Though Taj Mahal dominates the scene in Agra, the accommodation in the vicinity of the world-famous monument doesn’t do it justice. There are a number of high-end hotels for those who can afford it, but for the average traveller, spending a night at one of these is not feasible.
Instead, one has to settle for the accommodation surrounding the monument that are housed in dingy alleyways and dark corners of the area. For those looking for an alternative to the chaos surrounding the Taj, Tourist Rest House provides the perfect answer.
The location is close to the Taj without the chaos
At just a few kilometres from the Taj Mahal, Tourist Rest House is a comfortable ten-minute auto rickshaw ride away. It’s located in between the Taj Mahal and Red Fort, another must-see monument in Agra. It’s down the street from where most travellers would get buses to and from Delhi.
With no malls nearby, the hotel is located in the thick of a local neighbourhood. Several restaurants are close by, along with ATMs, taxi stands and local markets for fruits and vegetables. If you’re too tired to leave the hotel after a long day of sightseeing in the heat of Agra, the hotel features amenities like the courtyard and lounge area to help you relax.
The internal courtyard is the best place to while away an afternoon
With a facade that’s unassuming, Tourist Rest House features a massive internal courtyard filled with gorgeous plants, trees and a miniature fountain accompanied by tea-lights. The courtyard doubles as a restaurant and a late-night area where guests from various nations come to hang out.
Leafy, ambient and very serene, the courtyard’s restaurant also serves up delicious meals from early morning breakfasts to late night after dinner desserts. Expect to pay around 300 INR (4.50 USD) for a meal for two; guests can also order room service at an extra cost. With fast Wi-Fi, board games and a TV lounge area, Tourist Rest House features the necessary amenities to while away the hot Agra afternoons.
Rooms are affordable for all budgets
The rooms at the Tourist Rest House are dependent on the floor. The ones on the ground floor, closest to the courtyard, are the cheapest and smallest and come only with a fan. They start at 720 INR (11 USD) and work their way up to 900 INR (13.50 USD) until you reach the second floor where the rooms tend to be more spread out, but remain at the same price.
All the rooms here feature a better view, although none of them come with air conditioning, only fans. The third and top-most floor has the best view of the hotel, along with some spectacular views of the surrounding neighbourhood. All the rooms up here have air-conditioning, large four-poster double beds and start at 1140 INR (17 USD).
If you want peace and quiet in Agra, Tourist Rest House is the place for you
Tourist Rest House may be slightly far from the Taj, but with a location that’s in between Agra’s two most famous monuments and close to the tourist bus, the price can’t be beat. Plus, it’s rare to come across an accommodation, especially in Agra, where the interior courtyard cools you down in the Agra heat.
The staff are also extremely friendly and will go out of their way to help you out. The serenity and lack of surrounding chaos just add to the reasons why Tourist Rest House should be chosen as your accommodation when visiting Agra.
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