Land On Which Mukesh Ambani's 15000 Crore Antilia Stands Previously Belonged To....

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Before Mukesh Ambani's lavish mansion, Antilia, Altamount Road in Mumbai, the land had a different story. The site was previously home to the Currimbhoy Ebrahim Khoja Yateemkhana, an orphanage managed by a charity under the Waqf Board.

Established in 1895 by Currimbhoy Ebrahim, a wealthy ship owner, it served underprivileged Khoja children for over a century.

In 2002, the trust managing the orphanage sought permission to sell the land. After three months, the charity commissioner approved the sale.

According to The New Indian Express, the land, valued at around $30 million then, was sold to Mukesh Ambani's Antilia Commercial Private Limited for just $2.5 million. This significant undervaluation sparked controversy and raised questions about the fairness of the transaction.

Antilia: A Symbol of Wealth

Designed by American architectural firm Perkins and Will, Antilia features 27 floors and spans 1.120 acres. It boasts luxurious amenities like a gym, spa, theatre, terrace garden, swimming pool, temple, healthcare facilities, and parking for 168 cars. Notably, Antilia can withstand an earthquake of up to 8 on the Richter scale.

The construction of Antilia began in 2006 and was completed in 2010 after receiving approval from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 2003. In November 2010, the Ambani family hosted a Griha Pravesh ceremony in Antilia but did not move in immediately due to concerns over 'bad luck.'

In June 2011, about 50 priests performed rituals to eliminate Vaastu Dosh (architectural faults), and the Ambani family finally took residence in September 2011.

World's Most Expensive House

The transformation from Currimbhoy Ebrahim Khoja Yateemkhana to Antilia marks a significant shift in its legacy. What was once a charitable site now stands as a symbol of immense wealth and architectural prowess. This change reflects a new chapter in Mumbai's urban landscape.

Declared the world's most expensive house in 2014, Antilia cost approximately $2 billion to build and is valued at $4.6 billion today. It employs a staff of 600 with salaries reportedly in lakhs.

The interior design incorporates motifs of lotus and sun shapes with each floor featuring a unique layout. While the building includes three helipads, they remain non-operational due to regulatory issues.

The towering structure named after a mythical island in Spain replaced a historic institution with a rich history. The site where Antilia now stands was once home to an orphanage that served educational needs for over a century before being sold under controversial circumstances.