5 Best Hotels in Agra, Side Trips from Delhi

One of India's best resorts emulates the opulent lifestyle of the Mughal emperors, and each room has a breathtaking view of the Taj Mahal. Common areas are full of sandstone arches, glistening pools, and stone inlay detail copied from the Taj Mahal, and each spacious room is understatedly elegant, with teak floors and rich fabrics. If you don't stay here, at least stop by for an elegant meal or a drink on the terrace.

A boutique hotel in a quiet neighborhood, Ekaa is perfect for a taste of homely hospitality. The interiors are inspired by Agra's crafts and monuments, featuring hatching patterns and concave ceilings. The rooms are furnished with linens, marble decor, digital prints, and paraben-free bath products---all sourced locally and available for sale at the in-house boutique. Spread across three floors, the property has ample indoor and outdoor spaces including an open-plan dining room, lounge areas, a terrace, and a courtyard. The team is entirely local to Agra, and offers tours of the city that take you beyond popular emporiums and monuments to experience hyper-local culture. At the property, the same is offered by way of their Pattal ki Daawat, a five-course meal featuring dishes cooked in Agra's homes.

Set within 23 acres of manicured gardens, this brick and marble hotel is one of Agra's largest. Rooms are big and bright, and many have window settees, marble-top desks, and upholstered headboards. The gaming area has air hockey, table tennis, and pool tables, and for the outdoorsy types, there's horse riding, cricket, and football arranged in the lawns. The real highlight, though, is the Kaya Kalp Spa, an expansive wellness space beautifully decorated with red-hued curlicue designs inspired by pomegranates.

Formerly known as Taj Gateway, this hotel offers a good view of the Taj Mahal from some rooms and its rooftop restaurant. The rooms feature marble inlay flooring and jaali work, and some rooms come with daybeds by the window to enjoy views of the Taj. The elegant marble lobby opens into an excellent restaurant. Guests can go for a dip in the temperature-controlled pool surrounded by acres of landscaped lawn, or visit the JIVA Spa (spread out across five air-conditioned tents) offering therapies inspired by yogic principles.

Built around a large garden courtyard with fountains, a soothing expanse of green lawn, and a pool, this place is a real oasis in Agra. The spacious rooms are in soft browns, with wooden flooring, coffeemakers, and views of the gardens or the pool. The lobby is, perhaps, the most inviting part of the hotel: bright yellow chairs, dark-wood accents, and modern chandeliers made of glass tubes are infused with sunlight. There's live Indian classical music, folk dancers, and a henna artist by the pool every evening.