Palanquin

Hand coloured fine aquatint engraving titled ‘Transportation Palanquin’. This aquatint is from Asia Volume III.

The use of palanquin or ‘Palki ‘as it is called in India is quite old in India. Palanquin derives its name from Sanskrit term ‘palanki’, and later on British called it ‘Palan Queen’. Palanquin belongs to a class of wheel less vehicles, a type of human-powered transport, for the transport of persons. A palanquin is a form of couch suspended from a bamboo and borne by four men, the traveller reclines in this vehicle.
Palanquins were a popular means of travel for royal and noble people up to the second quarter of the 20th century before automobiles became relevant in India. The palanquins were used for travelling both short and long distances providing an efficient means of transportation.

Individual palanquins were highly customizable depending on the need, social status, and journey for which they were commissioned.