OMINATING the seafront of India’s commercial capital at Apollo Bunder is a weighty grey-stone paragraph of classical prose, casting a shadow over another city icon, the Gateway of India. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai is a regal edifice that somehow succeeds in combining Oriental, Moorish and Florentine styles with splendid understatement. It is an integral part of the city’s history and pride, showcasing historic artefacts, Belgian chandeliers, Christian memorabilia, silk carpets and eclectic art beneath vaulted alabaster ceilings and soaring onyx pillars. To stay here is to experience India. Not surprisingly it has won accolades as one of the best Mumbai business hotels and heritage experiences.

The grande dame of Mumbai opened in 1903 and, with the addition of a tower block in the 1970s, has delighted dignitaries, celebrities and business travellers with equal aplomb. Reborn, the modern tower offers a counterpoint to the much written about stately heritage wing that has seen its share of drama.

In the heart of the city, close to Colaba’s offices and shops, this is a top Mumbai conference hotel with 20,000sq ft of versatile meeting space. The 565-room Taj Mahal Palace offers 46 luxurious suites as well as club rooms (reopened May 2010). The suites transport guests back in time to a privileged world with period furniture, regal art, butlers, 42-inch plasma TVs, DVD players, access to a vast library of film and music, and high-speed Broadband. Refurbished rooms offer classical and contemporary styles and colours. Work or play, the hotel will satisfy all whims.

Guests can catch the rays at an open-air courtyard pool or head to the Jiva Spa for wellness treatments to rejuvenate tired limbs. Fine dining and international morsels await at the Golden Dragon (spicy Szechuan), Masala Kraft (traditional Indian flavours), Souk (Middle Eastern picks), Wasabi by Morimoto (Japanese sushi and teppanyaki) and other venues. Gorge at a formal grill or grab a gin poolside. Step into history at one of the best Mumbai business hotels around.