Tata's Palace: The Taj Hotel

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Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

Another noticeable feature of the map is its hand-drawn images of tourist attractions along the borders of the map. For example, one important attraction highlighted on the map is the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, one of Mumbai’s premiere luxury hotels. Similar to the city’s transportation network, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel represents Mumbai’s rapid development as a global city.

Zoomed In Map Crops:

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Jamsetji Tata

The inspiration behind the Taj Mahal Palace came from Jamsetji Tata, a wealthy Parsee who gained his fortune through the cotton trade. When Tata decided to have lunch one afternoon at the Watson Hotel (a luxury hotel in Mumbai), he was denied entrance because he was not European. As a result, Tata “conceived the idea of building a hotel worthy of the city, which would attract Europeans, Indians and people of all races” (1).

In 1898, Tata hired W.A. Chambers (who designed the Watson hotel) to design and construct the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Envisioning a luxury hotel that represented Mumbai’s presence in the global economy, Chambers created a design that blended classical Indian architecture with European Gothic and Romanesque architecture. The six story building was constructed with a massive courtyard, a central Romanesque dome, and ornamental Gothic pillars. When the hotel opened in 1903, it was praised by critics around the world for its decadence: “the hotel is a study in luxury with its vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, archways, hand-woven silk carpets, Belgian crystal chandeliers, cantilever stairway and collections of art and furniture" (2).

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Obama in front of Taj Hotel

Through both its interior and exterior design, the hotel embodies Mumbai’s role as a global city. “It used American fans, German elevators, Turkish baths, and English butlers to give the people of its city an experience like no other hotel in the country” (3). Nowadays, the hotel regularly attracts diplomats and global leaders from around the world. In fact, in November 2010, President Obama stayed at the hotel during a state visit to India (4). Ultimately, through representing the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the map represents Mumbai’s economic and cultural integration as a global city.

1) Shah, Jatin. "History of Taj Mahal Palace Hotel & Tower, Mumbai." The Creativity Engine. N.p., 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 22 Nov. 2016.

2) Saha, Sambit. "A Symbol of India’'s Opulence and Boom." The Telegraph. N.p., 27 Nov. 2008. Web. 22 Nov. 2016.

3) Trivedi, Vidushi. "The History Of Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace Hotel." The Culture Trip. N.p., 9 Nov. 2016. Web. 22 Nov. 2016.

4) "Taj Mahal Hotel Booked for Obama Mumbai Visit." Fox News. N.p., 24 Oct. 2010. Web. 22 Nov. 2016.