Finally the Taj!

The Taj Mahal definitely enters my top five best buildings. So white, so symmetrical and so expensive! I still can't quite fathom how they could spend the equivalent of $60 million US (back then) to build a tomb for a dead queen. I guess they're not alone.... the pyramids (also in my top five) suggest the trend went way back. Hmmmm....

Special note for Shantaram fans:
I was thoroughly disappointed with Leopolds. It looks nothing like what I'd imagined reading Shantaram. There are no booths or arches, Didier is definitely not there, there are no gangs hanging out there (& we went there five times in one day to check!) and they are selling Shantaram from the counter. I couldn't quite work out where he comes to rescue Karla in the boat at the Taj Hotel either. However, the Colaba Police Station looked quite evil and fitted my picture quite well.