The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower is a prestigious luxury hotel located in the Colaba region of Mumbai, next to the Gateway of India. Part of the Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, this hotel was built in 1903. It is an architectural marvel and brings together Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles. Offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea, the hotel is a gracious landmark of the city of Mumbai, showcasing contemporary Indian influences along with beautiful vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, graceful archways, hand-woven silk carpets, crystal chandeliers, a magnificent art collection, an eclectic collection of furniture, and a dramatic cantilever stairway.
Over the past century, The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai has amassed a diverse collection of paintings and works of art and is a veritable showcase of artifacts and art of the era. From Belgian chandeliers to Goan Christian artifacts, the hotel incorporates a myriad of artistic styles and tastes. Since it opened in 1903, the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai has created its own unique history. This iconic 105-year old heritage building retains its stature as the flagship property of the group and contains 565 rooms. From Maharajas and Princes to various Kings, Presidents, CEOs and entertainers, the Taj has played the perfect host, supportive of their every need. The hotel has hosted a long list of notable guests including Jacques Chirac, The Duke & Duchess of Kent, Joan Collins, The King & Queen of Norway, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, Bill Clinton and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and also caters to professional cricket teams on tour.
From an historical and architect- ural point of view, the Taj Mahal Palace and the Tower are two distinct buildings, built at different times and in different architectural designs.
History:- The Taj Mahal Palace hotel resort was commissioned by Jamsedji Tata and first opened its doors to guests on December 16, 1903. Jamsedji allegedly decided to build this luxurious hotel after he was not allowed to make an entry to one of Mumbai’s grand hotels of the time, Watson’s Hotel, as it was restricted to ‘whites only’. The original Indian architects were Sitaram Khanderao Vaidya and D. N. Mirza, but the project was completed by an English engineer W. A. Chambers. The cost of construction of this historic hotel was 42 crore 10 lakhs at that time. During World War I, the hotel was converted into a 600-bed hospital. The dome of the hotel is made from the same steel as used in the Eiffel Tower of Paris. Jamsedji Tata imported the same steel during that time. The hotel was the first in India to install and operate a steam elevator.
The side of the hotel seen from the harbour is actually its rear. The front faces away to the west. There is a widespread misconception that the architects’ building plans were confused by the builder so that he built it facing away from the harbour. This is not true, as the hotel was deliberately built facing inland, possibly because the horse carriages in which guests came to the hotel could more easily approach the hotel from the city. The carriages were then taken to Wellington Mews. Four decades ago, the old front was closed off, and since then, access has been made through the harbour-side entrance.
There used to be a Green’s Hotel at the Apollo Bunder, which was purchased by the Taj Mahal Hotel. It was at the Green’s Hotel, that a small group of pro-Indian Goans (largely employees of the Indian state and communists) assembled and formed the Goan Liberation Council demanding that Portugal cede Goa to India, in the 1950s. This was done at the instigation of Jawaharlal Nehru, the then PM of India, and funded by the Kamani Group of Companies. In 1973, Green’s hotel was demolished and the present Tower wing was constructed in its place.
2008 terrorist attack:- On November 26, 2008, in a series of attacks in the southern part of Mumbai, The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel was attacked as part of a terrorist attack in Mumbai, during which material damage occurred including the destruction of the roof of the hotel in the hours afterwards. Hostages were taken during the attacks. At least 172 people were killed in the attacks and 293 wounded (the numbers include casualties at The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, CST railway station, The Oberoi Hotel, Nariman House and the Cama Hospital), including many foreigners. The casualties were mostly Indian citizens, although Westerners carrying foreign passports were singled out. Indian commandos killed the gunmen barricaded in the hotel to end the three-day battle. The attacks began November 26, 2008 and continued for a little over 60 hours. Approximately 450 people were staying in the Taj Mahal Palace and Hotel at the time of the seizure.