At the end of April 2025, STAR Your World and one of our event planning clients had the opportunity to visit India for a welcome visit with our DMC partner, Akbar Holidays. During our 7-day visit, we visited India’s four most prominent cities for corporate events: Mumbai, Jaipur, Agra & Delhi. At STAR Your World, we recognise the importance of experiencing the destinations we represent, so we can inspire event planners with confidence.
Although our trip had a full itinerary, here are 5 highlights of our trip:
5 Highlights of Mumbai:
- Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
- Dhobi Ghat – The world’s largest open air laundromat
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus train station
- Dabbawala Lunchbox delivery system
- Dharavi Neighbourhood Slums
TAJ MAHAL PALACE
Our time was spent staying in the incredible, 5-star Taj Mahal Palace. It’s located directly opposite the India Gate, which was a very busy hotspot. One element which truly left a lasting impression was the warmth of the staff – on arrival, we immediately felt welcomed and looked after. We received a traditional tikka welcome, with a garland of fresh flowers placed around our necks and a red dot on our foreheads, symbolising good fortune and respect. We enjoyed many of the traditional greetings across India during our trip.
The site of India’s first licensed bar, where live jazz music once drifted through the corridors, the hotel became a cultural hotspot for Bombay’s most elite artists from around the world. From rock stars to royalty, the Taj’s previous guests include: Queen Elizabeth II, Barack Obama, Mick Jagger, and Muhammad Ali. Since 1903, the building has been woven into the fabric of Mumbai’s history, living through two world wars, India gaining independence, and other pivotal events in history.
We enjoyed a delicious lunch with the events team with a selection of curries and local delicacies followed by a show-round of the stunning property. The hotel boasts 500 bedrooms (including 10 luxury grand suites and a presidential suite), various signature restaurants, luscious gardens, and a spacious outdoor swimming pool. The ballroom has an impressive 14-metre-high ceiling, adorned with golden accents, sturdy pillars, and delicate chandeliers. Graceful archways and domes decorate the interior, with crystal chandeliers hung above our heads and cool marble flooring below our feet. The gentle scent of jasmine trailed through the corridors, reflecting the timeless elegance of the palace.
OUTDOOR WASHING (DHOBI GHAT)
Known as the world’s largest open-air laundry, the Dhobi Ghat is a tradition over a century old. Tucked away behind the roaring traffic and towering skyscrapers of Mumbai lies 2.47 acres of 7,000 dhobis working tirelessly handwashing, drying and ironing over 100,000 garments daily. Step into a rhythm of manual labour: the clang of metal buckets, the slap of wet clothes against stone, the scent of soap. From above, rows of colourful fabrics hang to dry in the sun, veiling the operation below. To this day, the Dhobi Ghat stands as a testament of remarkable skill, endurance, and a core part of Mumbai’s history.
CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ TERMINUS (TRAIN STATION)
Step through the arched stone entrance and enter a world where Victorian gothic architecture meets modern India. Built in 1887 as Victoria Terminus during the British colonial era, this historic railway station is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and welcomed the first passenger train in Asia. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is a vibrant crossroads where millions of lives converge — tourists, workers, and dreamers from across the country all find themselves passing through this iconic station. This train station played an important role in making Mumbai the renowned financial capital it is today.
DABBAWALA LUNCHBOX DELIVERY SYSTEM
Each weekday morning, thousands of home-cooked meals begin a remarkable journey, delivered by dabbawalas. Relying on an intricate coding system of colours and symbols, the dabbawalas expertly navigate trains, bicycles and crowded streets across a 60-kilometre radius with quiet precision. With no need for addresses or GPS, they feed an entire city with 99.9% accuracy, guided only by a hand-marked code and generations of practiced precision.
DHARAVI SLUM NEIGHBOURHOOD
Beyond the glamour of Mumbai’s bustling Bollywood scene and financial status lies some of the most densely populated areas on the planet, which is estimated to shelter nearly 50% of Mumbai’s population. Houses are typically built by residents, and made from recycled materials such as concrete, brick and corrugated metal sheets. We received a guided tour from a resident of the slum neighbourhood, who gave us a powerful insight into his experience living in the slums. In these communities, business and small scale factories thrive, generating an estimated annual turnover of $1 billion, fuelled by industries such as leather, textiles, pottery, recycling and much more. Although life for slum residents is different to what we’re used to in the UK, what we all have in common is that we are human. These communities are a testament to how community, joy, and kindness supersedes material wealth: children playing in the streets, neighbours chatting, the joy in simple moments. It’s a powerful reminder that no matter our circumstances, the things that connect us run deep.
Amongst these, there are many other places to explore in Mumbai such as:
- Mumbai University, which is one of the largest universities in the world, with more than half a million students
- Crawford Market, a historic, vibrant marketplace, known for its large variety of fruit, vegetables, poultry, jewellery, clothes and more.
- The promenade of Mumbai, with a breathtaking view of the skyline
- Lunch at Gaylord Restaurant, which serves fresh masala tea, and was established in 1956
- Mani Bhavan Ghandi Sangrahalaya, the museum dedicated to Mahatma Ghandi and his political activities in Mumbai between 1917 and 1934
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our DMC partner, Akbar Holidays, who put together this amazing itinerary and accompanied us throughout the trip, alongside experienced guides, who ensured our trip was educational and memorable. Being hosted at the owner’s family home in Mumbai, enjoying a dinner with the whole family, was a truly special experience – one that we will never forget. Akbar Holidays DMC has over 200 offices across India that are well-equipped to help you with your next corporate venture. They are experts in everything India, providing helpful insights into the inner workings of India’s event industry. Make your next corporate event one to remember in India.
We also experienced the local airline carrier, Air India, who looked after us very well, and the service from the crew on-board was of a high standard. There was plenty of flight announcements, the food was tasty, and the aircraft was clean. Akbar Holidays work with all airlines into India and will source your group flight tickets, saving your valuable time and effort.
Following our incredible time in Mumbai, we took an internal flight to India’s ‘pink city’, Jaipur. Stay tuned for our next blog to follow our journey…
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For any event planning needs, contact sales@staryourworld.com
Written by Hannah Taylor, Marketing Executive
