A hotel 5 minutes away from the Taj Mahal with an EPIC rooftop view in Agra
Updated: Apr 7
With a history that stretches back over 50 years, Lucky Guesthouse is aptly named as it is the only one of its kind that has a rooftop view. It was built before planning rules came into effect stating that no building can be as tall as the great Taj. It is one of the most affordable hotels in Agra, and is perfectly positioned with the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort within walking distance.
Not just lucky, this guesthouse is just a five minute rickshaw ride away from the Taj Mahal itself. It is located opposite a local police station, and also in the heart of a street market which has plenty of stores, restaurants and amenities. It really is the perfect spot to stay if you are planning to visit the Taj, and is also very local, giving you a real taste of Indian culture. Read on for all you need to know about Lucky Guesthouse!
Thank you for stopping by, and a warm welcome to our India series here on Jenn & Leon Travel Blog. We had always wanted to visit this country, officially the 7th oldest in the world, and not only was the time finally upon us, but it came with our good friends and fellow Youtuber's Jackson and Marjo!
If you missed our earlier posts and would like to catch up, head over to our dedicated INDIA page or look out for the links in this blog.
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Getting to Lucky Guesthouse from Agra Cant Station
After running the gauntlet of taxi hawkers outside Agra Cantt Train Station (see last post), we were grateful to finally see our ride pull up on the side of the road. That being said, when we saw the size of the car, we knew we would have a bit of a problem! It was a standard hatchback, and so luggage was going to be a struggle. However, ironically we had encountered this issue when we left our hotel in Delhi, so we were ready to pack ourselves in like sardines again!
The biggest challenge with this taxi was that there was what looked like a gas tank in the trunk. So big that in fact we could only fit one item in it, that being Jenn’s carry-on suitcase. With none of us willing to wait any longer after all of the hassle we experienced already, in we went, with luggage piled so high on our laps we are amazed the driver even agreed.
By this point in our journey in India we had already realized that conventional travel is just not the norm here. Things are just different, standards are different, and expectations should be thrown right on our of the window! Even though we could barely move in the car, we were just glad to be on our way. Or so we thought...
So despite being charged for the full trip to our destination (120 rupees), the roads in an around Lucky Guesthouse just so happened to be closed for maintenance (not that we saw any). With our driver unable to communicate much in English, we could not really understand much of what was going on. We gingerly made it out of the vehicle, at which point a rickshaw driver came up to us and explained the situation. Rickshaws were thankfully being allowed through, and after his price went from 400 rupees to 100 rupees in a matter of seconds, we accepted his ride. So off we went, all four of us in the rickshaw with our luggage again on our laps, for the final leg of what was a super long and draining travel day.
All you need to know about taking the train from Delhi to Agra including how to book, where to go, what to do at the station and more.
Our Lucky Guesthouse Review - the perfect Agra hotel for the Taj Mahal & Agra Fort
Lucky Restaurant and Guesthouse is a solid budget accommodation option for tourists visiting the Taj Mahal and other historical sites in Agra. The hotel offers a variety of clean and comfortable rooms with air conditioning, television, and private bathroom facilities. As mentioned in the name there is also a restaurant, offering several different dining options with a view of the Taj, alongside room service.
The rooftop view is spectacular as you can imagine, although it is only a small space. It is also caged as there are monkeys in the nearby trees which can easily jump over. The staircase leading up to it is nicely decorated, and in general it felt very neat and clean.
A point of note is that the hotel building is actually across the road from the concierge and restaurant building (that also houses the rooftop view). This was not made overtly clear when we booked, and was a tad confusing at first. But nonetheless, it was still a positive experience.
The service throughout our stay was very positive in general. As with much of what we encountered in India, the staff here seemed ready and willing to go above and beyond, and were super friendly. We cannot fault them really.
⪢ The Location
As already mentioned Lucky Guesthouse is only a short 5 minute rickshaw ride from the West Gate of the Taj Mahal. You can walk it in 20 minutes too. It is also just a 6 minute drive away from Agra Fort.
The location in and around the hotel sadly leaves a lot to be desired though. The road outside was pretty chaotic, even with the cars missing due to the traffic restriction. With so many rickshaws and scooters, it is hard to imagine cars on it anyway! It was fairly tight, very dusty, dirty, and of course accompanied by the constant sound of honking. 24/7 honking. Literally non-stop!
The area itself is very impoverished and we saw lots of stray dogs, garbage, sewage and even dead rats at almost every turn. There were several people sleeping in doorways close to the hotel too. At first it felt really intimidating and overwhelming, although after we settled down in the hotel and had our first shower in 4 days we felt much better (more on why that was here).
If you would like to check out more of the surrounding area to the hotel, check out our YouTube video walking tour:
As you will see from the video, our initial reservations about the area were quickly put to rest in this short walk. Sure, the area is very rundown and dirty, but once you look past that you will find that people are super friendly and welcoming. Within a few minutes Leon felt super comfortable, even if his stomach (like Jenn's) was going hammer and tongs when this video was filmed.
⪢ The cost
The cost per night here at the Lucky Restaurant and Guesthouse was just 27 Canadian Dollars (20 USD / 1600 Rupees). This is a solid 3-star accommodation and the price really is excellent given its proximity to the Taj Mahal. There are other popular spots in Agra too and it is a great place to base from in our opinion, with access to rickshaws and taxis super easy (when the road is not closed). From what we saw, the guesthouse offers some of the most affordable rates in Agra.
The food at Lucky Restaurant
We only tried the Paneer Makhani and Special Thali from the menu, which we had delivered to our room. Both meals were excellent, and we thoroughly enjoyed them! Really tasty and well cooked, we cannot fault them. We wish we could rave about the other options too, but our happiness with the food was to be unfortunately short lived.
Sadly disaster struck in the evening, a few hours after we had eaten. We were both struck down with severe stomach pains, and the worst diarrhea either of us had ever experienced. It was a gastro problem that knocked us both out for the rest of our time in India. We basically cut our trip short as it affected us so badly. So much so that what we ate here was pretty much the last full meal we ate in the country!
It is hard to pinpoint whether it was the food here or not, which did seem to be cooked well. Jackson had already been sick prior, still yet to recover, so we suspect the problem may have originated in Delhi and manifested itself here. Either way, it stopped us from enjoying the rooftop, Jenn from seeing the Taj, and all of us from exploring the surrounding area. The need for a bathroom was chronic.
We want to stress that the food here was good, and that gastro issues are actually fairly common for first time travelers in India. The obvious reason is poor food hygiene, although we did not really see any evidence that this was the case here. It is said that the heavy use of Indian spices are the main cause, as our stomachs are not used to them. Either way, it was horrible, and we advise high caution where food (and water) is concerned. Try to start small and work your way up to the more local dishes, be careful where you eat, and be sure to bring plenty of vitamins, Imodium, and packet foods if you can.
⪢ The menu at Lucky Restaurant Agra
The options on the menu at Lucky Restaurant are a mixture of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani and Italian cuisine. There are plenty of drinks to choose from too. The prices are very reasonable and had we not gotten sick, we most certainly would have tried some of the other options!
* Please note that prices and options shown are at time of writing and subject to change at any time. Contact the restaurant directly for the most up-to-date information.
The Room at Lucky Guesthouse
Our room was on the second floor of the hotel building, with a lovely open-top seating area just outside. We booked the double bed couple room and it was exactly as described online on booking.com. The same can also be said of Jackson and Marjo's room too.
For any hotel, the key things for us are good air conditioning, a comfortable bed, good internet and for everything to be cleaned to an acceptable standard. We are pleased to say that Lucky Guesthouse achieves all of these parameters to great effect, and we were really pleased with the room. Our only critique would be a lack of extra pillows for the bed, but that to one side, we can have no complaints at all.
There are several room options to choose from, as shown on the graphic below. You can find all the contact information you need further down in this post, or tap here.
The rooms are nicely decorated and modern, although they are a tad small. The bathrooms are clean and the hot water works really well. Some basics such as shower gel, shampoo, tea and coffee are provided, and there is also a large TV. Storage space is a little limited but manageable. The sound-proofing is also okay, although we did still have to use our fan app to drown out the honking on the street, which never really stops!
The first ever garden tomb in India, this near 400 year old UNESCO Heritage site is the tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun. Our 'hi-five-lights!
How to find Lucky Restaurant & Guesthouse
It will take about 16 minutes to get from Agra Cantt station to Lucky Restaurant and Guesthouse by car. The total distance is 5.7 km. We prefer to use Uber, but as mentioned earlier there are plenty of taxis outside the train station, although these tend to be metered and can charge more. You could also take a rickshaw, which may be slightly cheaper. The price should be around 100-150 rupees.
Contact Information
Address: Lucky Restaurant & Guest House Tajganj, Agra Agra India 282001, Agra, India, 282001
Email: beluckywithlucky@gmail.com / contact@luckyhotelandrestaurant.com
Contact Number: +91 9359669192
Website / booking: heylink.me/lucky_restaurant_guest_house / luckyhotelandrestaurant.com
Instagram: @luckyguesthouseagra
Facebook: @luckyrestaurantandguesthouse
Our Lucky Restaurant & Guesthouse experience ratings
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
This was a tough one to rate as the hotel itself is great. We had no issues with it at all. Good internet, clean, excellent service and good food. What is not to like? Especially for such an incredibly good price. The downside is honestly the awful state of the surrounding area, which is not within the control of the guesthouse. As was the case with our gastro issues, which we most likely picked up in Delhi. We may not always remember our experience fondly for those reasons, but if we picture ourselves inside our room, or looking out to the Taj Mahal from the rooftop, we highly recommend Lucky Guesthouse!
✓ Cleanliness: 5/5
Absolutely no issues at all. Everything was very clean and sanitized, and the bathroom was in good order. It was clear that every effort was made to help us feel comfortable, and we were really happy with it.
✓ Cost & Value for money: 5/5
✓ Food & Drink: 5/5
✓ Location: 2/5
✓ Service: 5/5
Coming up: 6am at the Taj Mahal with NO sunrise and NO Jenn!
Despite the severe stomach problems, Leon still just about made it to see the world's most famous mausoleum. Sadly Jenn was unable to leave the hotel, being way worse, but the show had to go on! So Leon went with Jackson and Marjo. Unfortunately the misfortune continued, with our 6am plan for the famous Taj sunrise being laid to waste by rain clouds! Luckily the rain only kicked in as we were leaving. What do they say? With every cloud comes a silver lining?!
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