One Year to the Day

Three Taj landmarks—Wasabi by Morimoto, Golden Dragon and Harbour Bar—will be reborn on the first anniversary of 26/11.

How do you commemorate a day like 26 November 2008? It’s a question that the two five-star hotels at the centre of the terrorist attacks have thought about for some time now. And it seems at least one has found an answer: Open has learned that the Taj Mahal hotel plans to reopen three eateries that were destroyed in the hotel’s heritage wing on 26 November. “We’ve been working towards this all year. It’s not a day you celebrate, but we wanted to finish the renovations in time,” says a source. Work has been on in full swing since last year, when the Tata Group vowed it would rebuild and restore every inch of their hotel to its former glory.

The Taj Mahal and The Oberoi hotels lost over 20 staff members and numerous patrons in the attacks. Plus, the fires and grenade attacks destroyed some of Mumbai’s best restaurants, including three Taj legends: Wasabi by Morimoto, the Japanese restaurant that overlooked the Gateway of India; Golden Dragon, said to be the first spot in India to serve Szechuan cuisine; and Harbour Bar, the ground floor nautical-themed watering hole that was Mumbai’s oldest licenced bar. The Japanese restaurant was relocated to the hotel’s rooftop where it reopened on New Year’s Eve. From all indications, all three will now be reborn with entirely new interiors.

The other floors of the heritage wing that were destroyed last year will certainly not be ready in time for the one-year anniversary. The Oberoi, which is being entirely renovated, will only be ready for occupation some time in the first quarter of next year.

The managements of both hotels have maintained a determined silence about their plans for the one-year anniversary. There have also been worries that the work may not finish in time. Asked to comment on our report, Parinita Gawri, director of public relations for the Taj properties in Mumbai, says, “In fact we have not decided on the date but it will be at the end of November.”

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Manju Sara Rajan