100 Peacocks Live at This Palace Hotel Outside Jaipur

Stay Here For

A stay that will feel like you’ve checked into a traditional summer palace.

At the edge of Jaipur’s vibrant Old City sits The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, surrounded by towering palace walls. The forested property is modeled after a fort, but it feels more like a portal back through time, to an era of maharajas and maharanis, and the ornate summer palaces they called home. Across the 32-acre property, you’ll find a 300-year-old Hindu temple, an 18th-century haveli (traditional Indian mansion) turned spa, landscaped gardens, reflection pools and a moat.

After strolling through the grand, fountain-lined entrance, you’ll be treated to an extravagant welcome ritual: You’ll be showered with rose petals, then given a necklace of bright yellow marigolds and a tika (welcome blessing) for health, wellness and prosperity.

And the Rajasthani traditions will continue throughout your stay. During the day, you’ll relax by the pool, lined with bright yellow beach chairs shaded by emerald, ruby and gold tasseled umbrellas. But come night, traditional local vendors will appear, offering guests the opportunity to shop block-printed textiles, intricate miniature paintings, lac bangles and handmade puppets, all of which can be charged directly to your room. At dinner, Rajasthani dancers will twirl in front of your table to music performed by live folk singers. The property even offers readings from a local astrologer.

With 32 acres of forest, the hotel serves as an extension of its surrounding landscape. (There are upward of 40 species of exotic birds on the property, including a flock of more than 100 peacocks.) And with tennis and badminton courts, a five-hole putting lawn and outdoor yoga, there are ample opportunities to get outside and enjoy the sprawling grounds. Rooms are another place to take in nature, with garden views and outdoor pools. To further immerse yourself in the scenery, book a safari-style tent, set in your own private outdoor area.

All of this—and a strong sense of place—without ever having to leave the property.

The Essentials

The Room

Rooms on the property range from smaller Premier types to kitted-out tents and larger villas. Premier rooms feature canopied four-poster beds, block-printed rugs and dressers, walk-in closets and arched windows, complete with a window seat—perfect for peacock spotting. Bathrooms have double vanities and large sunken marble bathtubs placed in front of floor-to-ceiling windows that let in garden views. For outdoor space, select Premier rooms come with private pools or gardens.

The property’s luxurious tents, which are spread across its grounds, evoke the feeling of staying in a royal hunting lodge. These lavish spaces have king-size beds, teakwood floors, en-suite bathrooms and, notably, air-conditioning. They’re also the only room type on property with claw-foot tubs. Guests can choose between a private garden or a pool.

Villas have private pools, kitchenettes and dining rooms, and are available in one- or two-bedroom configurations. These spacious dwellings are ideal for large families or groups that are traveling together and offer even more privacy than other room types, thanks to personal entrances.

The Bars and Restaurants

The hotel’s main restaurant, Surya Mahal, specializes in international dining and serves breakfast through dinner. At breakfast, the hotel brings the Indian tradition of tea stalls inside its fortified doors with customizable morning chai served from a rolling cart.

At night, in the restaurant’s outdoor courtyard, Rajasthani dancers spin beneath the stars alongside drummers and singers. The dining area places you inside the inner sanctum of the palace, with pink sandstone walls and large fire torches. Dishes here run the global gamut: clay-baked malai broccoli topped with cheese and nuts, lamb tagliatelle, prawn and chicken paella, and even pad thai.

Raj Mahal, the property’s seasonal restaurant (open from late October to March), is open for dinner service only and offers specialty Indian dishes from across the country. Menu standouts include chicken with saffron and cream, smoked lamb curry and a variety of breads, including roti and paratha.

You should end your night at the Rajwada Library Bar, a cozy space with white marble and dark wooden floors, plenty of board games (including chess and backgammon) and walls lined with lithographs of former maharajas. There’s a wide selection of wines on offer, but the Pink City cocktail—an homage to Jaipur made with house rose syrup and gin—is the drink to order.

The Standout Feature

Your entire stay is marked by the high standards of service at The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur.

The high level of service that’s a signature of The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur and the Oberoi brand in general. This includes golf cart drivers who will chauffeur you back to your room, no matter how many times you get turned around on the property’s massive grounds; a thoughtful concierge who will send you off to your 6 a.m. hot-air balloon excursion with a packed breakfast; and coffee and room service that seems almost prescient. The service has raised the bar at properties across India and beyond, and it’s what you’ll brag about most following your stay.

The Location

The Oberoi Rajvilas is located outside of Jaipur in Jagdish Colony, east of Jhalana Leopard Safari Park. On low traffic days, it’s a short 20-minute drive to the sights of Jaipur’s Old City and a 30-minute drive to Amber Palace and the Jal Mahal water palace.

The Time to Go

From October through March, before sweltering hot temperatures and monsoon rains (July to October) make it more difficult to get around. For an especially festive trip, visit during Holi in the spring or Diwali in the fall.

The Vibe

Start your morning with the hotel’s hot-air balloon excursion during sunrise. (Angela Sun/Chase)

The hotel’s must-book excursion: Waking up before dawn at home might be a struggle, but the hot-air balloon experience at The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur is more than worth the early call time. After being chauffeured to a field outside of the city, you’ll float up into the clouds, cruising over the Aravalli mountain range and Amber Palace while watching the sunrise.

The spiritual wellness treatment you didn’t know you needed: Visit the 300-year-old Hindu temple in the center of the property, where you can opt to get blessed by a Hindu priest.

If you’re looking for gardening inspiration: Crowds of ruby and magenta bougainvillea blooms line every Oberoi property, as they were a favorite of Mr. Oberoi himself.

The best way to spend an afternoon: Watching the peacocks—there are roughly 100 of them—that have naturally gravitated to the property and its lush grounds. Look for them by the pool, in your room’s garden and by the tennis courts, especially at dusk and dawn.

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