The Best Hotels in India 2008

The property: Built alongside Mumbai's harbor, this imposing 1903 landmark is a mix of Moorish, Asian, and Florentine architecture—capped by a graceful, diadem-crowned tower that was added in 1973.

The property: Its waterfront location means that many of the hotel's 565 rooms and suites have stellar views of the Arabian Sea and the arched basalt Gateway of India.

Rooms to Book: Luxury Grande rooms in the Palace (otherwise known as the old wing) combine old-school ambience (French doors, silk curtains, ceiling fans) with modern conveniences (42-inch plasma TVs and rainfall showerheads).

Don't Miss: The lavish weekend brunch in the Shamiana restaurant; it's a Mumbai institution.

More information: Taj Mahal Palace

From the article The Best Hotels in India 2008