As one of the world’s most opulent hotels, Taj Hotel history is unsurpassed. Indian Hotels Firm, South Asia’s largest hotel company, offers these chains. Taj Hotels’ excellence and hospitality were recently recognized by Brand Finance, the world’s top brand valuation advisory firm. A study by the World Economic Forum named Taj Hotels as the world’s strongest hotel brand.
According to sources, Tata opened the Taj Hotel for a variety of reasons. But most of us, however, were unaware of the true purpose behind the establishment of India’s most famous hotel. In this article, we are going to share some interesting facts about the Taj hotels so that you can learn about these wonderful Indian hotels and their inspiration so that you can get to know the intriguing Story of the Taj Hotel.
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Jamsetji Tata’s revenge story, which led to the creation of India’s most luxurious hotel
According to sources, Jamshedji Tata was inspired to create this hotel when he was denied entry to Watson’s Hotel, one of the most prestigious hotels in British history by displaying a forbidding entry sign for dogs and Indians at the entrance, and its access was restricted to whites only.
Jamsetji Tata regarded this act of racial discrimination as an insult to all Indians as a whole and decided to establish India’s first super-luxury hotel that would be available to Indians and where Indians could enjoy themselves without being insulted. This is the Taj Hotel’s iconic tale.
Taj Hotel has been a tourist attraction and a global icon since its creation. It is one of the most prominent tourist attractions for people around the globe.
The Taj Hotel’s foundation
Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace is known as the Diamond by the Sea because it is the most prominent architectural creation not only in Mumbai but also in the whole of India. Jamshetji Tata laid the foundation stone for the Taj Hotel in 1898.
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The first guest arrived at the hotel on December 16, 1903. It means Taj Hotel is way older than the Gateway of India because the foundation for the Gateway of India was laid on March 31, 1911.
Taj Hotel is located in Colaba, adjacent to the Gateway of India, and offers a variety of activities for children and adults alike. It used to be the first thing that passengers arriving from ships in Bombay would see when they approached the harbor which reminds them that India is not what as seen in movies.
Both the Taj Mahal Palace and the Taj Mahal Tower are part of Taj hotels. Because of their unique architectural style and history, they cannot be compared.
Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the Taj Mahal Palace opened in 1973, while the Tower debuted in 1974. The Taj Mahal Palace was the first building in Bombay to be illuminated by electricity, and it was completed in 1897.
Taj Hotel’s history
It is mentioned on their website that more than £300,000 was spent by Jamsetji Tata on establishing the Taj Mahal hotel. It was a massive sum of money at that time. Despite being warned by his sons, business associates, and friends to not go ahead with the project as it may incur a great loss, Jamsetji was adamant. He said “Perhaps it will,” “but that makes no difference”. He wanted to offer Indians a great hotel that would serve them the best.
Famous people have stayed at the hotel in the past, including presidents, industrial leaders, and showbiz stars. Somerset Maugham, Duke Ellington, Lord Mountbatten, and Bill Clinton are just a few of the famous people who have stayed there.
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Ratanbai Petit, the second wife of Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, stayed at the hotel during her last days in 1929. Ratanbai Petit’s sister-in-law was Sylla Tata, who was born into the Tata dynasty. The Tata Group’s longest-serving chairman, J.R.D. Tata was her brother.
As a military hospital during World War I, the hotel housed 600 patients. Since the period of the British Raj, it has been regarded as one of the best hotels in the East.
Lesser-Known Facts about Hotel Taj Mahal Palace
- The Taj had a lot of firsts in the history of hotels in India. You must not be aware that it was the first building in Bombay to be electrified. It had the first soda maker, an ice-making machine, the first generator, the first lift, and the first mechanised laundry.
- It was the first hotel to have telephones in every room, and the first polishing machine. All in all, the best hotel where any Indian could walk in with confidence and be treated with respect.
- For the royal princes to meet and discuss on becoming a part of the new India, they even have a ‘princes’ room’. It is one of the unknown Taj Hotel facts.
- The foundation of the Taj Mahal which was laid in 1898, is 40 feet in depth. It cost more than Rs 4 crores to build the hotel.
- One of the most shocking and interesting Taj Hotel facts is that a suite of rooms, including a full board, cost a princely sum of Rs. 30, which was a big deal at that time. In today’s market, it’s unimaginable.
- Before the Gateway of India was built, the Taj hotel was the first sight for ships calling at the Bombay port.
- Jamshedji Tata ordered 10 pillars of spun iron to be shipped home from Paris for his new hotel. Today the indestructible pillars continue to hold up the hotel’s renowned ballroom.
- Taj was the only hotel in the world where Congressmen debated with defenders of the British Empire.
- The Taj had the Harbour Bar (bar licence No 1) which was Mumbai’s first-ever licensed bar. Taj is India’s first all-day dining restaurant, and first international discotheque.
- Did you know? Independent India’s first speech to the industry was made at the Taj hotel in 1947. This definitely secures a place on this list of Taj Mahal Hotel facts.
- When the Taj was rejuvenated in its centenary year, 2003 it got a new name — The Taj Mahal Palace and Towers — new restaurants.
Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008 targeted The Taj Palace
Unfortunately, the hotel was one of the major targets of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, which left 166 people dead. At that time American President, Barak Obama became the first foreign head of state who stayed at the Taj Mahal Palace, on November 6, 2010, after the 2008 terrorist attacks. Speaking on the hotel’s rooftop, Obama stated that
“The Taj has been the symbol of the strength and the resilience of the Indian people.“
With his statement, he gives a clear message to those who attacked Mumbai that those who wanted to demoralize the city and India have failed because the people of Mumbai were now back to work and living without fear.
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Taj Hotels are recognized as the World’s Strongest Hotel
Despite the devastation caused by the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, Taj continues to rebuild itself. Brand Finance’s Global Brand Equity Monitor shows that India’s Taj luxury hotel chain is well-known and well-respected in the country.
A token of gift to the city Jamsetji Tata loved
Many media reports suggest that Jamsetji Tata established the hotel because one of his friends voiced displeasure with the hotels in Bombay at the time. He had no ambition to run a hotel, but he did want to bring tourists to India and enhance Bombay’s infrastructure. His commitment to his beloved city also inflicts his commitment to developing the Indian economy.
It was both economically and socially innovative for Jamsetji Tata to envision a huge luxury hotel in India where Europeans and Asians could meet and talk business on an equal footing.
Below are some of the breathtaking photos of the iconic Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai
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Have you ever visited the Tal Palace in Mumbai? The grandeur of the hotel is evident by the looks of it.
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