Hotel Kamal — Hotel in Agra

Our experience at The Kamal, near the Taj Mahal, Agra, was a living hell. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this place was unsafe and unwelcoming. The photos on the website are misleading and do not represent the reality of the rooms, which were filthy and poorly maintained. We were shocked to find black mold on the walls and disgusting conditions throughout the property. The location may seem ideal based on the listing, but don’t be fooled, it’s in an unsafe, rundown area that feels more like a slum. Despite being close to the Taj Mahal, the neighbourhood is dodgy, making it far from the serene or convenient stay we had hoped for.

The staff were openly homophobic, treating us with blatant disrespect and hostility. We were subjected to verbal harassment, which made us feel threatened and uncomfortable throughout our entire stay. The environment was incredibly hostile, and we quickly realized that we couldn’t stay any longer.

The harassment escalated to the point where we felt we had no choice but to run away from the hotel in the middle of the night, dragging our luggage behind us in a panic. It was a terrifying experience that ruined what should have been a pleasant trip.

This hotel is a nightmare, and I would strongly advise anyone considering a stay here to think twice. The Kamal is not only unwelcoming but also a place where your safety and dignity are not valued. Avoid this place at all costs; you deserve far better than what this hotel...

POSITIVES:|1) Location: very close to the Taj, and you can see it from the rooftop.||2) Food: Food was very good and we didn’t get ill as Westerners. ||3) Room: Room was basic but was a good size with lots of storage and a sofa, bed was quite firm but large and comfortable. ||4) Noise: Hotel was fairly quiet so no disrupted sleep. ||NEGATIVES:|1) Rooftop restaurant: Bit of a stretch to call it a restaurant… There were some plastic chairs and tables up there but no ambience. Also there are monkeys, one of which was quite aggressive in the morning so we decided to eat in our room instead. ||2) Over friendly staff: Whilst it was lovely in one way, we weren’t left alone by the waiter whilst having dinner on the rooftop. We had wanted a romantic meal overlooking the Taj but didn’t have the heart to ask for privacy. It was a lovely conversation but could have been 45 minutes shorter so we had some alone time. ||3) Hot water: Word of warning, in the morning when everyone is getting ready to enter the Taj for sunrise there is no hot water at all so cold showers only. Recommend showering in the evening instead. ||OVERALL: Don’t expect much for this price point but if only staying 1/2 nights it’s a...

Pros Location (a few minutes' walk from Taj Mahal) The dinner, served on the roof with a view of the Taj Mahal, was nice, and served by friendly staff The price was great

Cons I had pre-booked and pre-paid via Asiatech for my stay, yet on arrival the staff on the front desk and the manager (who I got the guy on the front desk to call on the phone) denied all knowledge of my booking. Eventually the manager actually opened his Asiatech portal, where he found my booking and agreed to let me access the room I'd paid for. He did apologise, but it was not a very welcoming start to my stay in Agra The room wasn't especially clean (hairs in the bed, no duvet-cover or sheet between me and the duvet) It took literally 20 minutes of running the shower before it got warm - I gave up and had cold showers the other days The bedside light didn't work - turns out it's actually just loose wires sticking out the wall The bedroom windows can be opened from...