The Tree of Life revives the Taj
MUMBAI – The valuable collection of art and antiques inside the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower survived last month’s attack on the hotel by terrorists.
Reuters reports that more than 90 percent of the hotel’s eclectic collection, which was carefully gathered over a century, was unscathed. The remainder will be repaired.
The collection comprises more than 2,500 paintings, antiques and artifacts.
Even as the terrorists indiscriminately sprayed bullets in the marble lobby of the grand hotel, the precious red mural by M F Hussain that was tucked behind the front desk, escaped without a single bullet hole.
But the most emotional escape is that of the ‘Tree of Life’, a six-foot-tall metal Bastar tribal sculpture made of brass, bronze and alloy casting.
It is an integral part of the hotel’s art collection, and originally stood on the fifth floor in the grand staircase area, under the dome.
A little more than a fortnight ago, it stood in the lobby near the all-familiar red and beige dome that went up in flames a few hours after the terrorists barged in.
The entire area was gutted, walls were charred, ceilings were dented, and furniture reduced to ashes, but this piece of art was left unscathed.
“It was fully covered in soot when we discovered it, as soon as we were allowed to enter the hotel. That’s when we found our memento, which symbolises the spirit of the Taj and the rest of Mumbai,” said a hotel spokesman.
On Sunday, when the Taj reopened to guests, it was displayed near the waterfall in the main lobby, and thousands of distinguished guests paid homage to it.
The ‘Tree of Life’ stood between two other brass plates, one inscribed with the names of those who had laid down their lives in the terror attack, and another inscribed with a tribute them.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive