Wadi Rum: Kate-William honeymoon getaway

The moment I read that the newly married Prince William and Kate were considering Wadi Rum, Jordan as a possible honeymoon destination, it reminded me of the dramatic and luxurious Desert Lodge carved out of deep sandstone clefts there.

Desert Lodge at Wadi Rum, Jordan

   While designing the structure,Florida-based Oppenheim Architecture+Design retained the natural fissures of the land to create a synthesis between the plush interiors and the raw elements of the nature.

Luxury redefined

On top of the world

    With floor-to-ceiling tinted glass walls, the guests can soak in the undiluted view of the nature but be untouched by the heat and glare. The accommodation for the guests include a rock lodge, spa lodge, tent lodge, hamams and reserve villa.

Plush interior

Enjoying the view from the other side

The Hamam

The outdoor pool in the midst of nowhere

The tents to recreate the Arabian Nights

   The Duke and Duchess are expected to take in some of Jordan's most famous sites, including the ancient city of Petra and the Wadi Rum desert valley. Jordan would also have great nostalgic appeal for Kate as her family spent two years there when she was a child. The 'rose-red city half as old as time’ was carved out of a deep sandstone cleft in the desert 26 centuries ago by the Nabateans, an Aramaic people. 

   Spread over seven miles it is Jordan’s star attraction, approached through a half mile-long entrance gully, and renowned for its amazingly preserved tombs. They are also expected to take part in a riding excursions to Wadi Rum, where it is thought they will stay in a luxury tented camp.

Via: Designboom, The Telegraph

Aga Khan Palace

During our recent trip to Pune in Maharshtra, we visited the Aga Khan Palace, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi's National Memorial, where he was kept under house arrest in 1940s. 



Aga Khan Palace in Pune

Situated about 2 kms away from Bund Garden in Yerwada on Pune-Nagar Road, the Palace looks magnificient with its Italian arches and spacious lawns. Sultan Mohammad Shah Aga Khan built this Palace in 1892 to provide employment to the famine affected people of Maharashtra. It took 5 years and Rs 12 lakhs to build this Palace.

During Gandhi's house arrest, his wife Kasturba and his long-time aide Mahadev Desai died in the palace and their memorials were built by noted architect Charles Correa.

A museum inside the palace complex has a rich collection of pictures and photographs depicting the important events of his life. A wide assortment of his personal items, including utensils, clothes, mala, chappals (slippers), a letter written by Gandhi on the death of his secretary, are on display here. A small amount of Gandhi's ashes are kept here as well.

Richard Attenborough used the palace as one of the filming locations for his biopic of the Father of the Nation, Gandhi.