Tata was personally involved in the construction of the hotel which before the Gateway of India was built, offered the first view of the city to ships sailing into the harbour.
It is said that he himself went to order the electrical equipment from Dusseldorf and chandeliers from Berlin. The hotel also had an in-house soda bottling plant, an electric laundry, fans from the USA and the first spun-steel pillars from the Paris Exhibition, which even after hundred years later, hold the ceiling of the Banquet Hall.
The grandeur of the Taj had attracted many from across the globe to even world leaders and most of names of the rooms has an history attached to them.
Initially, the maharajas become its great patrons. The Chamber of Princes was to meet there regularly every January hence the Princes Room at the southern end of the Taj. The business maharajas were to follow next.
The distinguished list of guests that the hotel boasts of includes rock star Mick Jagger, former French President Jacques Chirac, Britain's Prince Charles, The Beatles, former US President Bill Clinton and the rock and roll star Elvis Presley among others.
Also read: The Taj Mahal completes 100 years
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