Expat Life / Must Visit Places Reviews / Photography / Reviews

Mumbai Meri Jaan – Our Stay at Taj Mahal Palace Hotel…

It has been over a month since we returned from our trip to India (you can read all about it here), and there are days and moments when I miss it terribly so! I never thought I would be saying this, but I find myself yearning for the humdrum of India, the carefree holiday vibe, the delicious street food and seasonal fruits, the train and rickshaw rides and of course the quality time spent with my family.

The last four days however, it was just myself, Mr Z and Master Z. In Mumbai. Staying at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The crown of Mumbai, as it is known. And boy oh boy, what an experience it was. I couldn’t possibly cover the exuberant and majestic experience in a few lines in my previous post about India, thus the need for an entire blog post on it’s own sharing my experience at the Taj. I will let the photographs do most of the talking, as no words can do this experience justice.

We arrived at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel a little after mid day, after having travelled by car from our home town for a couple of hours. Though hungry and tired, our energy bolted back up as we entered the doors to be welcomed in the most heartwarming Indian of ways. Our Arti was taken and a Good Luck Vermala (necklace) put around our necks. We were shown to our suite, which was on the sixth floor in the Palace Wing.

The room was gorgeous. spacious and had all the luxuries that you lust for in a hotel room. With the Guava Welcome drinks in our hands, we overlooked the boats from our sea-view window as they entered Mumbai. After freshening up, we headed out on the streets of Mumbai for lunch, but soon returned to revel in the marvel of the hotel and catch some rays by the pool.

Tea Time was enjoyed in the Palace Lounge of the Hotel, a place that was so to speak…Interior Decor Goals! If baggage allowance wasn’t a real thing, that exquisite arm chair above is what I would have been sitting on right now. The Lounge had a lovely spread of sweet and savoury dishes, most importantly my all time favourite : Scones!

We enjoyed Breakfast at the Shamiana Restaurant on the ground floor, on two occasions, making use of the outdoor seating and breezy winter weather. We also experienced the breakfast at the Sea Lounge Restaurant, overlooking the Gateway of India. Both did not dissapoint, but I must say, travelling with a toddler, I was much more comfortable in the Shamiana where Master Z could run free, without the fear of toppling over any precious glassware!

Touring the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel with a group of tourists was not enough, and the next morning, we took a private tour of the hotel ourselves, visiting again the Art Gallery, corridors adorned with architectural master plans of the building, and taking photos with the statue of Mr. Tata on the Royal Walkway Staircase. It was so interesting to read about the history this hotel has survived.

During our stay at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, we did plenty of touristy things too, visiting filmy locations and malls, whilst haggling on the streets of Mumbai for a Kurta, followed by a lovely cuppa and croissant in Starbucks outside the hotel itself. The boat ride was possibly the highlight, and was very much enjoyed by Master Z.

Overall, our stay at the Taj was most comfortable. The hotel staff were impeccable in their attention to detail and are doing a great job at hosting. My only qualm is that I wish the hotel was a little more child friendly by perhaps introducing a small creche or children’s swimming pool to ensure children have their own space that they can let loose in. We did however get a portable crib in our room for Master Z to sleep in, and staff were always happy to entertain and talk to Master Z, which was very lovely indeed.

We were spoilt rotten during this trip, and my husband is already looking to book our next stay at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. This may be the main reason I am looking forward to going back to Mumbai! Thank you Taj for being so hospitable and ending our trip to India on a high!

Note: This is NOT a sponsored post. All costs were paid for by us, and as always all opinions above are honest and my own.