In pictures: Mumbai hotels re-open

The two luxury hotels targeted in last month's attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai have partially re-opened for business.

Although sections of the hotels remain badly damaged by the explosions and fire that engulfed them, both the Taj Mahal Palace and Trident Oberoi have been repaired sufficiently to receive guests.

The manager of the Trident, Rattan Keswani, said his restaurants and lounges were completely full of people when it opened, demonstrating no reluctance to return to the hotel.

And later, just a few streets away at the Taj, the assembled staff were greeted by returning guests with an emotional standing ovation.

At a re-launch party attended by a thousand people inside the Taj, the hotel’s owner, Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata, insisted that “we can be hurt, but we will never fall”.

Correspondents say heavy security was in place outside both of the hotels, and the memories of horrific events still linger.

All traces of the attacks have been carefully obliterated, with windows replaced and bullet holes removed from the walls.

More than 170 people died when a militant group allegedly linked to Pakistan launched multiple assaults on prominent buildings in the city.

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