Okay, the JayPee Palace is shabbier than I first thought. And while I couldn't confirm that Trump stays here, I did confirm that Pres Clinton did back in 2000. But the chair has a large stain, the caulking is messed up on the tub, and the wires are beginning to detach from the lights. Still, the rooms are huge, and the marble and wood details are exquisite. But the marble floors and walls also make the long corridors into long echo chambers all night long. The luxury is very superficial!
Today is Taj day. We got up before dawn and entered the grounds at sunrise. As majestic as before. An amazing monument in so many ways. Our guide for the day was a local man who is Muslim and an authority on both the Taj. And on the Mughal Empire. Excellent guide. Learned a lot from him even though third trip to Taj.
After breakfast we ventured on to the Agra Red Fort. Same guide. This fort was the home of the family that built the Taj, and while it was louted many times over, enough of its original grandeur is still there to give a good sense of the style of the day. Fascinating day.
The Agra Fort is a UNESCO historical site. I have been very impressed by each UNESCO site I have seen, and this was no exception.
Later in the day we went to learn about making hand knotted carpets and marble inlays. Both processes required a skill level that few possess. Saw a small tray with so many tiny inlays that it was worth tens of thousands of dollars here in India, and hundreds of thousands in the US. And same with carpets: $3800 here in India and $38000 in the US. Great bargains, but resisted urges to buy! Next to glass blowing, probably the two art forms that interest me the most.
Lastly, we finished the day with a group dinner at Priyas.
Today is Taj day. We got up before dawn and entered the grounds at sunrise. As majestic as before. An amazing monument in so many ways. Our guide for the day was a local man who is Muslim and an authority on both the Taj. And on the Mughal Empire. Excellent guide. Learned a lot from him even though third trip to Taj.
After breakfast we ventured on to the Agra Red Fort. Same guide. This fort was the home of the family that built the Taj, and while it was louted many times over, enough of its original grandeur is still there to give a good sense of the style of the day. Fascinating day.
The Agra Fort is a UNESCO historical site. I have been very impressed by each UNESCO site I have seen, and this was no exception.
Later in the day we went to learn about making hand knotted carpets and marble inlays. Both processes required a skill level that few possess. Saw a small tray with so many tiny inlays that it was worth tens of thousands of dollars here in India, and hundreds of thousands in the US. And same with carpets: $3800 here in India and $38000 in the US. Great bargains, but resisted urges to buy! Next to glass blowing, probably the two art forms that interest me the most.
Lastly, we finished the day with a group dinner at Priyas.
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