Review of The Taj Mahal Hotel, by JB Cooper

The Taj Hotel group is synonymous with luxury accommodation the world over. The Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi is one of the glittering jewels in its studded crown. This Mughal-inspired masterpiece (think overhead domes, latticed décor, historical ornaments and all-round lavish comfort) set in the midst of Luyten's Delhi is a haven for businessmen, politicos, and all those who look for glitz and grandeur while vacationing. Whichever category you belong to, the ultra-luxurious Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi can't fail to impress.

Wifi; business centre; in-room fax; baby sitting; complementary daily papers; 24 hour reception and concierge - the Taj Mahal Hotel ticks every box on the What Big 5-Star Hotels Should Offer list. What's worth getting more excited about is the hotel's food and drink repertoire. In the space of its grounds, the Taj Mahal Hotel collects five of Delhi's most prestigious fine dining joints.

There's Varq, where traditional North Indian cuisine is given a lovingly gourmet twist; Wasabi, Delhi's premier Sushi vendor (check out the Saki bar); and The House of Ming, a Chinese restaurant that's so popular among elite Delhiites and jetsetters that frequent visitors get their name engraved on their own personal chopsticks. A 24-hour coffee shop and a cake station round off the menu.

Luckily, the Taj marries this incite to gorge with a superb gym, swimming pool and health spa. There's also a hairdressers on site, should you need to neaten your coiffure for the afternoon's all-important meeting.

At Standard level, the Taj's rooms are what you'd expect from a bedroom in a chain of luxury hotels: a huge bed; a writing desk; cable TV; minibar etc. At Club level you start to really feel the high life kick in. Marble surfaces; teak furniture; an even bigger bed; an electronic bedside panel that seems to control everything from air temperature to how you'd like your coffee in the morning. Club level rooms also command their own lounge, 8 stories high.

At the very top end, the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi boasts four themed suites (each spans the width of the building), and an out-of-this-world Presidential Suite. Stay in the latter and you'll join the likes of Steve Jobs, Gordon Brown, Manmohan Singh, and - of course - Taj chain owners the Tatas themselves.