Grand Imperial Hotel

Probably one of Agra’s most venerable hotels, the century-old Grand Imperial began as a high-end Raj-era hotel hosting the era’s political grandees in its heyday.

These days the revamped property is more focused on leisure visitors, still very comfortable and characterful yet certainly not catering to an uber-lux clientele.

Arched verandahs, lofty ceilings, wide corridors and retro furniture – including four-poster beds – all reinforce a subtle colonial atmosphere, offset with ethnic detailing.

It’s a good choice for those wanting a faintly ‘olde-worlde’ atmosphere without breaking the bank, and a sense of being slightly away from the main hubbub of the city.

All the main sites are around 1-2kms away, but sightseeing in Agra tends to be done by taxi/escorted bus, so it’s still easy to get to all the main sites.