“The present book is Hindi translation of Prof. P. S. Ranawat’s landmark contribution on Udaipur in an attractive title “Wah! UDAIPUR Wah!!” It is not just a translation but a pervasive updated Edition. This appreciative effort covers the various aspects of the historic city from its founding to the present, in which the city’s main destinations, water bodies, palaces, havelies, gardens, temples have been comprehensively described giving salient features of their history, architecture, construction material that are the salient feature of this book. This work shatters many a published myths and presents the facts in rational manner. Notably, the use of marble in palaces and havelies which in fact is a marble powder plaster-a local specialty known as “Ghutai”! Dr. Ranawat rightly points out that the use of marble in residential buildings up to the 19th century was usually avoided which was otherwise extensively used for making of idols, temples, fountains, statues (elephant for example), and dams. Another significant aspect of this book is the history of water management of the city from its founding to the present, vis-à-vis city’s evolution. The natural as well as the man-made defense system of Udaipur are very well explained; especially the description of the twelve gates in the defense wall from south to the north and the “Sinh-Dwaras”-the doubly fortified gates-is the book’s novelty.

It can unhesitantly be said that this book will help one to know Udaipur in a much better way.