The Oberoi Armavilas

Agra and the Taj Mahal

Agra, in the north of India, in the district of Uttar Pradesh, is the region’s third most populated city, with more than one million inhabitants. It was the capital of India during the 16^th century, its most flourishing era, corresponding to the reign of Shah Jahan, emperor of the Moghol Empire and responsible for the construction of the Taj Mahal. Agra is and always will be associated with this monument; one of the most famous in the world.

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built for the Emperor’s third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This masterpiece of white marble, whose color varies throughout the day depending on the light, attracts 3 million visitors annually, for the most part, Indian. Classified a UNESCO world heritage, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of Moghol architecture, combining Islamic, Iranian, Ottoman and Indian elements.

Agra however, is more than just the Taj Mahal. It’s a city with a wealth of monuments bearing witness to its illustrious past. These include the Red Fort, the largest fort in India, and especially the abandoned former capital of the Moghol empire, Fatehpur-Sikrī, a totally preserved city illustrating in grandiose fashion, the architectural splendor of 16^th century India.

A room with a view of one of the wonders of the world

The Oberoi Amarvilas is the sort of establishment in which the view it offers justifies the visit. Its 109 rooms and suites as well as all the common areas of this luxury hotel face the world famous Taj Mahal, a wonder of the world located just 600 meters from the Amarvilas.

One of the jewels of the Oberoi group, the hotel possesses all the decorative excellence and service one would expect of an ultra luxurious hotel. The Moghol inspired architecture includes a spectacular courtyard entrance with a blend of fountains and oriental type objects that create a dream like setting.

The lobby is worthy of a palace, with an impressive gold leaf dome. The volumes and space are striking to say the least. On the horizon, we find the famous Taj Mahal, and on the sides, the long perspectives give the impression of being in a veritable palace, with its welcome area furnished with seats worthy of an embassy, and the bar with a fresco representing a detailed plan of one of the world’s most famous monuments. The rooms are spacious and equipped with the latest high tech material. The décor is intentionally sober so as once again, not to distract visitors from the view of which one can never tire.

The hotel has an international restaurant, the Bellevue, and the Espahan which specializes in Indian cuisine, where, in an elegantly decorated setting, guests can discover local dishes as well as those from other regions in a filtered atmosphere to the sounds of the Santoor, a traditional Indian instrument.

The outdoor swimming pool is an enchantment, surrounded by terraces of different heights and a particularly restful garden where guests can admire the beauty of this unique site with its surprising dimensions.

The hotel was required to adhere to certain rules in order to secure its location facing the Taj Mahal. It was strictly forbidden to eclipse the celebrated mausoleum in terms of splendor or to surpass it in height. No building in Agra has the right to be higher than the Taj Mahal.