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The marble floors are made to pose in!
Having returned three years in a row, I genuinely believe the ITC Mughal in Agra is the perfect place for a staycation. The hotel is designed so that you don’t need to step out of its environs, even to visit the Taj Mahal! Read on to see why this place is best for vacations of any kind- family, young children, couples or friends.
The shady corridor leading to the hotel
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Bookings and How to Get There:
Click here to book rooms for this place online.
Agra is 217 km from Delhi with an easy and relatively quick drive through the Yamuna Expressway.
Agra is easily connected via trains and bus rides if you’re coming from other parts of the country.
The imposing main lobby
Types of Rooms:
Starting from INR 12,000 per night, the hotel offers two categories of rooms and two categories of suites that go up to INR 1,00,000 per night. They are often booked out, so book well in advance if you have a preference.
More posing by the pool
THINGS TO DO:
Recreation:
Swimming
Since Agra is hot most of the year, the hotel’s beautiful swimming pools are extremely inviting. The spa pool is much larger than the regular one. Unfortunately, people only have access to the spa pool if they’ve booked a suite, or use the pool right after a massage or service at the exclusive spa.
The Spa Pool
The regular swimming pool
Activity Center
A spacious and well-stocked activity center keeps children and young adults occupied. The center includes pool tables, air hockey, board games, carom, table tennis, and even a TV.
Beautiful Grounds
The property boasts sprawling green lawns for those who fancy a walk. There is also a 10 passenger cycle available for use, to entertain the younger lot.
Live Performances
Keeping with the Mughal philosophy of evening entertainment, the hotel organizes various live performances in the main lobby. We witnessed a kathak dancer twirling gracefully to the lilting tunes of the harmonium and tabla.
Shopping
Shopoholics rejoice! ITC hotels have a large variety of traditional Indian wares in their shopping arcade, but unlike other hotel chains they have their own label- Wills Lifestyle. Forgotten your pants at home? Wills Lifestyle to the rescue!
Viewing the Taj
The hotel offers views of the stunning Taj Mahal. For people who’d like to see this gorgeous monument without braving the heat and dust, the special viewing balcony is ideal.
WiFi Access
The hotel offers paid access to wifi which works well. Unfortunately, the wifi has to be reconnected every time the device is accessed.
Wellness:
Kaya Kalp Spa
Touted as the largest spa in India with over 43 different treatments on offer, the spa is a must-visit. Its stunning royal interiors clubbed with its attentive and highly professional staff ensure an incredible relaxation experience.
Gym and Health Club
You won’t miss your workout as the spacious resident gym is well-stocked with the latest machinery, and is open 24 hours.
Dining:
Peshawari
Peshawari is the equivalent of the iconic Bukhara from the ITC Maurya Hotel in Delhi. It provides an authentic North West Frontier Province experience, both in terms of its delectable food and its ethnic ambiance. The Sikandari Raan, Peshawari Kebab and Dal Bukhara are all fantastic. If you’re in a large group, I’d highly recommend the family naan that’ll take up the entire table!
The live kitchen at Peshawari
The Bar
Fancy a drink before your delicious meal? There are two bars on the property, with one of them located at the end of the lobby. They have a large selection of spirits that won’t disappoint.
Pool-Side Menu
The pool-side menu offers delicious food and drinks. I particularly like their non-vegetarian club sandwiches.
Buffet Breakfast
Perhaps one of my favourite parts of a staycation is the opulent breakfast included in the room tariff. The ITC Mughal does full justice to this concept. The breakfast ends at 10:30 a.m. so keep that in mind before sleeping in!
Cakes & Bakes
The hotel generously provided us a delicious chocolate cake for my nephew’s birthday celebration. Advance notice is required for this facility.
Miscellaneous:
The hotel is popular for large bookings for events and celebrations. Every time I’ve been there, half the hotel has been booked out for birthday events or weddings. They also offer competitive corporate packages.
WHY YOU SHOULD STAY HERE:
More than all the amenities and comfortable stay, my family returns time and again because of its amazing staff. Every person that works in this hotel goes out of their way to make sure the customer’s needs are met. As this was our third annual visit, we specifically asked to use the spa pool while booking, though we wanted regular rooms. The staff kindly upgraded one of our rooms to a suite so we could use the pool. This practice may not apply to every customer, but their thoughtfulness deserves applause.
If this is your first visit to Agra, I suggest perusing the wonderful monuments this historic place is blessed with, while staying at ITC Mughal; but if you’re revisiting, I urge you to fully use the fantastic facilities of this hotel.
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