Timeless and luxurious hotel of India: The Taj Mumbai

Check out everything you need to know about this masterpiece building here.

As the Taj Palace will turn 120 years by December 16th 2023, we look at the unparalleled history it has left down the lane. Located in the historic city of Mumbai, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is an architectural landmark with a rich history. It was born out of Jamsetji N. Tata’s dream.

Built at 500,000 sterling pounds, this epitome of beauty opened its doors to its first 17 guests on 16th December 1903, with 30 private suites-cum-apartments, 350 double and single rooms, electric lights, fans, bells, clocks, and 4 passenger lifts.

This hotel was opened through an incident as Mr Tata was denied entry at Watson’s hotel in Mumbai, where only Europeans were allowed. Today Mumbai’s iconic Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel has received its own trademark.

Built 21 years before Gateway of India, it is considered Mumbai’s first harbour landmark. The hotel is the site of Mumbai’s first licensed bar. The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel boast an extraordinary international guests list that includes personalities, like George Bernard Shaw, Irving Stone, Barbara Cartland, Douglas Fairbanks, Sir Richard Attenborough, Prince Charles, Angelina Jolie, and David Rockefeller, among many others.

Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting facts about Jamshedji Tata’s finest architectural contribution to Mumbai:

• The foundation of the Taj Mahal, which was laid in 1898, is 40 feet in depth. It cost more than Rs 4 crores to build the hotel.
• The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower hotel has 560 rooms including 44 suites, 1500 staff members, including 35 butlers.
• During World War I, the legendary Mumbai landmark was converted into a hospital with 600 beds.

>> In 1973, an additional wing to the hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower designed by Melton Bekker, was opened. It had 20 storeys of arches and balconies and increased the number of rooms from 225 to 560.

• One of the most shocking and interesting Taj Hotel facts is that suite of rooms, including a full board, cost a princely sum of Rs. 30, which was a big deal at that time. In today’s market, it is unimaginable.
• Unfortunately, the hotel was one of the major targets of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, which left 166 people dead. At that time American President, Barak Obama became the first foreign head of state, who stayed at the Taj Mahal Palace, on November 6, 2010, after the 2008 terrorist attacks. Speaking on the hotel’s rooftop, Obama stated that 

“The Taj has been the symbol of the strength and the resilience of the Indian people.“