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TAJ MAH-ALL
About It THIS HISTORICAL HOUSE IN LA JOLLA WILL MAKE YOUR JAW DROP WRITTEN BY: MATTHEW J. BLACK PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY: CAMERON ACKER
Top-Notch • The home was once rated amongst the top 20 Airbnb’s in the world and comes with a storied past.
CASA DE LAS JOYAS La Jolla, CA
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LOCALE MAGAZINE
Native Knowledge • The home is within walking or biking distance to Windansea or even Pacific and Mission Beaches.
If you fancy travel, then you most likely enjoy being immersed in foreign cultures. Imagine a dwelling that displays beautiful art, peculiar architecture and has a host of stories tied to its history. Add in comforts fit for a king and a surrounding area rich with delicious food and activities, and you got the Taj Mahal... in San Diego. “Taj Mahal” is a fitting nickname for the five-bedroom house. Its real name, Casa de las Joyas, or House of Jewels, was named by its architect, Herbert Palmer. An aristocrat with roots to the British Crown, Palmer arrived in Maryland to work as an engineer, eventually changing paths to architecture and moving to California. He borrowed from both Spanish Colonial and Mughal-style architecture to create the unique home. Located outside of the Taj Mahal is a stunning, tiled lap pool with a beautiful view. Dwellers can watch the sun dip below
the horizon on the deck, at the firepit or even within the towering domes. The interior is decorated with scripture and philosophical words to live by such as, “The eye that sees delightful imagery illumes the mind to deeper mystery.” This couldn’t be truer when applied to Taj Mahal owner Bibi Kasrai, who keeps the 1927 home in excellent condition. “The house was in ruins when I got it with enough fungus to feed a lab,” Kasrai said. Years later, Kasrai has restored her “work of love” back to its original form. In 2014, she registered on Airbnb, opening up the Taj Mahal to explorers of the world. An avid wanderer herself, Kasrai connects with people of many cultures by speaking eight languages and through her wonderful cooking. Although it is no longer listed on Airbnb, it is still worth driving by to experience its glory. The House of Jewels is truly an adventurer’s dream.