Mumbai: Nearly 21 months after the palace wing of the Taj Mahal Palace was destroyed in the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, the restored heritage suites opened their doors to guests yesterday, much grander than ever.
Paying a befitting tribute to the spirit and resilience of the nation, the iconic Taj chose Independence Day to begin a new chapter in its history.
Complete with multimedia systems and an emergency escape route, the wing has now upped its luxury quotient. Occupying the sixth floor, the property is spread across 5,000-odd square feet. The palace wing will also feature a couple of new accommodation offerings in the form of duplex suites.
Butler service
Guests in the palace wing will get to experience the attentive and personalised ‘Palace Butler Service' where the butler will discreetly and efficiently guide them in the hotel.
The Palace Lounge will be a private retreat, exclusively for residents of the palace wing, for a cup of perfectly brewed tea or coffee; an evening cocktail or after hour chocolate and cognac.
High-end technology and interactive multimedia systems at the touch of a button ensure that the guest's experiences are wired for efficiency and comfort. Taj Club rooms and suites come with chauffeur-driven luxurious Jaguar transfers.
The restaurants have also been renovated, including Sea Lounge and Golden Dragon. The Taj Ballroom, the Harbour Bar and Wasabi by Morimoto are accompanied by inspired cuisine from a team of acclaimed chefs.
Another added feature to the rooms and suites are the special levers that allow guests to open the window in an emergency. Upping the security quotient, special access control elevators are installed on the premises, allowing only guests to operate them with a valid key.
Main terror target
Hundreds of people thronged its newly renovated lobbies and restaurants when it reopened.
The 107-year-old heritage wing of the Taj Mahal hotel was one of the main targets of the three-day rampage across India's financial capital by 10 men armed with assault rifles and grenades.
Its famous dome was damaged by flames and its walls and windows were shattered and pocked with gunfire. The attack left 166 people dead across the city, 31 of them at the Taj Hotel.
Raymond Bickson, the hotel's managing director, said Sunday that the damage took over 22 months to repair and cost nearly 1.75 billion rupees ($37 million).
