About this hotel
General information
The Oberoi Vanyavilas is a tented resort on the edge of Ranthambhore National Park, one of India's best-known places to see the Bengal tiger in the wild. Some 8 hectares of landscaped gardens hold water bodies, a mango orchard, a lily pond and a natural amphitheatre; an observation tower looks out over the surrounding jungle, and an organic kitchen garden supplies the kitchens.
Guests stay in 28 tents modelled on the travelling caravans that once crossed India. Each sits under a triple canopy and is air-conditioned, with teak floors and traditional Rajasthani details, and butler service extends to every tent. Days follow the rhythm of the park: dawn drives with a naturalist, slow middays by the pool or at the Asmi by Oberoi spa, and dinners by the fire to live folk music.
Location
The resort lies on Ranthambhore Road in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, ten minutes by car from the gates of Ranthambhore National Park. Sawai Madhopur railway station is 5–9 km away, about 10–15 minutes by road, with direct trains to New Delhi. Jaipur airport is roughly 150 km away (around three hours by car) and Delhi's international airport 356 km. The hotel arranges transfers from the station and from Jaipur airport on request.
Spa
The Asmi by Oberoi spa is open daily from 8 am to 7.30 pm for resident guests, and treatments are best requested a day ahead. Its programmes rest on five pillars – movement, nutrition, bodywork, breathwork and mindfulness. The menu covers signature Oberoi experiences combining several treatments, Eastern and Western massages, sensorial treatments to release tension, body scrubs and wraps, and ILA facials. The signature treatment is a massage with warm bowls of kasa metal, drawn from the Ayurvedic tradition. Instructors lead yoga and stretching sessions, private ones included.
Sports & leisure
The heart of every day is the park itself: three-and-a-half-hour drives into Ranthambhore National Park each morning and afternoon in six-seat Oberoi 4x4s, with a forest guide and the resort's own naturalist. During the monsoon – 1 July to 30 September, according to the hotel – only part of the park's zones are open and the whole park closes on Tuesdays; mobile phones may not be used in the safari zones, though cameras are allowed. The hotel also offers:
- a walk through the grounds with the naturalist, on birds, butterflies, spiders and other residents of the gardens, and a photography lesson with the naturalist;
- a talk with the naturalist or a documentary on the park's tigers after a drive, and stargazing from the observation tower;
- a dawn excursion to the 10th-century, UNESCO-listed Ranthambhore Fort, perched 700 m above the jungle;
- birdwatching at Surwal Lake, home to around 100 species, and a boat trip on the Chambal River, which holds India's largest population of gharials;
- a cooking session with an Oberoi chef that includes a kitchen-garden tour and lunch, wine tastings, block printing, patchwork and kantha embroidery with local artisans, and an introduction to the soot painting the area is known for;
- a ride in a painted camel cart along the tree-lined lanes around the resort;
- a temperature-controlled pool, a 24-hour fitness centre in a large air-conditioned tent, a daily group yoga session, a recreation room and board games.
For children
The hotel runs daily children's activities with its kids' coordinator and naturalist: cookie baking with the chefs, clay modelling with a village artisan, block printing on fabric with hand-carved Rajasthani motifs, drawing tigers with a local artist, treasure hunts in the gardens, tree planting in the orchard and yoga for kids. From November to March, weather permitting, children can pitch a tent in the gardens, light a bonfire and toast marshmallows.
Restaurants & bars
Beyond the restaurant and two bars, the hotel sets private tables in the mango orchard, by the lake and at the top of the observation tower.
- The Dining Room – the all-day restaurant, with a menu of Rajasthani, pan-Indian and continental dishes that changes daily; a high-ceilinged hall with chandeliers, murals of Ranthambhore's tigers and a fireplace, plus courtyard tables by the bonfire to live folk music;
- The Bar – single malts, cognac, wine and cocktails by the fire, with chess, leather-bound classics and oil paintings of tigresses on the walls;
- Alfresco Bar – an open-air evening bar among the trees, built around a bonfire, with Rajasthani folk musicians, Oberoi signature cocktails and dishes from the grill;
- Dine by the Lake – a candlelit Rajasthani thali on the stage of the torch-lit natural amphitheatre above the lily pond;
- the observation tower – sunset drinks with canapés from the kitchen garden, dinners under the stars and breakfasts watching sunrise over the Aravalli hills;
- the mango orchard – private breakfasts to a folk flautist and dinners beneath lantern-hung trees.
Swimming
There is no beach. The 12-metre main pool is temperature-controlled and heated in winter, with parasol-shaded loungers, light snacks and drinks. The Luxury Tent with Private Pool and the Royal Tent with Private Pool each have their own temperature-controlled pool.
Pets
Pets are not permitted.
Rooms
The 28 tents come in three types set among the gardens: spacious tents with their own walled garden, tents with a private pool, and the Royal Tent, two separate tents around a courtyard with a pool. Interiors bring teak floors, canopied beds, freestanding tubs and Rajasthani details; all tents are non-smoking.
Each tent has butler service, individually controlled air conditioning, a pillow menu, a stocked bar, tea and coffee, turndown, express laundry, a safe, high-speed internet for four devices, a 49-inch LED smart TV, and a bathroom with a freestanding tub, a separate multi-setting shower, natural Oberoi toiletries, a hair dryer and block-printed cotton bathrobes.
Luxury Tent
A tent with a canopied king-size bed (twin beds on request), a large writing desk, armchairs, a claw-footed bathtub and teak floors. Outside is a private garden with sun loungers, enclosed by handmade traditional walls; for up to two guests.
Luxury Tent with Private Pool
A tent in the gardens with a canopied king-size bed (twin beds on request), armchairs and a writing desk, and a bathroom with a freestanding tub and a shower cubicle. The adjoining deck holds a temperature-controlled private pool, sun loungers and space for dining outdoors; for up to two guests.
Royal Tent with Private Pool
A private enclave of two tents – a master bedroom with a king-size bed (twin beds on request) and garden views, and a living and dining tent for private dinners – set around a courtyard with a temperature-controlled pool, a bonfire and lounge seating. For two guests.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.