Betty, you have insurance and can claim your expenses due to this problem be sure to keep your receipts. Glad you got your flight home figured out.

Sad to say goodbye to everyone in New Delhi but the good thing was that in most cases we have plans to travel together again so it was just “see you soon” instead of goodbye.

I really enjoyed the land trip from Mumbai to New Delhi. Regent did a great job logistically and having our own bus and a fabulous guide made it really much better. Hotels were good and the company was terrific. Most enjoyed the Indian food but of course this was not my cup of tea. All the hotels have good western restaurants and facing yet another Indian buffet the last night eight of us went to the western restaurant. I was SO happy with Norwegian salmon and fresh vegetables.

Ker and Downey (who I use for any land programs) wanted me to visit Hyderabad and the Taj Falaknuma Palace. I was not that keen on this idea feeling that after being away for over a month I would be ready to go home. However, they always seem to come up with the most magical places so in the end we decided to do this ---- WHAT AN EXPERIENCE.

FALAKNUMA PALACE – Hyderabad, India
A little of the background.
The Nizam VI (another name for King) lived here from 1895 to 1911 and then it was used as a guest house for monarchs, heads of state. In 1995 the family leased the Palace to the Taj and the hotel group worked on the property for ten years before the Palace was ready to start taking guests two years ago.

The experience!
We arrived at the front gates and passed some stables and stopped at the wonderful entry way. Waiting for us was one of the original carriages belonging to the Nizam pulled by a beautiful white horse. We went a short distance by carriage arriving at the magnificent palace on top of the hill. We were greeted by the Manager, offered two really cold towels and refreshments. Then we followed a beautifully costumed man with a staff held high with a large gold top (probably the crest of the family) into the Palace just as it had been done originally.

We walked into large a frescoed entry way and behind this was a huge area with a massive staircase. Stunning wood work and antique furniture everywhere you looked. We were escorted to our room immediately. It is a fantastic room polished wood floors, huge with an entry way, living area, large bedroom and stunning bathroom and ice cold air conditioning. They handled the check in issues in our own room which was very nice and very quick. Somehow our bags made it before we did! The whole bathroom is so unique, a huge bathtub with bath oil, bath salts and a giant candle for the right ambiance, all the toiletries in a draw in gold cans, huge shower, a wow experience.

Within a short time we left the room go on a Palace tour led by an historian and when we opened our door a beautiful decoration was at our door made of rose and flower petals. How they did that so fast is beyond me!

The Palace, in one word breathtaking! I have been fortunate to have visited many of the greatest palaces in the world this is my favorite and it was my home for two days. Only those staying here can go upstairs to the most stunning family rooms. The dining room seats 101 people and the room itself is so beautiful. I have seen so many crystal chandeliers but these were so different. More contemporary with star shaped prisms. The interior is a mixture of art deco, Chinese and European styles. The historian said everything in the palace was made to order. The floors and ceilings are completely unique designs. There is nothing Indian at all except the portraits of the royal family that lived here. I could sit in these rooms for hours there is so much to see here and it is all at your disposal to visit when you feel like it. They do have people around but they do not bother you as you browse through the stunning rooms.

Peacocks on the grounds, a stunning swimming pool and huge outdoor courtyard leading to the two restaurants, one is Italian and one is Indian. There is a huge deck there as well that captures the cool breezes and a stunning view of Hyderabad at night it looks like a fairyland below. If you chose you can eat on the deck. Our dinner was excellent and reasonable for such a stunning hotel. We had broccoli soup, I had a great thin bread pizza and Ken had lasagna. They came with a special fig starter and the servings were huge particularly the soup that was delicious but a huge bowl. Total bill about $50.00 for the two of us and we should have just ordered one course. Service beyond belief all delightful young Indian men with big smiles and good English. On returning to our room we were presented with a beautiful desert tray, a chocolate leaf wih the Taj name, truffles little cakes and figs.

Breakfast was an experience I will never forget. To start you hear this flute music when you leave the room. It is played in the courtyard by one man to welcome the morning. No buffets here at all. A large menu with everything you can think of for breakfast. We both ordered egg benedict choices with pork sausage, fresh squeezed orange juice and I got a passion fruit belini. First comes the Champagne, one must have that with breakfast, shortly followed by dark and white bread croissants that are so light and delicious really special. Then a stunning large exotic fruit plate that was beautifully presented and each fruit was the peak of ripeness. This was followed by a three layer plate presentation of all types of pastries that was just for us – each table got their own tower of indulgence. By now we were so tempted with the quality of everything we just HAD to try things – we were already full. Then the real order of eggs arrived with three huge sausages each, yummy potato wedges, and about 8 pieces of wheat toast. Roll me out of the restaurant.

We went on our tour with a great guide whose REAL NAME is John Wilson! His children are Gideon and Joshua. I asked and yes he is a Christian. The Fort here and the Burial tombs are really worth seeing. They have a bazaar with FIXED prices. I loved that not all that hassle and better merchandise as well. We only stayed out three hours as we wanted to catch up on work, enjoy the hotel and relax a little.

When we returned to the room there were sleep blinders with a little note (enjoy your afternoon nap) Kens shoes had been cleaned and were in lovely little shoe bags, refreshed fruit, again at the peak of ripeness. I never want to leave!

Anyone that is coming to India NEEDS to visit this place it is a remarkable and unforgettable experience, expensive for sure but worth it for the memories. Ken will post a few pictures later today but it may not be possible to capture the magnificence of this wonderful palace.