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At a Glance

Created to provide luxurious respites from the beautifully chaotic sights and sounds of India, Rajasthan’s urban Oberoi properties are themselves extraordinary in their opulence and spectacular architecture. The hotels and resorts, each set in fantastic locations with easy access to the region’s sights, center around pavilions, pergolas, pools, fountains, courtyards and colonnades, as well as guest rooms with super comfortable amenities, traditional design touches and modern details throughout. Service, too, is prioritized across the hotels belonging to this nearly century-old, family-owned brand. If the Taj Mahal seems “the embodiment of all things pure, all things holy,” as Kipling wrote, then Oberoi’s pleasure palaces are the embodiment of all things amazing.

The Standout: The small, 300-year-old Shiva temple on-property, where guests can receive blessings by a Hindu priest
Don’t Miss: High tea or cocktails at Naila Fort, an 18th-century mountaintop residence (and home to the Chairman Emeritus of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts)

Indagare Loves

• The vast, 32-acre grounds, where over 100 peacocks wander freely
• The 13 luxury tented lodgings (Rajvilas was way ahead of the glamping craze)
• The culinary demonstration with master chefs at Indian specialty Restaurant Rajmahal to discover the secrets of herbs and spices in Indian cuisine

The Oberoi Rajvilas Review

Set on 32 acres of perfectly manicured gardens, complete with peacocks and parrots, this palatial resort is about a 40-minute drive from Jaipur. Domed pavilions and gold leaf-painted murals evoke a royal heritage, but the property was actually built in 1997. Of the 71 rooms, the most sought after accommodations are the 14 air-conditioned Rajasthani-style tents with hand-embroidered ceilings, shaded terraces, sitting rooms, lavish bathrooms and teak floors.

This enchanting desert caravanserai comes complete with room service, a princely restaurant, central pool area and a well-equipped Banyan Tree spa. Yoga, cooking classes, tennis courts, lectures, and performances by Rajasthani tribal musicians round out the resort experience here. While some may feel the Rajvilas’ over-the-top let’s-play-maharaja style is a bit too theatrical, others are enraptured by its escapist mood. Guests may also visit the property’s 300 year-old temple and listen to the priests chant, as incense wafts through the air.

Who Should Stay

Garden lovers, escape artists, glampers. The Rajvilas is a great choice for travelers looking for a resort-like experience on the outskirts of a hectic city. Couples will especially enjoy the luxury tents. The property is not right for those who want to be in Jaipur with easy access to the sights, shops and restaurants; the resort is a half-hour drive outside of the city.

— Diane Dorrans Saeks

Author

• Indagare