Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 400001
Designed like a palace in the Indo-Saracenic style, the elegant 5-star Taj Mahal Palace hotel was built in 1903. Once synonymous with Mumbai’s most glamorous people and representing the ultimate in the city’s heritage accommodations, the site was hit during the terrorist attacks that ravaged the city in late 2008. But since then, the hotel has risen again as a premier property.
The basics
Former guests of the Taj Mahal Palace include Mick Jagger, Bill Clinton, Joan Collins, and the Obamas. But if your budget doesn’t stretch to the hotel’s seriously swanky suites, drop in for coffee at La Patisserie or dinner at one of the luxury hotel’s fine-dining restaurants. Sip cocktails as you take in views of the Gateway of India from the lobby, or go for the more traditional atmosphere of the Harbour Bar, with its art deco furnishings.
Even if you simply pass by the Taj Mahal Palace during a city tour, the exterior of this grand hotel is a sight to see. The building has a central dome, corner turrets, several stories of arches, an arcaded ground floor, and an adjacent Tower wing overlooking the harbor, a modernist creation built in the 1970s.
Things to know before you go
A memorial for the victims of the 2008 terrorist attacks is in the hotel lobby.
A guided heritage walk, which is only available to hotel guests, explores the history of the hotel and the grounds.
Arrive early at the Sea Lounge for breakfast to catch views of the sunrise by the Gateway of India.
How to get there
The Taj Mahal Palace hotel is in Colaba, beside the Gateway of India monument in the south of the city. It's within walking distance of the Colaba Causeway, a popular tourist spot thanks to its roadside shops. The hotel is about a 1-hour drive from the airport. Ride-sharing services such as Uber and Ola are dependable ways to get around the city.
When to get there
In terms of weather, the winter months (from November to February) are the most pleasant, while Christmastime in Mumbai is especially festive, making it a good time to visit. Monsoon season takes place from June to October. Although there is continuous rainfall during this time, the city, including public transportation, does not stop.
Visit the Gateway of India
Located next to the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, the Gateway of India is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Designed in the Indo-Saracenic style, similar to the hotel, the monument features three prominent arches and attracts architecture and history enthusiasts alike, as well as visitors seeking pictures during sunset.
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