Rolls-Royces and rubies in the City of Joy: an Indian motoring scene

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This picture intrigued us from the moment we saw it. Is that an Indian temple during a state visit of some kind? An image search gave a swift answer about the location: this is the town of Mandav in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the building seen prominently here is known as the Hoshang Shah tomb, which is just one small part of an impressive complex of temples and palaces. Said to have inspired the construction of the Taj Mahal, Mandu once was a pleasure resort named "the City of Joy;" its palaces and lakes were the scenes of splendid and extravagant festivities under Sultan Baz Bahadur, almost five centuries ago.

Did any descendants of the Sultan remain in the early 20th century when India had fallen under the rule of the British Empire? We don’t know, but it does seem that the place was still in use for official meetings, or so the picture suggests.

The white car looks to be a Rolls-Royce, certainly a grand machine to drive there in the 1920s, but far from unique—there were several Indian Maharajas who owned Rolls-Royces and lived opulent lives. The following quote comes from a book, written by Alain Boucheron, who descends from a jeweller’s family: “The flamboyant Maharajah arrived at Boucheron's in 1927 accompanied by a retinue of 40 servants all wearing pink turbans, his 20 favourite dancing girls and, most important of all, six caskets filled with 7571 diamonds, 1432 emeralds, sapphires, rubies and pearls of incomparable beauty.”

Is there anyone who knows what the origins and history of this car could be? And what about the others?

Words: Jeroen Booij
Picture viâ Cor Haak

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