India's First Luxury Hotel: Goes Where Indians Do

Incorporated in 1899 by the founder of the Tata Group Jamsetji Tata, IHCL opened its first hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace, in Mumbai—then Bombay— in 1903. Dubbed as the best hotel east of Suez, it transformed the face of Bombay and introduced authentic Indian hospitality to the world while bringing global luxuries to the country. Jamsetji Tata’s efforts were always to show India what lies beyond the seas, making India’s dreams his own.

- PUNEET CHHATWAL

The management of the Taj realised that its future growth lay not just in Mumbai but also in the development of India as a tourist destination. And thus began the creation of India’s premier hospitality chain, the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL). His vision of being the best of the best continues to drive us even today, as we prepare ourselves for the bright prospects and disruptive challenges of tomorrow.

IHCL’s first hotel was reported as “a resplendent debut” by The New York Times. It was the first Indian hotel to have a licensed bar and elevators and introduced jazz and cabaret in the country.

From the moment it opened its doors to the world, The Taj Mahal Palace has hosted an unmatched list of luminaries and celebrities— both local and global. Maharajas and presidents, ambassadors and actors, kings and legends, royalty and religious figures, entertainers and performers, writers and poets, politicians and artists have all walked through its doors into a haven of finesse and grace.

Since then, till now, IHCL has been the pioneer in bringing to the nation, and the world, a glorious list of firsts. From opening the doors to India’s living grand palaces to establishing the nation’s most exclusive club, The Chambers, and from discovering and creating landmark tourism destinations like Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala, the Andamans and recently the Northeast to hoisting the tricolour globally with iconic hotels in the UK and the USA, IHCL has always played a leadership role in the hospitality landscape.