I have seen this book at a friend's, and I'm definitely planning on borrowing it very soon. The pictures are intense and vibrant like the country they portray. The best thing, for me, is that for once this is a book that does not stop at the Maharajas' palaces; it covers those, but also peers through the keyhole (or curtain) at "real people's homes", showing the pride and care they have for their possessions, no matter how much or little they have. People may say it's a view that's too romantic; of course the houses have been cleaned and shined, but I felt this book was not just about pretty pictures (although there are plenty of these). It was about gaining a privileged view on a country as large, diverse and intriguing as a whole new world! (in short, I LIKED THIS BOOK!)