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MUMBAI: Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel, which erupted in flames early Thursday after heavily armed men stormed the building, taking guests hostage, is a symbol of national pride for Indians.
The impressive red-domed structure sits opposite the landmark Gateway of India monument on the edge of the Arabian Sea through which the last colonial British troops departed after independence in 1947.
But while the 105-year-old Taj saw off the last of the foreign occupiers, its construction also struck a blow in the fight for self-determination.
Legend has it that its creator, a Parsi industrialist called Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, commissioned the building after being refused entry to the now-defunct Apollo Hotel, which had a strict Europeans-only policy.
Completed in 1903, it quickly became the city's best hotel and has arguably retained that accolade to the present day, as well as an iconic place in Mumbaikers' hearts as a symbol of cosmopolitan sophistication.
Luxury shops are located in the old part of the hotel while the rooftop cafe and restaurant in the more modern Tower wing, dating from the 1970s, is a popular place to take tea, with superb views high above the island city.
Notable guests over the years have included Queen Elizabeth II, former Egyptian president Gamal Abdul Nasser and legendary Beatle John Lennon.
The hotel has 565 rooms, including 46 suites, and is decorated in Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles. A double room costs between 365 and 425 dollars per night.
- AFP/yt
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