Mumbai : The Taj has chosen Independence Day to reaffirm the values it stands for. On August 15, it will open its heritage wing - that was gutted during the 26/11 siege - to an expectant public.

Born as India's answer to British pride, the hotel built by Jamsetji Tata opened its doors in 1903 to 17 guests. A century later, tragic circumstances forced the Taj to shut its doors for the first time since it opened. But the staff and the management used this to their advantage and turned adversity into an opportunity to match the best hotels of the world.

After the terror strike, the hotel was opened in stages and by September this year, it will be fully functional. On Independence Day, although most of its rooms in the palace wing will accommodate guests, some of its opulent spaces - like the Tata Suite - will be unveiled in a month or so. A night's stay at the Tata Suite, formerly the Presidential Suite, complete with personalised butler service will set one back by Rs 7 lakh. There are more than 40 suites in the heritage wing of the building, with some of them being named after marine motifs, given the sea-front location.

"Each suite tells a story," says Ajoy Misra, senior vice-president, sales and marketing, Taj hotels. So you can ride on a dolphin, search for coral reefs or chase a seagull for a price ranging from Rs 85,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh.

While it may be difficult for a visitor to spot the small differences, the management has fine-tuned the hotel's interiors. For instance, the ceiling in the Taj Palace lounge has been lowered by 8 inches. Its spacious rooms are now soundproof.