Hotel Saniya Palace

The rooftop restaurant and its ambiance were the reason I gave this two stars. The night view of the Taj Mahal from up there is very beautiful. The rest of the stay was rough. The online booking portal has very good pictures and reviews, but the place was actually very dirty. As soon as we passed through, there was an uncovered, overflowing dirt ditch. There’s no lift to the second floor, and the staircase is barely climbable. The washroom interior was in disrepair and had a water leak. I stayed there last February.

The view of the Taj from the rooftop is really good. Bowi was generous and hospitable, and the front desk gentleman was helpful arranging transport to Jaipur, plus tours of Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal. At the end of the tours, though, we were taken to what I presume were acquaintances’ tourist shops to buy jewellery and marble. I stayed one night and would stay again.

The owner was very sweet and arranged an early breakfast before our Taj Mahal visit. The food was pleasant, service was good, and the chefs were friendly. The location is perfect for the Taj, and the rooftop view is great. Our room was comfortable, but there was a sewage smell at night that made sleeping unpleasant. Covering the washroom drain helped. We had a decent stay.

I booked for the rooftop view, and it was probably one of the best Taj views in Agra. You get it for free, and I didn’t even pay to enter the Taj Mahal because seeing it from here was enough for me. The rooms are basic but very well priced. Mine was a fan room and got quite hot, so you get what you pay for. The hosts were very good and generous. I thought the food was a little overpriced for India, though that’s expected in Agra.