Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Taj Mahal Hotel - Mumbai

#ashokasays Did you know 145:

Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumabi is one of the most beautiful structures in India. Built by Jemshedji Tata, is an incredible piece of architecture and a major landmark in this country. Some things you should know about this place are below:

The Company was incorporated in 1902 and it opened its first hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai, in 1903.

The original Indian architects were Sitaram Khanderao Vaidya and D. N. Mirza, and the project was completed by an English engineer, W. A. Chambers.

The builder was Khansaheb Sorabji Ruttonji Contractor who also designed and built its famous central floating staircase.

The cost of construction was £250,000 (£127 million today).

The dome of the hotel is made from steel as used in the Eiffel Tower. Jamsedji Tata imported the same steel during that time.

Taj Hotel Mumbai was the first in India to install and operate a steam elevator. The hotel imported American fans, German elevators, Turkish baths and English butlers, for the first time in India.

The Company undertook major expansion of The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai by constructing an adjacent tower block and increasing the number of rooms from 225 to 565 rooms. With the completion of its initial public offering in the early 1970s

Taj Hotel Mumbai has 565 rooms, 46 suites, and 11 restaurants. The first 24-hour coffee shop in India was opened in this hotel in 1972. India first authentic Sichuan restaurant, the Golden Dragon, was opened in this hotel. It was also the first to hire English butlers.

Taj Hotel Mumbai also opened the city€™s first licensed bar. It also opened the countrys first international discotheque Blow Up.

Taj Hotel Mumbai was converted into a six hundred-bed hospital during World War I.

Architectural Elegance :

Taj Hotel Mumbai has two wings, the original The Taj Mahal Hotel (Old Wing) and the newer Tower (Multi Storied structure).

The Taj Hotel Mumbai original building was commissioned in Ind-Saracenic style by Tata and first opened its doors to guests on 16 December 1903.

Taj Hotel Mumbai is an architectural marvel and brings together Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles.

Taj Hotel 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.

The interiors of the Tower wing were conceived by Dale Keller, a Hong Kong based Swiss designer who ensured that an Indian-ness manifested itself in the new building too with detailing like a relief panel in Udaipur style, Tanjore pillars in the Indian restaurant and the like.












No comments:

Post a Comment