The Oberoi Amarvilas

The Oberoi Amarvilas is in Agra, with the Taj Mahal about 600 metres away, and the view is the whole point. The hotel says every room and suite has an uninterrupted outlook over the monument, across six room types from Premier rooms to the Kohinoor suite.

For celebrations there are banquet rooms inside and venues in the open air, and the hotel describes them as suited to intimate weddings. Indoor events take up to 120 guests and outdoor events up to 220. Agra also gives guests plenty to explore, from the red sandstone Agra Fort to Fatehpur Sikri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site a short drive away, and the Mehtab Bagh garden across the Yamuna.

Plan the ceremony and dinner outdoors if your guest list suits, since outdoor events take 220 against 120 inside. Indoors, the Roshnara and Jahanara ballrooms seat 120 theatre style and divide into two halls under crystal chandeliers. Ask the team which spaces face the Taj Mahal, how ceremonies are set up and how late music can run. Vow renewals can also be arranged.

The hotel works with trusted outside planners and suppliers, so bring your own planner or ask the team for names. For a welcome or after-party dinner, Bellevue is the all-day restaurant with Indian and international food, and Esphahan serves regional Indian dishes in a modern way, open for dinner only. Ask about private dining.

Guests stay on site in rooms and suites that all look at the Taj Mahal, and the hotel's golf buggies take guests to the monument. The room count is not published, so ask the team how many you can hold.

The Oberoi spa and fitness centre is for resident guests, with private suites for couples' treatments. Agra Airport is about 9 km away and Agra Cantt station about 6 km, and Delhi's international airport is also listed as a gateway. The best times to visit Agra are February to April and September to November. Remember the Taj Mahal opens 30 minutes before sunrise and is closed on Fridays.