One of Agra's better-known hotels, this four-pearl Taj Group-run property (formerly the Taj View Hotel) is an elegant boutique-style property situated on nearly six acres (around two-and-a-half hectares) of land, including lots of grassy lawns and towering palms. The hotel itself occupies a rectangular white building that looks relatively plain from the outside, but stepping inside reveals a long lobby with recessed lighting and off-white marble floors with gold-and-dark-green inlay. A few seating areas here with bright patterned satin chairs and sofas give space to linger. This property attracts a mix of Indian business and leisure travelers loyal to the Taj brand as well as plenty of international travelers. It also represents one of the better values in town appealing to those who want something a bit more upscale while avoiding the considerably higher prices of five-pearl hotels in the area. 

The Gateway Hotel is located right on Fatehabad Road, a long and busy strip dominated by hotels, restaurants, coffee chains, and souvenir shops. It's about a 15-minute drive from here to the Taj Mahal (or around half an hour on foot, but the walk isn't pleasant due to plenty of cars and lack of shade). Agra Fort takes about eight minutes to reach by car, while it's a 10- to 15-minute drive to the Agra Cantonment Railway Station. Farther afield, Fatehpur Sikri takes an hour to reach by car. Travelers should factor in at least half an hour to get to the airport, traffic permitting.

Rooms at The Gateway Hotel mix contemporary styling such as sleek marble-tiled floors and solid wooden furniture with a few quintessentially Indian touches in the form of traditional floral patterned bed spreads and matching throw cushions. There are four categories in total starting with Standard Rooms, which measure around 260 square feet (24 square meters) and feature pool or city views and high-end amenities such as flat-screen TVs (with DVD players on request), minibars, safes, and kettles, plus small but sleek bathrooms with walk-in rainfall showers and large granite countertops. Superior Rooms are tad larger at around 300 square feet (28 square meters) and don't differ much from their Standard counterparts except that they all have views of the Taj Mahal (albeit off in the distance, and the skyline is usually pretty hazy). Executive Rooms have comparable floor plans and views, but are on higher floors and have seating areas next to the windows that are elevated a few inches off the ground to divide them off a bit from the main rooms. At 621 square feet (58 square meters), Executive Suites are the largest of the lot, and there's one on every floor of the hotel. These add sleek features such as separate bedrooms with ornately painted ceilings and four-poster king beds, living rooms with dining areas, and huge marble bathrooms with separate walk-in showers and deep shower/tub combos. 

Although The Gateway isn't really a conference hotel, it does offer two event spaces -- Mumtaz and Phoolbagh -- for weddings and events with a capacity for 60 and 200 people reception-style, respectively. For dining, The Gateway offers four bars and restaurants. Gateway All Day (GAD) is open around the clock and serves Indian and international fare both a la carte and buffet style. The more upscale Jhankar is only open for dinner and focuses on South Indian dishes, which tend to be a bit lighter than the heavy cream-and-meat based Mughal-inspired dishes favored in most Agra restaurants. Drinking options include Saqui, a lounge bar that's open all day and also serves snacks and light meals, and Sky-Deck, a seasonal outdoor option with great city views. Room service is available 24 hours as well. 

The hotel offers a business center with laptops and cell phones for rent, plus a small fitness center with a few cardio machines and free weights. Other wellness facilities include a lovely spa featuring massages, wraps, and scrubs, along with beauty services such as haircuts and mani/pedis. The hotel also features a lovely outdoor pool surrounded by plush lounge chairs on one side of the property's massive and beautifully manicured lawns.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel (although some past guests have complained of slow connections), and there's lots of free parking.