The Taj Mahal Palace (Tower Wing), Mumbai (Bombay), India
-
Exterior: The Taj Mahal Palace (Tower Wing) in Mumbai, India -
Bedroom: The Taj Mahal Palace (Tower Wing) in Mumbai, India -
Pool: The Taj Mahal Palace (Tower Wing) in Mumbai, India -
Lobby: The Taj Mahal Palace (Tower Wing) in Mumbai, India -
Lounge: The Taj Mahal Palace (Tower Wing) in Mumbai, India -
Bedroom: The Taj Mahal Palace (Tower Wing) in Mumbai, India
The Taj Mahal Palace (Tower Wing) 5 Stars
"The grandest grand dame in India, this sybaritic luxury hotel lies in the heart of bustling Mumbai."
Hotel Overview
Review of The Taj Mahal Palace (Tower Wing), by Caroline Major
Mad Mumbai. That's what you're in the middle of when you are at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower. She is a historic hotel of which the Indians are fiercely proud, and as such, the clubs and restaurants of Bombay have developed nestled close to the skirts of this grand dame.
Celebrating 75 in 2003, the Taj has her fair claim to having being an historic stage. There's a who's who of celebrity guests and enough stories about her to run Hello magazine for a year. What's nice is that the Taj Mahal is still the place for the Bombay Bollywood Glitterati to lounge about.
The best club in town, 'Insomnia', is inside the hotel, a pleasant walk past the pool. Marsala Kraft serves up contemporary Indian cusine from a well traveled chef, and Souk, with Middle Eastern inspired dining and a view over Bombay Harbour. The popular bars, restaurants and clubs are almost all within walking distance.
Make sure you check into a room in the old wing of the hotel. The rooms have higher ceilings, and the central verandahs with their marble walkways, potted palms and uniformed butlers are a treat. Ask for a newly refurbished room. These are tastefully modern with sumptious textiles, unlike the older rooms which are heavy seventies. A cocktail in the garden, or a lounger by the swimming pool is a must. You never know which lithe bodied Bollywood star might slide right by you.
Facilities
Hotel Policies
Rooms
552Awards
"Best Business Hotel in Mumbai" Business Traveller 09; "Gold List" Conde Nast 09; "Best City Hotels in Asia" Travel & Leisure 09Who stays here?
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
Come for...
- Super luxurious, antique-filled surrounds
- Sweeping views of the Arabian Sea
Not Suitable for...
- The unkempt
- Shallow pockets
Children
The hotel welcomes children, and provides additional cots/beds on request. A babysitting service can be arranged with the concierge and interconnecting rooms are available.
Eating in
The Golden Dragon serves authentic Szechuan cuisine, whilst Masala Kraft is the place to head for regional Indian fare. Souk is an award-winning eatery for Iranian, Egyptian, Moroccan and Greek fare.
The Press Say
"1903 grand dame with dramatic interiors — vaulted ceilings; silk carpets; onyx columns — overlooking the 85-foot-high Gateway of India." Travel & Leisure 09
Reviews
Review of The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, by Robert Such
If I think of luxurious and outstanding hotels, the Le Meurice in Paris, The Dorchester in London and the Waldorf Astoria in New York immediately spring to mind. Reputedly the classiest hotel in India, the recently renovated and renamed Taj Mahal Palace & Tower in Mumbai is another such place.
Last year was the hotel's centenary year, and since it first opened in 1903 the hotel has amassed an enviable - by other five-star hotels at least - stack of hotel registers, listing the names of famous, wealthy and powerful guests from around the world.
Most visitors to the Taj pass through the more conspicuous portico entrance of the 70s Tower Wing. Awaiting them is the busy marbled lobby at the base of the 23-storey tower. Stylishly modern rooms have all the mod cons. City-facing rooms, however, have undesirable views over Mumbai's filthy rooftops and squalid back streets.
A walk through the boutique-lined, ground-floor corridor takes you into a different world. A staircase wraps around the interior of the six-storey main atrium of the original building. Alcoves and relief plasterwork ornament the walls.
Here, as in the rest of the hotel, hang examples of the hotel's collection of artwork by famous Indian artists, such as MF Hussain and Laxman Shreshtha.
Releasing us from the chains of many household chores is a basic hotel function, but the Taj's recently introduced butler service on the Taj Club floors eliminates even more humdrum tasks from the daily schedule. Having only one butler, however, may disappoint some clients, such as wealthy Indians, who may already employ up to forty servants at home.
Of the hotel's twenty theme suites, the Rajput Suite is one of the most remarkable. Prince Charles stayed here, and so too did John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Ornate Rajasthan craftwork in dark wood, brass and enamel covers the walls and furniture. Securing a view of the Gate of India from the Rajput's own swing will cost around £764 ($1,400) per night. Guests requiring more space can stay in the 165-square-metre (1,777-square-foot) Presidential Suite.
Even the politest of requests, however, could not gain me entry into the exclusive Chambers Club for the Indian elite. Membership is by invitation only. Industrialists and CEOs count among its 700-strong members.