The Oberoi Amarvilas

Sitting just 600 metres from the Taj Mahal, the Oberoi's views of the iconic monument are pretty hard to beat. The rest of the setting isn’t bad either, with a long driveway leading up to the hotel lined with trees and lit by flaming torches.

Every one of the hotel’s rooms and suites are built facing the same direction, meaning you’re guaranteed beautiful views of – you guessed it – the Taj Mahal. If you even notice your immediate surroundings, you’ll find them opulent and luxurious: antique Indian fabrics adorn the walls, dark sandstone and white marble form intricate patterns beneath your feet, and local craftsmanship is evident in the ornate, inlaid wooden furniture.

The Oberoi Amarvilas offers guests a choice of two indulgent dining options. The bright, breezy Bellevue, open all day, offers Indian and continental cuisine accompanied by beautiful views of the garden and terraces through wall-to-wall windows. Esphahan, with its Moorish red-and-white columns, carved wood-panelled doors and live traditional music, is an evocative spot to enjoy a candlelit dinner of contemporary Indian cuisine.

Tucked away behind huge carved wooden doors, and with marble and sandstone tiles lining the walls up to a vast white marble dome, the spa is appropriately grand for one overlooking the Taj Mahal. There is also a state-of-the-art gym so you can keep on top of your fitness routine, and a beautiful outdoor swimming pool complete with viaduct-style arches and a Mughal-inspired relaxation area.

The Taj Mahal is truly one of the wonders of the world, a 400-year-old marble-hewn masterpiece built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a monument to his dead wife. Lying a little over a kilometre away, the Taj is within easy reach of the hotel.

While the Taj is undoubtedly the star of the show in Agra, as it would be anywhere, you should also check out Agra Fort, which is one of the finest surviving Mughal fortresses in India and is older than the Taj, dating from 1565. Another striking marble tomb nearby, thought to be the inspiration for the Taj, is Itimad ud Daulah, while the Kinari Bazaar is an atmospheric place to get lost and pick up a one-of-a-kind souvenir.