The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra

Had the privilege of staying here with my wife for the first time for 2 nights in room no 305 on the 23rd and 24th September 2026. The room was awesome with an amazing view of the Taj from the balcony of our room ! One could sit in the balcony and watch the dance program by young dancers, watch the sunset and the amazing view of the hotel after dusk when the lights are on ! The Oberoi Amarvilas is one of Agra’s most distinctive luxury hotels, particularly because of its extraordinary proximity to the Taj Mahal. What makes Amarvilas special ? The major attraction is really the experience of staying in a Mughal-inspired palace with the Taj Mahal constantly in view. It is particularly beautiful around sunrise and sunset, when the changing light alters the appearance of the Taj. The hotel has 102 rooms and suites, 24-hour butler service and 24-hour in-room dining. Their service is very courteous and Oberoi is known for its hospitality right from welcoming their guests or going out of the way to help. It was indeed an amazing and unforgettable experience. Dr. Javed Rasheed

We had some memorable time at the Oberoi Amarvilas once again after 3 years to the date we did enjoy our stay at arguably the best hotel in Agra nowadays. Thank you to the general manager Mr Kukreja and his team for helping ensure our experience was splendid. Food was lovely, the chat experience was great and cocktails were nice, what’s more the view from the hotel of the Taj Mahal is also breathtakingly beautiful.

A world class hotel with a location that defies imagination. A wonderful experience form check in to check out and berthing in between. Highly recommended.

At first, I was hesitant booking with The Oberoi Amarvilas due to its exorbitant cost. I think it was like 5 times more expensive than Taj or ITC. Then I thought this might be the only time in my life in Agra, I wanted to do it right. The moment I saw Taj Mahal from the windows of my room, I knew I made the right decision. The facilities at this hotel are simply stunning. Every detail is flawless. I arrived in the afternoon directly from the Delhi Airport. They took me to a lounge to check in and coordinated with my guide for my sunrise tour of Taj Mahal. When they escorted me to my room, the attendant spent quite a while explaining every detail of the room and asking for preferences. For Oberoi guests, they have a special buggy to take you to the entrance of Taj Mahal and back. There are refreshments and coffees at their lounge so you won't go there empty stomach. That's very thoughtful of them. And having a buggy service really helped in the summer heat. After Taj Mahal, I took the buggy back and breakfast was ready. Overall, The Oberoi service was outstanding and my bucket list Taj Mahal tour was effortless! The toiletries at The Oberoi are from an Indian brand Forest Essentials. The fragrance is just so light and fresh. Later I found out from a Forest Essentials store that the fragrance is specifically designed for The Oberoi. That's too bad. I should have taken some of the toiletries home. I dined at one of the restaurants, Bellevue. Food, service and ambience were outstanding. It wasn't busy and I was able to take my time enjoying the meal after a long day. Price wise, it's comparable to any fine dining restaurants in Vancouver. So it might be considered very expensive in Agra. I really can't think of any flaws at The Oberoi Amarvilas. If your budget fits, I highly recommend splurge at this hotel in Agra. It gives a lifetime of fond memories.

I’ve stayed in a lot of exceptional hotels around the world, and Amarvilas genuinely sits among the very best of them. It made our Agra visit, in every sense of the word, and it made my father's birthday. The grounds and setting are simply immaculate, and just being in them is deeply relaxing. The view of the Taj Mahal (from every room, the bar, the lobby, the tea room) is nothing short of divine. There's no other hotel experience quite like it. The service is second to none, anywhere in the world. Every member of staff is clearly well trained, genuinely warm, and consistently goes out of their way to help. This is a team that has been built with real care. The food was brilliant throughout; an excellent breakfast (both the buffet and a superb à la carte selection), and two wonderful dinners at Esphahan, where the chef specially prepared galuti kebabs for us off-menu on our second night, simply because I'd mentioned they were my favourite. A few members of staff made our stay truly unforgettable, and I want to thank them by name: Koyel, at Esphahan, deserves the highest praise of all. Her warmth, thoughtfulness, and the way she shared her own story with us made a lasting impression; and she arranged a beautiful surprise birthday cake for my father on the balcony overlooking the pool, a moment we'll never forget. Riya, also at Esphahan, was equally exceptional; attentive, charming, and full of genuine warmth and confidence. She also introduced me to the restaurant's santur player, whose music left me genuinely in awe. I even had a go on the santur myself, though I suspect it may have scared off a few of Riya's other diners! Both Koyel and Riya were the absolute stars of our stay, and I have no doubt they'll go far in their careers. Thank you both, sincerely, and well done. Naman was wonderful across both breakfast and dinner service, and arranged a lovely bakery takeaway for us for our onward journey. The other Riya, at the breakfast restaurant, delighted us with stories from her childhood and her insights on the virtues of ghee in cooking. She served me a lovely aloo paratha. Cathareen at breakfast was soft-spoken but confident, and we loved hearing about Shimla from her. Kanav at the bar entertained us with stories of his motorbikes, and Kapil at the front desk was a lovely presence as we checked out. And last but certainly not least, Rohit, the General Manager, who gave us a warm, personal welcome on arrival, upgraded us to two balcony rooms, and remained attentive throughout our stay. The spa is currently being renovated, and in the meantime the hotel has cleverly converted three rooms into private spa suites so guests can still enjoy treatments, each with its own steam room, which was a lovely touch. I do hope the new spa, once complete, will include a shared steam room, jacuzzi, and sauna, since none of these currently exist elsewhere at the hotel. That would round out an already exceptional property beautifully. The only issue, and Rohit and the team are already actively looking into solutions recognising the hotel's need to coexist with the surrounding nature, is the pigeons. They're a genuine nuisance across the resort and make a real mess on the balconies. Beyond being unsightly, this also raises a genuine health hazard given how much time is spent on the balconies enjoying the view, so it's a point worth the hotel prioritising. That aside, this is a truly brilliant resort, among the very best in the world, without question. Well done Rohit and team!