Radisson Allahabad Palace

The Radisson Allahabad Palace, perched on the banks of the Yamuna opposite the historic Allahabad Fort, is the kind of colonial relic that smells faintly of faded grandeur and polished brass, the sort of place that will make you feel both important and mildly uncomfortable in the same breath. Book a room on the first floor facing the river; the early‑morning light through the arched windows gives a decent view of the Sangam, and the balcony is the only spot where you can sip a chai without the hum of the hotel’s over‑zealous air‑conditioning. The lobby, with its marble columns and cracked plaster frescoes, is worth a brief look, but the real draw is the roof‑top restaurant ‘Swagat’, where a plate of aloo paratha with a dollop of dahi at sunrise beats the standard continental buffet by a mile; order the kebab platter at dusk for a side‑show of city lights. Avoid the spa – the treatments feel rushed and the aromatherapy smells like cheap incense. If you’re staying longer than two nights, skip the mid‑day pool (its chlorine is a harsh reminder that the building’s age hasn’t been matched by modern upkeep) and instead wander to the nearby Anand Bhawan museum for a dose of actual history. Late‑October to early March is the only window when the Yamuna’s fog doesn’t turn the view into a grey smear, and the hotel’s central location makes a short rickshaw ride to both the Sangam and the bustling Chowk a practical base for exploring the city’s layered past.