informative text; this is a really exemplary book and has been brilliantly published. Highly recommended. The pictures in colour are very well produced and the whole book is well worth acquiring.

Excellent

I had been looking forward to this book's publication, and am rather disappointed. The many photographs are undoubtedly stunning, and well supported by specially commissioned maps and plans, but the text is brief and not very illuminating. There are no footnotes, nor a bibliography. If you are looking for a mouth-wateringly beautiful coffee table book about Mughal Indian buildings and designed landscapes, this is just the thing; but if you are searching for something more learned or academic, I fear you will, like me, be a little disappointed.

This book is a superb overview of the main monuments remaining in India from this great period of architecture. The photographs are qlorious, marrying both clarity with atmosphere. Their large format and beautiful reproduction creates remarkable realism; there are details as well as distant views. The text is informative and intelligent, without being overly academic. The information is also widely distributed for easier absorption, with opening introductions and then shorter paragraphs besides each building. The architectural layouts are clear and useful. At the back of the book are all those essential backups: glossary of architectural terms, details of the emperors and events, index etc. Cannot imagine a finer book for the general reader on this topic.

A sumptuous book with (mostly) superlative photography, by one of the foremost and greatest gurus of Mughal architecture and design. If you have an interest in the sort of cultural landscape and scenery which gave us the Taj Mahal, this should be right at the top of your list.

Everything about this book is really first rate starting with the edition which is beautifully produced, the photos are marvellous, the text is clear and concise. It is a book to dip into time after time. I'm hoping to go to India next year and am sure I will notice details on the monuments which would otherwise have escaped me. Highly recommended

I bought this as a present for my mother who has never been to India but would like to go. So I haven't been through it in any great depth, but it is really well produced, the photographs are superb, and the text is informative and interesting. Having been to India and visited some of the sites I can honestly say that I know a great deal more about them now, and indeed the book has given me the impetus to go back again to look at some of the details I missed. Maybe I'll take my mother too!

Lovely book.