MUMBAI'S TAJ MAHAL HOTEL TO REOPEN

HOLDING COLOURFUL BALLOONS AND FLOWERS, EMPLOYEES PLEDGED ON THURSDAY TO RE-DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO MUMBAI'S TAJ MAHAL HOTEL WHEN IT REOPENS AFTER THE 2008 MILITANT ATTACKS IN WHICH GUESTS AND STAFF MEMBERS DIED. THE HOTEL, WHICH SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE FROM A SIEGE LAID BY FOUR HEAVILY ARMED GUNMEN, WAS ONE OF SEVERAL MUMBAI LANDMARKS ATTACKED BY PAKISTAN-BASED MILITANTS. THE NOVEMBER STRIKES, WHICH LASTED OVER 60 HOURS, KILLED 166 PEOPLE. STANDING ON THE GRAND CANTILEVER STAIRWAY, STAFF MEMBERS CHEERED AND TOSSED ROSE PETALS IN THE AIR AFTER CHAIRMAN RATAN TATA GARLANDED A BUST OF THE FOUNDER OF THE TATA GROUP, INDIA'S OLDEST CONGLOMERATE, WHICH ALSO OWNS THE LUXURY TAJ HOTELS. 'THIS FLAGSHIP PROPERTY, THIS VENERABLE OLD LADY, IS GOING TO REOPEN IN THE SAME GLORY, THE SAME SPLENDOR OF MORE THAN 100 YEARS', TATA SAID, HIS VOICE CRACKING, AHEAD OF THE HOTEL'S SCHEDULED REOPENING ON SUNDAY. TATA HAD VOWED TO 'REBUILD EVERY INCH' OF THE ICONIC HOTEL, FOUNDED IN 1903, AND WHICH HAS PLAYED HOST TO MAHARAJAHS, HEADS OF STATE, CHIEF EXECUTIVES, MOVIE STARS AND ENTERTAINERS ALIKE. ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS AND RESTORATION EXPERTS FROM INDIA AND AROUND THE WORLD SPENT MORE THAN 21 MONTHS ASSESSING THE DAMAGE, THEN RESTORING THE HOTEL, SAID RAYMOND BICKSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF TAJ HOTELS. THE HOTEL, WHICH COMBINES ORIENTAL, FLORENTINE AND MOORISH ARCHITECTURAL STYLES IN ITS VAULTED ALABASTER CEILINGS, GRACEFUL ARCHWAYS AND MARBLE FLOORS, HOUSES FINE EXAMPLES OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ART, AND NOW, MODERN SECURITY SYSTEMS, TOO. THE PALACE WING, BUILT ON RECLAIMED LAND OVERLOOKING THE ARABIAN SEA, IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF INDO-SARCENIC ARCHITECTURE, WITH CUPOLAS AND A DOMINANT DOME, WHICH DURING THE 60 HOUR SIEGE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND THICK SMOKE FROM GRENADES. THE COMPANY SPENT SOME $38 MILLION ON REPAIRS AND RESTORATION, BICKSON SAID. WHILE THE TAJ HAS RETAINED ITS PRICELESS BELGIAN CHANDELIERS, ANTIQUE CHESTS AND SACRED ICONS, IT HAS COMPLETELY REFURBISHED ITS LUXURIOUS SUITES, INCLUDING THE RAVI SHANKAR SUITE, WHERE SHANKAR TAUGHT BEATLE GEORGE HARRISON TO PLAY THE SITAR.