On 26 November 2008, in a series of terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the hotel (as well as the Oberoi) was attacked, during which material damage occurred including the destruction of the roof of the hotel in the hours afterwards.[4] Hostages were taken during the attacks. At least 167 people were killed, including many foreigners. The casualties were mostly Indian citizens, although westerners carrying foreign passports were singled out. Indian commandos killed the gunmen barricaded in the hotel to end the three-day battle.
The attacks began 26 November 2008 and continued for a little over 60 hours. Approximately 450 people were staying in the Taj Mahal Palace and Hotel at the time of the seizure, and another 380 in the Oberoi.[5] The Hotel Management has announced that the hotel will be rebuilt.[6] It will take around 12 months and
500 crore (US$111 million) to repair it.The less damaged sections of the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel reopened on 21 December 2008. It took several months to rebuild the popular heritage section of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. [7]
In July 2009, Hillary Clinton visited Mumbai, aiming to deepen Indo-American ties and stayed at the Taj hotel. She attended a commemoration event. “I wanted to send a message that I personally and our country is in sympathy and solidarity with the employees and the guests of the Taj who lost their lives … with the people of Mumbai,” Clinton said in an interview with India’s Times Now.[8]
On 15 August 2010, the Taj Mahal Palace, was reopened after restoration, The cost of the restoration of the hotel so far has been 1.75 billion Rupees. The palace wing has been restored and offers new hotel services.
Terrorists attacked the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in downtown mumbai on the evening of November 26, 2008. At the same time, terrorists attacked the Oberoi Hotel, the Nariman House, home of the Orthodox Jewish group chabad lubavitch, a train station, movie theater complex, a hospital and a restaurant. Large groups of hostages were taken inside the Taj Mahal Hotel.
Fighting between commandos and the attackers continued at the Taj until the morning of November 29th, when the government officially declared the terrorist siege on the city at an end. 32 people died in the attack at Taj Mahal. A total of 170 people died in the terrorist attacks. Nine of the gunmen were killed.
The hotel re-opened on December 21, 2008 after the installation of new security, including metal detectors. Terrorists reportedly asked for British and American guests at the Oberoi and were believed to be holding hostages inside the hotel. On the day of the initial terrorist attacks in Mumbai, a fire raged inside the Taj, with the dome of the luxury hotel billowing smoke. Terrorists had reportedly throwing grenades from the roof earlier.
- About 32 people died in the attack at the hotel
- Attacks began on evening of November 26th, 2008
- Hostages were still being held at various locations on morning of November 27th
- Hotel built in 1903; considered a well-known Mumbai landmark
- One of the most venerable luxury hotels in the city
- Hotel contains collection of paintings and artifacts
- Terrorists attacked and set hotel on fire; some threw grenades from the roof
- Fighting between police and at least one attacker continued at the hotel through November 29, 2008
- Police reported on November 27 that the hostages had been freed at the Taj Mahal Hotel
- Authorities indicated on November 27th that the hotel was free of gunmen, however, a fresh fight broke out on the 28th with at least one attacker
- Hotel cleared from gunmen on November 29, 2008
- Hotel is frequented by Westerners
- Encounter with terrorists inside Hotel Oberoi
- Terrorists inside Oberoi Hotel were throwing bombs from windows
- BP Petrol pump blown up in Colaba
- Encounters with police reported at hospitals and at movie theaters in Mumbai
- Hotel re-opened on December 21, 2008 after the installation of new security, including metal detectors
- One of the gunmen from the siege at the Mumbai train station, Ajmal Amir Kamal, was captured and is being questioned
