The Taj Mahal Palace opened in 1903 on Apollo Bunder in Colaba, facing the Gateway of India and the Arabian Sea, and it remains the grand old hotel of Mumbai. The building mixes Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles, with vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, silk carpets and a large art collection. Its harbour side is lined with guest rooms rather than a formal entrance, so many rooms look straight out over the water. There are 243 rooms and 42 suites, refurbished with period furniture and original artworks, and suite guests have a butler on call. The hotel has long been a pioneer of dining in India. Wasabi by Morimoto serves contemporary Japanese, Golden Dragon has cooked Sichuan and Cantonese food for more than 50 years, Loya focuses on the cooking of northern India, and the Harbour Bar was the city's first licensed bar. Shamiana runs around the clock. Add the J Wellness Circle spa, an outdoor pool in the courtyard and a Taj Club lounge, and it is easy to spend a full day without leaving.
- Nearest airport
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), 11 Miles / 17 Kilometres
- Rooms
- 285 rooms and suites
Insider tip Hire a driver for a day in the city, and include Mani Bhavan, the house where Gandhi lived.
Why I choose it We choose the Taj Mahal Palace because it is Mumbai's history in a single building, with harbour views, deep service and a dining scene of its own.