This Mumbai institution dominates the Colaba waterfront and is the epi-centre of the city's social swirl. Taj Mahal Hotel was built in 1903 by a Parsi industrilist Mr. J.N. Tata. It is a magnificent structure that exhibits Moorish influences and is crowned by a grand, red-roofed dome.

It is believed that the architect tooped himself when he visited the site and saw that it had been built back to front. It was intentionally designed to face away from the harbour, with it's entrance on the landward side. The main entrance today recognises the importance of a harbour frontage, it faces the gateway of India, wedged between the old wing and the modern Indo-Islamic extention.