BBC airs new Hotel India Documentary

A new BBC documentary called Hotel India will uncover the secrets of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The series will be in four parts and will follow the staff and guests over the course of 6 months.

Taj Mahal Hotel

Hotel India will seek to uncover the secrets of the most iconic hotel in India.

The famous Indian building, the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, is to be the subject of a new BBC documentary series entitled Hotel India, which will uncover the secrets and the history of the most iconic hotel in India.

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is not only the most widely recognised hotel in India, but is also one of the oldest in the country.

The name Taj Mahal is derived from the Persian and Arabic language meaning ‘Crown of Palaces’ and the building certainly lives up to this.

Located near the gateway of India, in the Colaba area of Mumbai in the Maharashtra region, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel consists of a massive 560 rooms and 44 suites.

Hotel Suite

Since the hotel opened in 1903, it has hosted numerous famous guests such as celebrities, royalty and heads of state, as well as Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities.

These include The Queen, John Lennon of the Beatles, and Liz Hurley, who held a two-week long wedding at the hotel.

The Taj Mahal Palace’s rooms can cost up to £9000 so it’s no wonder that it has become a favourite only for the elite.

A central attraction of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel has always been its incredible architecture.

The palace was commissioned by Jamshetji Nusswerwanji Tata, who was the founder of the Tata Group of hotels. He specified that it should be in the Indo-Saracenic style, which was very much in vogue during this century.

In 2014 the hotel will celebrate its 110th anniversary, and its imposing turrets and famous luxury have become a big part of Mumbai’s history and culture.

The BBC documentary will follow the busy 1500 staff of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel as they uphold their mantra ‘Guest is God’.

Journalists spent 6 months at the hotel filming Hotel India, and interviewed people such as the General Manager Gaurav, and also a guest called Maria Mooers who in fact lives in the hotel for 6 months of every year.

Hotel Grounds

There is also coverage of some of the most exclusive and expensive events happening in the Taj Mahal Palace.

These include an oil trader tycoon hosting a cocktail party, and some of the receptions and weddings that take place there throughout the year.

Though the Taj Mahal is famous for its amazing luxury and celebrity clients, the extravagance of the hotel’s guests is contrasted by the BBC’s visits to the homes of the hotel workers.

Here, there is a glimpse into the daily life of people who live in India’s capital city, and who often live very close to the Taj Mahal Palace itself.

In this area of the documentary, the stark difference between the rich and famous who come to Mumbai’s most famous hotel, and those who live in the surrounding area really becomes apparent.

As well as capturing the glitz and glamour of one of the world’s most famous icons, the BBC’s documentary will also aim to show the vibrancy and diversity of Mumbai, and the family culture that remains strong in the constantly developing city.

Hotel India will be a 4-part series and the first episode will be aired on Wednesday 27th August at 8pm on BBC 2.

Eleanor is an English undergraduate, who enjoys reading, writing and anything media related. Aside from journalism, she is also passionate about music and believes in the motto: “When you love what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life.”




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