Shanti Lodge

In 2008 we stayed at the only room at Shanti Lodge that was convieniently placed next to the rooftop restaurant. And we could see Taj Mahal from our room trough a window with bars. Better view of the Taj from the terrace/restaurant.

Budget dobbelroom with bathroom.
Relatively clean, but some cockroaches at night...

I will recommend this room and rooftop restaurant, but the rest of the rooms where quite shabby and had no view.

Very satisfied with the view and rent, just satisfied - somewhat unsatisfied with the room standard.

Unique Quality: Rooftop terrace and restaurant with Taj Mahal view. 1 room next to the restaurant with Taj Mahal view.

Directions: Taj Ganj area.

We stayed at Shanti Lodge hotel/hostel in October and payed Rs 300 for double roomwith fan and western WC and plenty hot water.
Shati is located close to the south gate of the Taj and arguably has best rooftop views of the Taj Mahal.
The rooftop tarace is on two levels and is really nice place to chill out and rest, They serve decent food and the price is more than OK. The menu has mix of Indian, Chinese and western European food.
Their address:
Shanti Lodge
Taj South Gate
Agra
their tel number +91 (0)562 2231973 or you can send them e-mail at:
shantilodge2000@yahoo.co.in
They have small travel agency where you can buy tickets fro train or bus, internet cafee and they also offer train/bus station free pick up.
we found that offer of free pick up was very important to us, so we always choose hotels/hostels with that service.

Directions: South Gate of Taj Mahal.

A budget, but pleasant hotel with a rooftop restaurant with a great view of the Taj Mahal. We paid 300 rupees a night for a double room with a bathroom. There's a little shop next door which can be accessed from reception, which sells toilet paper, crisps, biscuits etc.

The nice on this budget hotel (RS 450/double-room in 01/2008) is the excellent location close to Taj mahal, very good roof-top restaurant (tasty meals, beautifull view) and good cleaniless of rooms.
Big disadvantage (in winter) is however the unreliable hot water supply - there is some central heating which is probably not-sufficient to cover the needs (at least in the evening when you really need the hot shower). One of possible reasons for that were permanent power cuts....

Unique Quality: Superb view from the nice roof-top restaurant.

I only stayed here for one night out of the three I spent in Agra as my first choice, Hotel Sheela, was full but they had rooms available the following day. You normally get a good impression of what the rooms are going to be like by what the reception, landings and corridors look like and none of them seem promising. A guy took me to a few rooms and none of them were particularly appealing but I settled on the first one which was actually being cleaned. A paine of glass was missing from the window and so letting in the traffic noise which usually involves a horn being blown every other second. The general decor had seen better days if, even, better days had existed! Attempts at making some sort of cabinet in the wall had halted as there was just a square hole in the wall, there were 2 fairly grotty looking armchairs but the bed was big and fairly comfy. The good thing about this hotel is the view of the Taj from the rooftop and the food served up there is also good.

The Shanti Lodge is located in the heart of Agra and offers stunning views across the rooftops to the Taj Mahal. When we first arrived and were showed our room on the top floor, I thought that I was seeing things. I was not, that spectacular view of the Taj Mahal sitting proudly in front of my bedroom window was all real!

This is a budget accommodation, but it is nice accommodation. It was clean and comfortable with friendly staff, a great restaurant on the rooftop with super views and well located in Agra.

Unique Quality:
The view is the main draw here, and the fact that in sprawling Agra the Taj is in walking distance from the hotel is another major bonus in my opinion.

All the guide books say that the Shanti lodge has the best views of the Taj and that is certaintly true if the smog and pollution clears so you can see it! The old rooms are worth the money and the new rooms through the ally are much better. The staff is ok and the rooftop restaurant is sub par and tooo crowded with LP hardcore fans. Overall, decent choice.

Unique Quality: View of the Taj in the morning and centrally located.

Directions: Chowk Kagjiyan, South Gate

Before to choose the restaurant or even the Guesthouse, check twice. If it is not enought, check the third and the fourth time.
I decided to overnight in a very “beautifull??!!” Guesthouse, ohh well, it appears beautifull...the view offered by the GH was amazing, from the terrace I had the Taj Mahal 100% in front of me and com’on this GH was suggested also from some of the most popular indipendent travel guides...so, all was ok..
Well, when I got back in the night, my room was completely fullfilled of huuuuuuge mosquitos (not properly mosquitos, huge animals with some wings) and I could definitely not stay in the room...
I had a lot of trouble with the GH has they refused to give me another accomodation, as I had payd (as they said) for that room...and what tha hrell does it mean???!
At the end, I slept on the flor, and the day after I admired my beautifull Taj Mahal view from the terraces.
Check properly the room!

There are a lot of cheap GH in the Taj Ganj block of Agra, where from the terrace you got an amazing view of the Taj Mahal, but before to decide check oproperly your room!

(last date stayed - Jan. 24, 2004)

Proprietor's name: M.K.Chaurasia

Room # 7
Double Room with Toilet
Fan Only
Hot and Cold Shower

Room rate - Rs 100/night