HOTEL ARCHITECTURE IN AGRA
2009 OCTOBER

AGRA   HOTELS   PROMOTE  

ARCHITECTURAL   EXPERIMENTATION

HERITAGE TOUCH TO PROPERTIES

AGRA:

Some of the most beautiful buildings in Agra belong to the big hotels which in the past few years have become the new hubs of developmental activity. The hotel properties are not only compatible with the heritage status of the city but have also contributed to further the process of experimentation in modern architecture.

Oberoi’s Amar Vilas, walking distance from the Taj Mahal is a classic, remniscent of Kubla Khan’s famed Xanadu, if looked from a distance. The sheer architectural fantasy expressed through rounded domes, stone work, the jalis, the rich texture, spacious walkways, takes one’s breath away.

Mughal Sheraton in the neighbourhood stands out for its unique layout and designing. The hotel in fact won the covetous Aga Khan Award for its architectural grandeur. True to its name the property carries forward the Mughal architectural traditions while incorporating modern features. The lush green lawns and the well maintained gardens so meticulously planned by Kanwaljeet Singh offer tourists the luxury of getting lost in the wilderness all by himself. The exterior of the Mughal Sheraton is misleading. Once you enter the lobby the grandness of the edifice takes several moments to sink in you.

Another hotel property on the Fatehabad road that has made a mark with its functional yet imposing design belongs to the Jaypee group. Hotel Jaypee is both a palace and a fort. The lavish use of red sandstone to create a medieval ambience with arches and columns, half a dozen conference halls equipped with modern gadgets, a variety of restaurants and swimming pools with no constraint of space remind you of the royal opulence during the Mughal period. The serene environment, cascading fountains, laid out amidst acres of green land, are indeed a delight for the tourists.

Hotel Heritage that was opened last year in the Imperial premises has also drawn attention for its architectural grandeur. Combining the best features of the Western and the Mughal designs, the hotel property retains the charm of the era gone by.

Another hotel close by holds the distinction of being one of the oldest in Agra. The Lauries hotel, now not so popular, yet the architectural features impress you. The Gothic style pillars, the high ceilings, the thick walls and the dimensions of the rooms take you back to the feudal era, according to Swatantra Bhagat who feels Hotel Clark Shiraz, Agra’s oldest five star property, is yet another modern architectural showpiece, combining comfort with functionality. The building though not so impressive to look at from outside, yet its interiors and designing are noteworthy, adds Swatantra Bhagat, an expert in interior décor.

Hotel Taj View on Fathehabad road stands tall and majestic inviting tourists to its plush ambience. A little short on open space, the five star hotel is described as one of the most elegantly planned structures in the city.

Within the city, it is the Holiday Inn in the Sanjay Place commercial complex, that has harmoniously blended Mughal traditions with modern designing features. “Even with all these experiments and forays it is the good old Mayur Tourist Complex, the vision of Deokinandan Vibhav, that continues to attract notice not so much for its architectural grandeur but for its lush green lawns and the openness that is so inviting,” says Surendra Sharma of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society.

The city of the Taj Mahal has more than a hundred small and big hotels, but only a dozen stand out for their design, planning and grandeur. “Hotel promoters have the resources and also a reason to experiment. They should therefore be a little more careful about the building plans and the overall design of their properties which should also take into account the local traditions,” says Rakesh Chauhan, president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association.