The Taj Mahal Palace opened in 1903 on the waterfront of Colaba, in the south of Mumbai. It was commissioned by Jamsetji Tata, founder of the Tata group, and remains the flagship of Taj Hotels. Few luxury hotels in Mumbai are so closely tied to the history of the city: the hotel was there before the Gateway of India, which now stands in front of it.
History
The hotel was built at a time when Bombay was the commercial capital of British India, and it was one of the first buildings in the city to have electricity. Over more than a century it has received heads of state, maharajas, writers and musicians. A tower wing was added in 1973, and the original palace wing was carefully restored after the attacks of November 2008, then reopened.
Architecture and design
The palace wing is a landmark of Indo-Saracenic architecture, a style that combines Indian, Islamic and European forms. Its central red dome, turrets and arched balconies make it one of the most photographed façades of Mumbai. The Indian architects Sitaram Khanderao Vaidya and D. N. Mirza drew the original plans. Inside, a cantilevered grand staircase rises through the heart of the building.
Dining
The hotel counts around ten restaurants and bars, among them the Sea Lounge, which looks over the harbour, and the Harbour Bar.
Location
The hotel stands on Apollo Bunder, opposite the Gateway of India, with views over the harbour and the Arabian Sea. The galleries, cafés and colonial architecture of Colaba and Kala Ghoda are within walking distance.
Weddings and events
The Taj Mahal Palace is one of the reference addresses for weddings, receptions and corporate events in Mumbai, from intimate dinners to large celebrations. Planners can describe their date, guest count and occasion through the request form on this page: it goes directly to the hotel’s events team.
At a glance
What sets it apart
- 01Opened in 1903, before the Gateway of India was built in front of it
- 02Indo-Saracenic palace wing crowned by a red central dome
- 03Cantilevered grand staircase at the heart of the original wing
- 04Flagship of Taj Hotels, commissioned by Jamsetji Tata
Chronology
Dates that matter
1898
Construction begins on Apollo Bunder for Jamsetji Tata.
1903
The Taj Mahal Hotel opens on 16 December, one of the first buildings in Bombay with electricity.
1924
The Gateway of India is completed on the waterfront in front of the hotel.
1973
The Tower wing opens beside the original palace building.
2008
The hotel is attacked and damaged on 26 November; the heritage wing is badly hit by fire.
2010
The restored palace wing fully reopens in August.
2017
The building becomes the first in India to have its image registered as a trademark.
