Located on 35 enchanting acres, our hotel is situated close to the city centre and gardens, as well as the Taj Mahal – one of the world’s most fabled monuments. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is the finest example of symmetry and balance in architecture and is now on the World’s Heritage list.
- Agra Fort 4.0 km/2.5 miles - Few forts in the world have a more fascinating story to tell than the Great Fort of Agra. Originally planned as an impregnable military structure by Akbar, the Agra Fort, over a period of time, acquired all the elegance, lavishness and majesty of an imperial palace. Situated 1 km upstream of the Taj Mahal, on the right bank of the Yamuna, the Agra fort was built under the direction of Akbar, by Mohammed Quasim Khan, his commander-in-Chief and Governor of Kabul. It took eight years to complete and entailed an expenditure of three and a half million rupees.
- Taj Mahal 4.0 km/2.5 miles -It has been described as ‘A tender elegy in marble’. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is the finest example of symmetry and balance in architecture and is now on the World Heritage list. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan as the final resting place for his beloved Queen, Mumtaz Mahal. Done in white marble, it took 22 years and over 20,000 workers and craftsmen to complete this rhapsody in stone (1630-52 AD). The main structure is set amidst landscaped gardens. While on three sides it is surrounded by high walls, the rear is bound by the river Yamuna.
- Sikandra 15.0 km/9.0 miles - Sikandra is 8 km north-east on the Agra-Delhi road. It is one the same side of the river Yamuna as the Taj. Sikandra was built in 1492 by Sikander Lodhi, a ruler of one of the last dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate. Akbar, in his time, ordered the construction of Sikandra again, this time as a site for his mausoleum but he died before it could be completed. The work was completed by his son Jehangir in 1613. The tomb is a combination of Muslim and Hindu architectural styles. The building of red sandstone is four storeys tall, approximately 31 metres in height. The first three storeys are of red sandstone, while the fourth is entirely of marble.
- Dayal Bagh (Soami Bagh) - Situated 12 km from the hotel, this is the headquarter of the Radhasoami religious sect, founded in 1861 by Shri Shiv Dayal Singh, also known as Swamiji Maharaj. Being built to commemorate the Supreme Creator, this tall, unfinished façade of marble, lined with exquisitely carved pillars and panels, was estimated to cost about five million rupees when it was conceived. Today, the cost of work finished and work still to be done will run into ten million. About 500 devotee stay in the colony adjoining the Samadhi. It is claimed that is may rival the Taj Mahal in splendor when it is completed.
- Fatehpur Sikri - about 37 km south-west of Agra, was built by the side of an artificial lake about 3 km long and 1.6 km wide. Still perfectly preserved, this complex of palaces, mosques, gardens and pavilions is a rich legacy of the Mughal era. You can stroll through the Emperor’s bedroom, climb to the top of the Panch Mahal, the five tiered palace and look down on the Pachisi courtyard. Then move to the Anup Talau, the sandstone platform on a pond, where Mian Tansen once sang. And no trip is complete without a visit to Salim Chisti’s Dargah, where you can tie a thread on the latticework of its walls and make a quiet wish.
- Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary - Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is situated 60 km from Agra. During the season, cormorant, darter, spoonbill, egret, stork and black ibis are found in large numbers. In winters, migrant birds from as far as Siberia and Northern Europe collected here. Dabchicks, pheasant tailed jacanas, moorhens and coots find their natural surroundings here.
- Mathura - Holy Mathura, about 55 km from Agra and 10 km south of Brindavan on the west bank of the Yamuna, is believed to be the birthplace Lord Krishna, who is said to have been born in a prison here. Mathura is one of the oldest cities in India, much older than even Agra. Its history can be traced back prior to the days of the Maurya dynasty, which ruled from 325 BC to 184 BC.
- Ram Bagh - The monument was built by Emperor Babur and is one of themost earliest Mughal Gardens. History says that Babur was temporarily buried here, before interred at Kabul.
- Itmad-Ud-Daulah’s Tomb - About 4 km North of the Taj, on the left bank of the Yamuna, is the perfectly proportioned marble mausoleum Itmad-ud-Daulah. Noor Jehan constructed this splendid marble monument in her father’s memory. This double storied marble tomb is replete with mosaic, inlaid with semi-precious stones.
