The Princely States of 19th century India sported lavish palaces. Among these are the palaces of  Hyderabad  which reflect  richly adorned drawing rooms, with fine furnishing and objects of art which embody  the lifestyle of a bygone era.

As the official photographer to the Nizam, Deen Dayal had the opportunity to photograph many   exquisite palaces  – Falaknuma,  Chowmahal,  Bashir bagh,  King Kothi, etc;  his superbly composed interiors cover the vista from floor to ceiling. Without any extra lighting facilities, the photographs of palace interiors are remarkable for their subtle light and shade and pin-point sharpness.