Walk into some of India’s oldest hotels, and you are not just checking into a room — you are stepping into living history. These are not dusty relics trapped in the past, but vibrant establishments that have hosted maharajas, poets, viceroys, freedom fighters, and celebrities.

Their corridors carry whispers of colonial dinners, independence-era meetings, and the grand parties of India’s elite. Yet, they continue to thrive, offering the comfort of modern hospitality while retaining the charm of bygone days.

Here are five of the oldest hotels in India that are still opening their doors to guests — each with a story worth retelling.

1. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

When they opened: 1903

What is so special about them: Built by Jamshedji Tata after he was denied entry into a European-only hotel, the Taj redefined luxury for Indians. Its Indo-Saracenic architecture and sea-facing views have made it an icon of Mumbai. It has........

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