Taj Lobby

Taj interior

Taj breakfast

Taj Memorial

Taj exterior

At the grand opening of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel back in 1903, fifty ruling princes checked in at once. One actually brought a pet tiger. Since then the hotel has hosted many maharajahs, kings, heads of state and Oscar-winning Hollywood celebrities. Notable amongst them include Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Jacky Kennedy, The Beatles, The King & Queen of Norway, The Prince of Wales, Roger Moore, Mick Jagger - and the list goes on.

Oh Butler
For a few days during my stay at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, I had the privilege of being treated like a rock star celebrity. Within 5 minutes of having entered my room, I get a knock on the door. It was my butler - eager to let me know that he was available around the clock for absolutely anything I needed. “What did anything mean?” Hmmm…Anything? I thought.

I started with a simple one - shine my leather moccasins that I bought especially for this trip and have been wearing throughout India for the past 2 weeks. He came back as quick as could be and informed me that not only had he shined the shoes but also repaired the hole that I didn’t even know existed. Shine the shoes and press the clothes - that’s the easy stuff. When I informed the butler that I needed to find a pharmacy to pick up some aspirin for a headache, he insisted I lie down in bed and wait for him to do the pick up. When I queried some other guests, they told me…yes, I’ve asked for my maps to be ironed flat…I’ve asked for rare books to be found…I’ve asked for garment alterations in a crunch…I’ve asked for help packing…and the list goes on.

The humbling thing about my butler was that he always came right back at me after completing a task and with his head lowered asked if he had met my expectations. I just timidly replied “Oh yes, thank you,” as if this level of service was the norm in my everyday life.

The most difficult thing about a butler was that I had to wake up from this dream and go back to reality when the trip was over. For me, there’s no butler when I return home. Although, I did try a few times to lie in bed and holler for him…nobody answered.

An Architectural Marvel
The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel located in Mumbai, today boasts grand historical and social significance. The hotel is an unsurpassed architectural marvel that brings together Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles. The overwhelming grandeur of its interiors, including the galleries, verandas, central stairway and suites, coupled with unmatched hospitality, furnishings, and amenities, were and still remain the last word in class and refinement. There is an unmistakable sense of civility and tranquility that emanates from the architecture's fluid lines and peaceful hues.

When the hotel first opened its doors at the turn of the century it was considered the finest hotel in the East. It boasted imported American fans, German steam elevators, Turkish baths and English butlers. It had a permanent orchestra, European management and staff, as well as a French chef.

The Tata Midas Touch
In 2008 when the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel was taken under siege by Pakistani gunmen for 59 hours, the world watched spellbound as flames leaped from the windows during the three-day siege. Meanwhile, not one staff member tried to escape the hotel for safe refuge, opting to remain on the premises to try, to the extent possible, to safeguard guests.

After suffering significant physical damage the hotel underwent a major renovation in record time and reopened its doors to the public after only 21 days, demonstrating a stoic determination to survive. The devotion and commitment of Taj employees stems in large part from the privilege that comes from working for a Tata owned company.

It is widely believed that in 1903 the wealthy Indian industrialist, Jamsedji Tata decided to build the hotel after he was refused entry to one of the city's grand hotels of the time. Today, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is in its fifth generation of ownership, its chairman, Ratan Tata is arguably one of the most powerful tycoons in the world. His popularity at home in India stems in part from his overreaching generosity in a country that is in desperate need. Almost 66 % of after-tax profits of the Tata Group (a multi-billion dollar conglomerate) goes to charity and each of the Tata companies have a dedicated department that focuses on giving back to community and building sustainable livelihoods for these communities.

Today, if you’re looking for a hotel with a heart or looking to pamper yourself and feel like a king or queen, consider the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai for an experience rich in history and full of heart.