Hyderabad’s first luxury hotel, Taj Banjara, is being demolished, marking the end of an era in the city’s hospitality history.
Located in Banjara Hills, the iconic hotel had already stopped operations in 2023. In 2025, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation reportedly sealed the property over pending property tax dues of Rs 1.43 crore accumulated over two years.
The demolition process has now begun, with workers removing doors, windows, wooden fittings and other reusable materials from the building.
Spread across 3.4 acres and overlooking Banjara Lake, Taj Banjara was one of Hyderabad’s earliest luxury landmarks.
The property was initially managed by the ITC Group until 1986. Taj GVK Hotels later took over operations and managed the hotel for nearly four decades. It eventually closed in 2023 after the lease expired.
Actress Genelia D’Souza expressed her sadness over the demolition, revealing that the hotel held several personal memories for her.
Sharing a newspaper clipping on social media, she wrote, “End of an era for Hyderabad! The iconic Taj Banjara is officially coming down. My home for many, many years.”
Her emotional post highlighted the special bond she shared with the property and why the demolition left her heartbroken.
On the work front, Genelia was recently seen in Raja Shivaji, co-written and directed by her husband, Riteish Deshmukh.