It was a time in India when Britain ruled the country. Myth has it that a man named Jamsetji Tata was refused entry to one of the top hotels in India for not being white. He ended up founding Tata Group, and is considered the father of Indian industry. At his death in 1904, he was worth $4 million, which can certainly be estimated as being worth well over $100 million in modern US dollars.

On this day December 16th, in 1903, Taj Mahal Palace & tower opens up to the public. The palace and tower have distinct architectural differences. It has 565 rooms, sits on the harbor, and is hailed as one of the greatest hotels in India.

The Beatles, Jacquie Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Angelina Jolie and many other celebrities and politicians have stayed there. It was the first hotel in India to employ the use of steam elevators. During World War I the hotel was transformed into a hospital with over 600 beds. The hotel is located in Mumbai, aka Bombay, which has over 20 million people in its metropolitan area.