ITC Mughal, Agra- a Luxury Collection Hotel

ITC Mughal, Agra is a huge luxury hotel situated on sprawling grounds covered with gorgeously landscaped hedges and grass areas interspersed with terra-cotta bricks and Mughal-style terraced fountains -- there's even a butterfly garden. Interiors are equally impressive and include a huge white-marble lobby with an enormous chandelier centerpiece comprising multiple Mughal-style lanterns. Restaurant decor is contrastingly modern, with few nods to Agra's Mughal past beyond a few floral curlicue patterns on the carpets and glass lanterns suspended from the ceilings. Different areas of the hotel are named after various Mughal Emperors, while the newest wing -- Khwab Mahal (which means Palace of Dreams) -- houses some of the finest suites. The hotel attracts a mix of tourists, both from India and abroad, along with plenty of local business travelers. 

The ITC Mughal is located on busy Fatehabad Road, a long multi-lane thoroughfare dominated by hotels, restaurants, coffee chains, and souvenir shops. There are a couple of ATMs and restaurants across the street plus a Subway sandwich shop. It's about a 15-minute drive from here to the Taj Mahal (or around half an hour on foot, but the walk isn't pleasant due to plenty of cars and lack of shade). Agra Fort takes about 10 minutes to reach by car, while it's a 10- to 15-minute drive to the Agra Cantonment Railway Station. Farther afield, Fatehpur Sikri takes an hour to reach by road. Travelers should factor in at least half an hour to get to the airport by car, traffic permitting.

The ITC Mughal offers a variety of rooms and suites. Rooms come in two categories: Mughal Rooms and business traveler-friendly Mughal Chambers, both of which measure 363 square feet (34 square meters). The hotel also offers a few dedicated EVA Rooms in a section specifically designed for solo women travelers, with extra security to boot. Suite categories include the Royal Mughal Suites, which all clock in at around 720 square feet (67 square meters). The two Presidential Suites measure around 1,300 square feet (96 square meters), while five Grand Presidential Suites measure 2,050 square feet (190 square meters) and three have two bedrooms. Mughal Rooms and Chambers feature simple, somewhat staid decor, with hunter-green marble floors and countertops in both the sleeping areas and the bathrooms, plus wooden furniture and gold-trimmed mirrors and light fixtures. However Suites take the decor up quite a few notches, with beautiful wood flooring mixed with stylish gray furnishings and fixtures, accented by paisley patterned accents. The five Grand Presidential Suites add beautiful pools and en-suite treatment rooms. Bathrooms come with magnifying mirrors and basic toiletries, plus bathrobes and slippers in all room categories. Rooms have shower/tub combos, while suites feature separate soaking tubs and walk-in rainfall showers. All rooms and suites come with coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibars, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels and DVD players, free Wi-Fi, safes, and air-conditioning.

Although the ITC Mughal offers plenty of impressive features, it's the wellness facilities that really stand out. There are two pools -- a spa pool and the larger main  Firdaus Pool (Firdaus is Urdu for "heaven") -- along with a huge 24-hour gym with tons of weight and cardio machines. The gorgeous Kaya Kalp Spa is the largest in the country, with sprawling interiors that feature red-and-white curlicue motifs inspired by pomegranate fruit, once considered a royal delicacy, and spa guests are greeted with a large glass of fresh pomegranate juice.Dining options include three restaurants, two bars, and round-the-clock room service. Both Taj Bano and the Mughal Pavilion offer buffets at all three meals, with cuisine from around the world alongside some traditional North Indian and Mughal specialties. Peshwari focuses on rich specialties from the Northwest Frotnier area of what is now Pakistan and Afghanistan, with menus comparable to what's found in its Delhi sister restaurant, the world-famous Bukhara. Bars include Makhana, a contemporary lobby bar, and Bagh-E-Bahar Lounge, with views out over the hotel's terraced fountains. Both serve cocktails, spirits, beer, and a large selection of wine.Although a large percentage of guests here are tourists, the ITC Mughal is also a popular venue for conferences and weddings, with eight venues, the largest of which can accommodate up to 1,500 people. Other facilities include a business center, laundry service, a travel desk, and even an on-site astrologer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there's plenty of free on-site parking.