Behind high walls the life-space of the Indian courtyard house has so far remained arcane. This is the first work that graphically captures the depths of this archetype in all areas of India where it exists. This splendid form of residential architecture is now fading away and this book is a timely compilation of exquisite images of the finest of such homes. The regional styles portrayed include the haveli in all its incarnations in northern and western India, the Marathi wada, the Bengali rajbari, the nalukettu of Kerala, the Chettiar mansions of Tamil Nadu, and others. The book unravels the styles' social history and functional relevance, illustrated with two hundred and thirty colour photographs.