Hyderabad’s first luxury hotel, Taj Banjara, situated in Banjara Hills, is being demolished. This marks the end of a grand era for the city’s hospitality landscape.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) sealed the hotel in 2025 due to pending property tax dues amounting to Rs 1.43 crore over two years. However, the hotel had already ceased operations in 2023. The demolition process has officially commenced, with workers currently removing doors, windows, wooden fittings, and other reusable materials.
Spread over 3.4 acres overlooking the Banjara Lake, Taj Banjara was among Hyderabad’s earliest luxury landmarks. The property was initially managed by the ITC Group until 1986, after which operations were taken over by Taj GVK Hotels, which ran the property for nearly four decades. The hotel ultimately closed its doors in 2023 following the expiration of its lease.
Actress Genelia D’Souza expressed her heartbreak over the news of the demolition. Sharing a newspaper clipping on her social media, she wrote, “End of an era for Hyderabad! The Iconic Taj Banjara is officially coming down. My home for many, many years.”
Genelia was recently seen in Raja Shivaji, a film co-written and directed by her husband, Riteish Deshmukh.
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