Ravla Bhenswara, the extensive home of Kunwar Shiv Pratap...
JODHPUR, RAJASTHAN, INDIA - 2008/10/15: Ravla Bhenswara, the extensive home of Kunwar Shiv Pratap Singh, the heir apparent of Bhenswara. Struggling for years to keep up with maintenance costs of the 18th century palace - an eclectic warren of elaborately carved sandstone windows, walls painted with elephants, women and Hindu Gods and various extensions added on over the years, Singh recently turned to tourism, converting the palace into a 26 roomed hotel.
A decade ago, Rajasthan's Princes - renowned for their decadence and unrestrained pomp - created a phenomenon when they started converting their grand palaces, majestic forts and intimate havelis into hotels. Faced with economic ruin after being denounced from their thrones following India's independence in 1950, they created a well-won tourist path between their family heirlooms. Now, the desert state's Thakors are following suit. (Photo by Leisa Tyler/LightRocket via Getty Images)