Founded in 1903 by Jamsetji Tata, The Taj Mahal Palace is the crown jewel of the Taj Hotels and Resorts empire. Occupying its prominent lot on the Colaba waterfront, the Grande Damme is an integral part of Mumbai’s skyline and is an undeniable icon of the city. Over the years, the property has cultivated a venerable reputation in Indian hospitality, occupying the same ranks as other legendary properties like Singapore’s Raffles Hotel and Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel.

Booking The Taj Mahal Palace

Being an icon of the city, staying at The Taj Mahal Palace was easily one of the things I already had in mind when planning my trip to Mumbai. For my two-night stay, I paid an average nightly rate of INR 32,290 (about USD 377 or GBP 280). Paying a total of INR 65,580, this booked me into a Luxury Grande City View Room, inclusive of breakfast and WiFi internet access.

Location

As one of Mumbai’s foremost landmarks, it is no surprise that the Taj Mahal Palace occupies a prime piece of real estate on the Colaba waterfront. Tellingly, the hotel is located opposite the Gateway to India monument, one of the indisputable icons of the city. Apart from its close vicinity to historical institutions like Leopold Café, the hotel is also within walking distance to the southern part of Mumbai’s beautiful Fort District.

Arrival and Check-in

After leaving The LaLiT Mumbai Airport, I journeyed south to Mumbai’s Colaba waterfront hotel by Uber. While the Taj Mahal Palace has a small entrance in front of the building, it does not have a porte-cochère. Because of that, I was dropped off at the Taj Mahal Tower, where all vehicular pick-ups and drop-offs are done.

When I got out of the car, I was greeted by the hotel’s friendly doorman, who assisted me with my luggage. After providing my reservation name, the doorman passed me over to his colleague, who escorted me past the Tower Wing lobby, down an opulent marble corridor which leads to the historic Palace Wing lobby.

At the palace reception, I was greeted by a welcoming ritual – in which I was presented with a floral garland and a blessing in the form of a bindi applied onto the forehead – before being seated at the desk. After being seated and providing my passport for check-in, I was then offered a cold herbal welcome drink, served in a champagne flute.

When my room became ready, I was introduced to the wonderful Farzana, who would be taking care of me over the course of my stay. As she escorted me to my room on the third floor, she carefully explained to me various details I may have missed during check-in. When we got to my room, I noticed that we had unexpectedly been upgraded to a sea view room. How nice!

Architecture

The Taj Mahal’s historic Palace building exhibits a fusion of architectural styles, most notably Islamic, Gothic, and Renaissance Revival. Its defining feature is a red Florentine dome, easily visible from the Colaba waterfront, which crowns the central wing of the original Palace building.

The façade includes pointed arches, trefoil window patterns, and detailed stonework that reflects Mughal and Victorian influences. Inside, vaulted ceilings, marble columns, and a grand staircase reinforce the building’s 20th-century opulence. The layout follows a U-shaped design surrounding a central courtyard, typical of colonial-era luxury hotels.

Apart from its remarkable architectural features, the hotel also boasted many firsts for India; this included being the country’s first hotel with electricity and air conditioning. It was also the first hotel in India to have lifts (a novelty at the time), requiring them to be imported from Germany. While the early lifts have long been replaced, there are various little touches that hearken back to olden days; this includes a little reading corner set up near the lift lobby on stateroom floors.

The trend of Gothic-styled influences continues as you make your way to the rooms. In place of a stuffy corridor is a dramatic multi-storey atrium framed by delicately detailed wooden balustrades and archways. A vaulted glass ceiling floods the space with natural light, highlighting the pale colour palette and symmetrical layout. The result is airy and structured corridors – blending Edwardian-era design with fine craftsmanship – expected from a grand hotel.

Luxury Grande Sea View Room

The Luxury Grande Sea View Room is located in the hotel’s prominent turrets and spans approximately 33 square meters (or 355 sqft). While not very spacious on paper, the room’s thoughtfully laid-out interior ensures a spacious and airy feel to the space. Details like the ceiling fan and period-inspired furniture truly ensure a well-rounded colonial-style design.

Most prominent, however, are the large windows which frame mesmerising views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India. Thanks to the bay window of the turrets, the room boasts a commanding 180-degree view of the Colaba waterfront and the Fort Area. The views are especially incredible at sunrise, with a scene unlike any other. Wow!

After explaining the room’s features, Farzana offered to take a souvenir picture of me. I happily agreed, and this was later delivered, printed and fitted in a paper frame. In addition, an amenity of fresh fruits, Indian snacks, and bottled water was also provided and replenished daily.

Foyer

At the entryway to the room, you’ll find a small foyer featuring a wardrobe and a marble-topped chest of drawers. The latter, in particular, doubles as a luggage rack. Curiously, the foyer is separated from the bedroom by a pair of French doors, allowing the room to feel cosier than it already is.

Bedroom

Featuring a design blending Indian and English influences, the bedroom evokes an elegant atmosphere on the level of the world’s greatest hotels. This is achieved in particular thanks to the polished wooden floors, high ceilings, and a neutral colour palette accented by Indian textiles and framed botanical and zoological prints.

The room’s twin beds act as a centrepiece, separated by a shared nightstand that features bedside power outlets and light switches. The bed was notably comfortable, featuring a firm yet yielding mattress covered with bedding and linens from Ploh. With the two pillows of varying firmness and a light but insulating duvet, this was undoubtedly the most comfortable sleep I had on my trip.

Across the beds, you’ll find the wall-hung smart television, alongside a sizeable marble-topped console which houses the minibar underneath. This is complemented by a large and sturdy writing desk with a leather upholstered workchair. Furthermore, in the space of the turrets is a small seating area with armchairs and a coffee table, complementing the silk armchair next to the bed.

Bathroom

Located next to the entryway in the foyer is the elegant bathroom. Decked predominantly in white marble, the space features both a large bathtub as well as a separate shower stall with both a rain shower and handheld showerheads.

A large porcelain sink prominently occupies one corner of the bathroom. Surrounded by two columns of softly-lit glass shelving, the sink is complemented by a lit magnifying mirror, and a small lacquer box filled with various toiletries.

Across the sink is the generously-sized deep soaking tub, complete with a hand-held shower. Like the shower, the water pressure was excellent and powerful, with a nice and consistent water temperature. Provided were toiletries from Forest Essentials. Scented with Aloe Vera and Neem, these locally-produced bath amenities are designed specially for the hotel and are of very high quality.

While I felt that the bathroom was exceptionally well designed, I did have a small quibble about the toilet. This features a handheld bidet and a wall-hung telephone, the former of which is common in the region. However, being right in front of the sliding bathroom doors, I felt that the toilet was awkwardly positioned. Regardless, this was a very inconsequential detail relative to how nice the bathroom is otherwise.

Amenities

Arcade

An arcade spans the whole length of the corridors on both sides of the reception. Aside from your selection of local and international high-end shops, you’ll also find a couple of art galleries that are free to enter. Their setting and selection of Indian art were impressive, so I would definitely encourage a brief visit.

Heritage Walk

One of the more cultural experiences offered by the Taj is its Heritage Walk, a showcase of the historical aspects of the property. The walk is led by Taj historian Newton Thomas D’Souza, who will guide you on a tour around the hotel. Charming and amusing, Newton led a very engaging and entertaining showcase of the hotel and its history. If you’re a history buff like me, be sure not to miss this interesting tour of the hotel!

Pool

The swimming pool is located in a central outdoor courtyard, bordered by tropical landscaping and the hotel’s prominent architectural features. The pool is rectangular in oval and surrounded by stone-tiled decking and white sun loungers. The setting feels sheltered yet remains open to the sky, offering a quiet space distinct from the bustling city. Adjacent poolside amenities include towel service and shaded seating areas under large umbrellas.

However, as the pool is shared between the Palace and Tower wings, it has a tendency to get very crowded – especially well into the day. As such, if you intend to swim with some solace and tranquility, do arrive early in the morning when the pool opens at 06.00.

Pool-side seating and Yoga

Classic awnings and archways from the original structure remain visible along the pool’s perimeter, lending a sense of historical continuity. Here, you’ll also find small patches of manicured gardens, surrounding which are a variety of outdoor seating fitting for a nice tea party.

I’ll also add that each morning, a pool-side yoga practice is organised by the hotel. Led by a yoga trainer, the yoga session is available for free for all hotel guests; however, bear in mind that you will need to reserve a place the night before so that the hotel can make the necessary arrangements.

Fitness Centre

Located on the basement of the Palace Wing is the hotel’s J Wellness Circle complex, featuring its well-endowed Fitness Centre and Ayurveda Sanctuary. With its fitness centre open for 24 hours daily, the complex can be accessed through a staircase to the left-hand side when facing the pool and courtyard.

The fitness centre features a range of modern exercise equipment from LifeFitness, including treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, and free weights. The space is well-lit with natural and ambient lighting, with neutral-toned interiors and mirrored walls enhancing a clean, minimalistic aesthetic removed from the hotel’s gothic architecture.

Lending to the hotel’s historic structure and design, the fitness centre is separated into three sections connected by numerous archways. First is a main section by the reception with a large selection of cardiovascular equipment and strength machines. To the side of this are an indoor yoga studio, alongside a space dedicated to free weights.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served daily between 07.00 and 10.30 at the Sea Lounge located on the first floor of the Palace Wing. The venue offers a refined setting with large arched windows that overlook the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India. The interior features polished wooden floors, high ceilings with subtle cornices, and vintage-style furnishings; this includes armchairs upholstered in soft fabrics and dark wood accents that evoke early 20th-century charm.

During breakfast service, the room is filled with natural morning light filtering through the large windows, casting a soft glow on the neatly set tables. The combination of the elegant interiors and sweeping views creates a sense of calm grandeur – nothing less than a special experience for a leisurely morning meal.

The meal itself is served in a buffet style, with a select number of à la carte dishes available to order. The selection featured a great many dishes, highlighting mostly Indian and Western palettes. As expected from the Taj, everything was very fresh and very high quality, providing for a wonderful breakfast experience. Havin said that, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

À la carte selection

Buffet spread

Service

During my stay, the service at the hotel was consistently exceptional – attentive, seamless, and thoughtfully anticipatory. While every staff member I encountered was courteous and professional, Farzana stood out for her remarkable attention to detail and genuine care. Her efforts played a significant role in making the experience truly memorable. For example, when she noticed my interest in the hotel’s history and architecture, she organised to have a box of postcards featuring prints of the Taj Mahal Palace in watercolour presented to me as a souvenir. Simply exceptional!

Overall

Despite high expectations, my stay at The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai managed to surpass them in every way. From the elegantly appointed rooms to the impeccable service and world-class amenities, every aspect of the experience was thoughtfully curated and deeply satisfying. The hotel’s prime location, historic charm, and seamless hospitality make it not just a place to stay but a destination in itself. As much as I tried to think, I really couldn’t find any faults with the hotel – this really was the perfect hotel stay. It is nothing less than a living legend and a cultural witness of Mumbai’s storied past. Thus, it goes without saying that I would jump at any opportunity to stay here again.

Read more from this trip here!