Iconic Taj Hotel Reopens
Taj Palace Hotel Mumbai
Taj Hotel Mumbai Reopens
Mumbai’s Iconic Taj Hotel Reopens 22 Months After Terror Attack
India’s 64th Independence Day marked the reopening of the 107-year-old Taj Hotel in Mumbai, 22 months after it was stormed by terrorists. It stands fully renovated to welcome its guests leaving behind the extensive damage caused during the 60-hour-long fighting between the security forces and terrorists. The hotel is categorized as a heritage hotel by the Indian Government and is one of the iconic architectural attractions in Mumbai.
The newly renovated Heritage Wing, Ball Room, Palace Wing, presidential suite, lobbies, and restaurants look as exquisite as they were before the terror attack. The Moorish, Oriental, and Florentine architectural designs decorate the hotel’s domed alabaster ceilings, marble floors, and elegant archways. The grand hotel is a perfect example of modern and contemporary Indian art and houses masterpieces by many popular Indian artists. The Palace Wing of the hotel, whose dome suffered heavily from grenade attack on 26 November 2008, is a masterpiece of Indo-Saracenic architecture. Luxurious suites have been completely refurbished, whereas invaluable antique chests and Belgian chandeliers, decorating the hotel interiors, retain their earlier splendor.
The Heritage Wing, comprising 285 en-suite rooms, suffered the worst in the attack. Since the attack, restoration experts, architects, and interior designers from world over had been working to rebuild the grandest Indian hotel.
The reopening of the Taj Hotel saw a mixed response from the management and hotel staff, who were happy at the reopening and sad for the losses suffered in the attack. Now modern security systems guard the sea-facing hotel to protect the guests and staff from any untoward incident.