Review of The Oberoi Amarvilas Agra

The Oberoi Amarvilas is located only 600 metres from the Taj Mahal, the only building within the green belt encircling the Taj and lies approximately 15 minutes from the city centre. Located in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the hotel offers a private three hour guided tour of the Taj Mahal with transfers, recommending either sunrise or sunset access to witness the interplay of light on the marble surface of the minarets. Alternatively, guests may walk to the monument or can take advantage of the complimentary golf cart shuttle service. 

Generally considered to be a fine example of Mughal architecture, if not the finest, the Taj Mahal Agra (often referred to as “poetry in marble”) became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983 with the organisation citing the monument as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.”

Built between 1631 – 1648 by Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Arjuman Banu Begum who died in childbirth, the marble Taj Mahal, is located in Agra, then the seat of the Mughal empire, on the banks of the River Yamuna. The Taj Mahal – one of the seven wonders of the world - attracts up to eight million visitors annually with nearly 1 million visiting from overseas, probably as part of the Golden Triangle, so called due to the triangular shape of the route encompassing New Delhi, Agra, and Rajasthan. 

There are also two other UNESCO World Heritage sites in Agra – The Red Fort of Agra, a 16th century Mughal monument sited near the gardens of the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri, a complex of monuments and temples built by the Mughal Emperor Jalal-ud-din Mohammad Akbar between 1571 and 1585 which features one of the largest mosques in India, thought to be copied from that in Mecca.

Transport wise, The Oberoi Amarvilas will arrange complimentary transfers to the property from the domestic Agra Airport (AGR) around 14 kilometres and 40 minutes away. The Agra Cantonment Railway Station is around seven kilometres, 25 minutes’ drive away (near the Sadar Bazaar) whilst the city centre is 15 minutes away. Delhi Airport is located around 230 kilometres away – a four-hour drive whilst Jaipur is just a little further away at 246 kilometres, adding another 40 minutes to the driving time. 

If travelling by car, the hotel offers complimentary valet and self-parking.

The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra features 95 guest rooms and seven suites, all featuring unobstructed views out of the Taj Mahal with the higher-level rooms offering the best vista and each featuring Mughal inspired designs, showcasing Indian craftsmen and heritage. The seven suites are situated on the hotel’s top fifth floor.  
 
The Premier Rooms (42 square metres) offer a marble ensuite bathroom with specially designed branded bathrobes; custom made toiletries with natural ingredients only; a moveable shaving mirror and a hair dryer. There are also tailor-made furnishings including a cotton silk armchair, hand knotted rugs and walk-in wardrobes. The Premier Rooms with Balconies expand (including the exterior space) to 65 square metres of living space 
 
Every room enjoys 24-hour butler service; individually controlled air conditioning; black out curtains; a pillow menu; tea and coffee making facilities; a fully stocked personal bar; a personal safe; 81 centimetre LCD televisions with USB ports with a wide range of news, sports and film channels and a DVD player.  
 
The Deluxe Suites (75 square metres) offer a magnificent arched floor to ceiling window with separate lounge, master bedroom and bathroom whilst the Deluxe Suites with balconies increase in size to 92 square metres of indoor and outdoor living space, perfect for romantic private dining under the stars with the Taj Mahal silhouetted in the distance. 
 
Pushing the boat out and we have the Luxury Suites at 135 square metres, where you can see the Taj Mahal from every window, sun terrace and even the bathtub! These suites offer a separate butler entrance, a fully equipped pantry with separate entrance, a spacious lounge and a dining room however the centrepiece is a magnificent bathroom with an octagonal glass panelled rain shower and standalone bathtub. 
 
The premium accommodation however is the aptly named Kohinoor Suite or as they call it, the jewel in the crown. The Kohinoor Suite offers 330 square metres of living space with views of the monument available from every vantage point including a master bedroom suite; a living room; a dining room with attached powder room and a pantry and butler’s room with a separate butler entrance. With a spacious sun terrace for an indoor/outdoor feel, interconnecting room options are available to increase the space. A selection of curated antiques and objets d’art complement the Mughal palace design from white marble elephants and gold domed ceilings to mirrored walls and marble columns. 

The plentiful leisure facilities include a 24-metre outdoor temperature-controlled swimming pool complete with an arched covered area located in the heart of the hotel’s impeccably terraced gardens replete with fragrant gulchadi and jasmine. There is also an extensive residents-only Ayurvedic spa with steam and sauna with Ancient India, Oriental and Western influenced spa treatments enjoyed either in-room or on site in the spa. There is a wide range of body treatments, massages and facial therapies on offer alongside specially curated Oberoi Experiences designed to rejuvenate, revitalise or to relax. 

For fitness warriors, a well-equipped state-of-the-art fitness centre will keep them entertained whilst there is also a hair salon for looking your best. The Spa also offers Yoga Stretch and daily reflections to help with posture and breathing techniques. Personalised yoga sessions are also available.

As befitting a building literally in the back garden of one of the world’s most famous monuments, The Oberoi Amarvilas’ architecture harks back to the time of the Mughal emperors with its design inspired by Moorish palace architecture, complementing the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Taj Mahal. With views of the monument available from every guest room and public space, the hotel’s impeccable grounds are equally appropriate with terraced lawns, fountains, reflection pools and pavilions. Inside, the rich and flamboyant interiors have been designed to showcase the best of Indian craftsmanship with fine materials used and Mughal inspired artwork throughout. The property can even organise a Renewal of Vows ceremony – a perfect experience in one of the world’s most romantic cities - with the Taj Mahal as a backdrop. 

If you are coming to this part of India to visit the country’s most important tourist site, then this hotel just has to be where you stay. Operated by one of the country’s most well-known hotel groups - Oberoi Hotels & Resorts - which has won just about every accolade you can think of, The Oberoi Amarvilas with its high service standards, luxurious timeless décor, sustainable operation and unbeatable location, ticks every box – and more, much more - on any list.

The Oberoi Amarvilas offers four eating and drinking venues including the all-day dining restaurant, Bellevue, Esphaban for Mughal cuisine, The Lounge for relaxed beverages and light bites and The Bar for cocktails with a view. 

The aptly named Bellevue features dining with a view over the Taj Mahal. With a chic ambiance, the à la carte menu features Italian favourites as well as traditional and modern pan-Asian and Indian cuisine. They also feature tasting menus with paired wines for relaxing in style. 

The smart-casual Esphahan is open for dinner reservations only and offers a range of Mughal recipes descended down from the time of the emperors. A specialist tandoor dining space, the restaurant offers a range of tasting platters and tasting menus to suit every palate.   

The Lounge with its wide terrace is the place to sit and watch the Taj Mahal throughout the day and enjoy light refreshments as the colours subtly change with the interplay of light and shade on the marble exterior of the monument. With arched windows, crystal chandeliers and a golden-domed ceiling, The Lounge features plush armchairs and Mughal inspired artworks. 

The view of the Taj Mahal is uninterrupted from the comfort of The Bar, perfectly framed within arched windows. Sit on a silk sofa or a bar stool whilst enjoying a range of teas, coffees, international spirits and Oberoi’s signature cocktails including of course the Mumtaz and the Shah Jahan.

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts has a concerted approach to sustainability across all their properties with a Green Team comprising of Heads of Department in place at every hotel to drive innovative ideas to conserve energy and protect the environment. They also plant saplings every year to celebrate the birth anniversary of Oberoi’s founder and to help with afforestation – around 2,000 trees are planted annually. 

The Oberoi Group teamed up with EESL in 2021 to further strengthen their commitment to the planet and to reduce their carbon footprint. EESL evaluate opportunities for saving energy and lowering emissions, tailor making programmes for each property. 

Specific initiatives in place include air conditioning systems which use heat recovery wheels, thermal storage units and heat pumps wherever possible to reduce energy consumption with a cogeneration system for power generation installed at The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra. This recovers heat from the exhaust gasses of their generators to generate steam providing hot water and air-conditioning. Power is generated with the use of propane, the cleanest fuel available, to ensure no harm comes to the Taj Mahal. 

Many properties also have a computerised Building Management System for automated remote control of equipment to minimise idle running. 

All the gardens at Oberoi properties use natural fertilisers, treated waste and bio-pesticides whilst they have a number of waste management initiatives in place to save on materials, resources, energy and money. Waste is separated with wet waste sent to piggeries whilst dry rubbish such as aluminum, paper and plastic are segregated and sold for recycling with garbage incinerators taking care of the rest. All printed stationery, after screening and processing, is reused as note pad and posters internally. 

Air quality is a priority with wet scrubbers installed in the generator and boiler exhaust systems to reduce the emission of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter. 

With regards to laundry and newspapers, cloth bags are used with business kits and cards made from recycled paper. Even the remnants of guest soaps, as applicable, are recycled and given to charity and all bathroom amenities are made from natural, botanical extracts and Indian herbs. All cleaning agents and washing detergents are also bio-degradable. 

Water resources are key and several Oberoi hotels have installed rainwater harvesting systems with most hotels using a sophisticated sewage treatment plant with the treated effluent used in the extensive gardens and lawns for irrigation. Most Oberoi hotels have infra-red sensors on taps and urinals and use low water consumption cisterns to conserve water. The laundry and kitchens also use state of the art machines to further reduce water consumption.