Photos of the harem of the Indian Maharaja, which remained intact for over 100 years

Maharaja Ram Singh II was the ruler of the so-called "pink city" of Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, between 1835-1880. The city received such a nickname because of the unusual pink color of the stone from which the buildings were built here. One of the ruler’s favorite hobbies was photography, so he took great pleasure in filming his many wives in the harem, fakirs, servants, important people, as well as the cultural life of the kingdom. These photos were taken by him from 1857 to 1864 and are valuable rare shots that shed light on the daily life of the royal court of that time. Ram Singh could spend hours without leaving the laboratory and developing photographs, which now, after more than a hundred-odd, have become a real treasure for historians.

From childhood, Maharaja was interested in progress, therefore, ascending the throne, he began to develop the city with all his might, making it one of the most modern in India during his reign. So, thanks to him, schools and a museum were built in Jaipur, and even a new water supply was carried out. Another great habit of Rama Singh was regular secret outings into the city. Walking incognito, he checked officials, monitored how conscientiously they fulfill their duty.

We will get acquainted with his collection of photographs and see how the Indian Maharaja of the 19th century lived.