Barack Obama books entire Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

US President Barack Obama has booked the entire Taj Mahal Hotel for two days for his visit to Mumbai in the first week of November.

The 547-room property will be a no-go area for non-hotel staff while he is staying.

A heavy security cordon will be in place around the hotel and, aside from Indian Naval vessels, there will be a restriction on vessels in the vicinity of Hotel Taj.

A senior Indian home department official said the President would be visiting one of the 26/ 11 terror targets, but further details were unable to be disclosed because of the huge security effort surrounding the visit.

According to reports, Mumbai police have been conducting land and sea drills in case of a breach of security.