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The luxurious soul of Mumbai

Luxury retreat for millionaires and state visitors: The Taj Mahal Palace is one of the most famous hotels in India. For weeks they feared attacks by terrorists here – but the security measures were tightened later than in other hotels.

As Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata hundred years ago in the then Bombay has been refused access to a hotel in the British colonial masters, he did not hesitate for long: The entrepreneur founded on 1 April 1902 ado his own hotel group, the Indian Hotels Company, from which later became one of today’s leading hotel chains in the subcontinent, the Taj Hotels.

Tata’s dream was to open in the capital on the Indian Ocean is a real Indian hotel, the best of the Eastern world, there should be a hostel, look at the whole of India would be proud and should bring the international recognition of his beloved city. Money played no role in the construction, which began 1898th As the site a prestigious site in the south of the city was selected, near the Gateway of India monument, located on the waterfront.

On 16 December 1903 opened the house’s doors for the first guests. Tata has invested a small fortune in the pipeline. The result was an architectural masterpiece of Florentine Renaissance, decorated with Moorish domes and equipped with all comfort, who was at the turn of the century possible: Electrical power, fans, elevators, laundry facilities, modern bathrooms and a Turkish bath and a post office were the guests.

Symbol of renewal in the modern

What is the Taj Mahal for India, should be the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, a landmark in Indian culture and history, famous and admired. The name Mahal, which means as much as large house or palace, was up to the terrorist attack of last night’s program. “The hotel embodies the spirit of Mumbai, it is a symbol of renewal in the modern age and also for any local people an icon that many have known since their childhood at family events,” says the German trade Birgit Rapp from Wiesbaden, which was often done in the Taj , most recently three weeks ago.

Presumably, the terrorists deliberately chose from for their attack, the symbolic power fails with this goal is much greater than in other hotels. Also, a strengthening of security measures several weeks ago failed to prevent the disaster. Which came comparatively late – during the spring of 2008 other hotels in Mumbai as the JW Marriott had already secured like a fortress could, guests and visitors to the Taj Mahal Palace was still unmolested travel by car just outside the main entrance and enter the lobby without further checks. In recent weeks, but this was not possible to access barriers blocked the direct road, and visitors had to pass before entering the house but two security checkpoints with metal detectors.

The great popularity of the hotel did not diminish. “The house was extremely well-booked, say industry experts,” there was continued strong growth in the usage. ” Which had been situated in the annual average has an impressive 80 percent, 70 percent of all nights it went to the account of well-heeled foreigners. The Indians only of “Taj” said hotel was traditionally considered the best and most prestigious accommodation in the country.

For around $ 500 and prices start for a night without breakfast in one of the 287 rooms in the so-called Heritage Wing, the historic palace. Already 350 to $ 370 you can stay next door opened in the 1973 architectural sin of the Tower Wing, a 23-storey concrete monstrosity with 278 guest rooms, the sight of the wall sheets and the jagged stone diadem to crown do not make the outside more bearable.

Carved teak and Italian marble

Anyone who thinks highly of himself at the Taj guests, who lives in the historic rooms, all different in size and layout, interior and still committed to the modern tradition. Of particular interest, are the stairs under the great dome and the gallery-like corridors with their ornate balustrades of carved teak and Italian marble floors. The public areas are furnished with antiques and original works of Indian artists.

According impressive is the list of those who were quartered in the atmosphere in the long history of the house. By Jacqueline Onassis to Prince Charles and David Rockefeller to Helmut Kohl rich names that adorn the guest book and have their photos exhibited in a showcase in a corridor near the lobby. Ex-Beatle George Harrison is said to have included the Taj for days in his suite to here from Ravi Shankar, the master of Indian music, to learn the sitar.

For a total of 565 rooms currently 1800 employees are standing by itself an anachronism in the Indian luxury hotel industry. “We have to at some point down on 1500, efficiency thinking is also increasingly important,” said Birgit recently with Anger. The 44-year-old from Schwäbisch-Gmünd worked for five years at the Taj Mahal in Mumbai and is currently the deputy hotel manager. This is extremely unusual, especially in India, the Taj Mahal is the only foreigner in management, six other foreigners to work as cooks.

Birgit Anger also was the increased security measures perceived. Until recently, they lived like other top employees of the house in a nearby housing complex outside, for safety reasons even before they moved into the hotel.

Masked security forces on Thursday examined successively the room, now they are in the hotel the situation under control. They can not prevent that the flames of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to the myth of the dream probably inflicted damage that can not eliminate through renovations.