After a slow start this morning we are both feeling much better. I don’t know what the doctor gave us but it certainly proved effective. We took a walk around the hotel around lunchtime & sat by the pool to have some water & a light snack. I think that we have to say that this is one of the best hotels from a design point of view that we have ever stayed in. The use of space & water is incredible. The pool is heated so maybe tomorrow I will get to use it. I should also say that last night the staff were superb, service is definitely part of their ethos. John and Linda told us about the hotel and they didn’t exaggerate.
We met JP, our guide, at 2pm & were whisked off to the Taj in an electric buggy—all of 600m! Again the use of space & materials is to be seen to be believed. You go through an enormous gateway & there it is. I really don’t think that our photos will do it justice but I will post some anyway. The history of the whole thing is amazing—all for the love of a woman who died in childbirth. 22 yrs in the making using marble that had to come 400 km—no mean feat in the early 1600’s. The architect came from Persia & his design was quite revolutionary for the day. There is a minaret at each corner, all built with a 2 degree tilt so that they would fall away from the Taj in the event of an earthquake. JP was very good & didn’t rush us, he just let us absorb the whole thing. We haven’t seen the baby Taj or the fort that was on our original itinerary but nothing can trump THE Taj Mahal.
Photos of the hotel next & then I will post some from my phone of the Taj.
