The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary. When the British royal couple visited Mumbai – known at that time as Bombay – in 1911, they were however only shown a cardboard model because construction did not start till 1915. It was on 9 December 1924 that the gateway was officially inaugurated by the British Viceroy, the Earl of Reading. Since then, the Gateway of India has remained Mumbai’s top tourist attraction. Better late than never.
The most famous hotel and most renowned Chinese restaurant of Mumbai are situated in the same palatial architecture just next to the gateway. Golden Dragon is on the ground level of the Taj Palace, also referred to as the Taj Mahal of Mumbai. The hotel opened its doors on 16 December 1903 and had been commissioned by Jamsetji Tata, founder of the business conglomerate bearing his family name, and which today also owns Jaguar Land Rover cars. Those were two of the British Empire’s most iconic brands which ironically are now a subsidiary of the Indian company Tata Motors.
Opened half a century ago in 1973, the Golden Dragon was the first Sichuan restaurant in India. It is also one of the oldest Chinese restaurants in the country. Even then, the Golden Dragon had also served Cantonese dishes which it continues to do. As is the custom in Chinese restaurants in India, dim sums are offered both day and night. If only more Chinese restaurants do the same. The Golden Dragon has an open-kitchen concept and offers several Indian wines by the glass.
The Taj Mahal Palace • Apollo Bunder • Mumbai • Maharashtra
