Review of The Oberoi Amarvilas, by Sarah Anderson

Opened in 1998, the entrance into the luxury hotel Amarvilas is through a colonnaded courtyard filled with fountains. This leads into a vast lobby with a domed ceiling where, instead of being a large check-in desk, there are two discreet small ones.

The facilities

There were more staff than customers in the lower ground floor Bellevue restaurant, but the service was breathtakingly slow. The luxury hotel encourages guests to make an evening of dining to enjoy the full experience. It is necessary to book in advance for the Esphahan restaurant, renowned for its Indian cuisine.

The luxury hotel has a large garden with a beautiful swimming pool facing the back of the hotel. Guests can relax with a variety of spa treatments and yoga. The fitness centre is filled with cardio equipment and free weights for those looking for a more intense workout.

The rooms

Every one of the 102 rooms at the luxury hotel has a view of the Taj Mahal. Some even have a balcony - but the rooms without a balcony have windows that do not open. The bedrooms are well-decorated with wooden floors, nice rugs and interesting architectural drawings on the walls. The beds are comfortable and there is a choice of pillows. The rooms at the end of the corridors tend to be cold, but the floor butler makes certain you have enough bed covers.