In breve: Four-fifths of the urban population in India's northwestern state of Gujarat inhabit traditional houses which are more than 100 years old. Theirs is a democratic architecture--the haveli , or large, residential mansion, is a grand version of the common wooden-framed dwelling which has its own simple dignity. Boasting profuse, intricate carvings, magnificent woodwork, painted patterns and murals, and majestic ceilings, Gujarat's old houses and palaces--rural or urban, Hindu or Muslim--rival the best vernacular architecture anywhere. Featuring 75 color plates and 85 duotone photographs, this delightful survey by an Indian scholar relates Gujarati domestic architecture to the daily lives, beliefs and customs of the people.

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