The Inspiring Story Of How The Taj Mahal Hotel Rose Out Of The Ashes
There's a reason why India's most iconic hotel is also a symbol of resilience. Read to know more..
Deepika Joshi
When the Taj reopened the damaged wing, the restoration had cost Rs 1.8 billion. There is no confirmed figure for the entire cost of the restoration
It took 21 months to bring the hotel to its former glory
Five specialists worked to restore close to 300 pieces of art for 10 months in the Crystal Ballroom, the place that had served as a refuge area during the attack.
The hotel was thrown open to the public under a month after the attack.
The eminent sitar player who taught the Beatle George Harrison to play the instrument here has a refurbished suite named after him. As a gesture of thanks, the maestro is believed to have donated one of his sitars for the suite.
On November 6, 2010, the American president stayed here and in a speech from the terrace of the hotel declared the Taj to be ‘a symbol of the strength and the resilience of the Indian people’.
It took close to two years before the hotel reopened in its entirety, on August 15, 2010, India’s Independence Day. On this day, it also formally changed its name from The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower to Taj Mahal Palace.