The Taj Mahal Palace is India's most famous hotel — a grand Moorish-Gothic-Renaissance structure built in 1903 by Jamsetji Tata (founder of the Tata industrial dynasty) who was allegedly refused entry to a 'whites-only' hotel and decided to build one that would be the finest in the city. The hotel, which survived the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks (when gunmen laid siege for four days), has become a symbol of Mumbai's resilience and its identity as India's most cosmopolitan city.
The hotel is open to non-guests for its restaurants (including Wasabi by Morimoto and the Sea Lounge with harbour views), the lobby, and the heritage wing that preserves the original Edwardian interior. High tea at the Sea Lounge — overlooking the Gateway and the harbour — is Mumbai's most civilised afternoon tradition.
Verified Facts
The hotel was built in 1903 by Jamsetji Tata
The 2008 terror attack siege lasted four days
Tata allegedly built the hotel after being refused entry to a whites-only hotel
The Sea Lounge overlooks the Gateway of India
Get walking directions
Haji Niyaz Ahmed Azmi Marg, Colaba, Mumbai, 400001, India
