It is unbelievably green and does not look like Rajasthan at all. The beautifully pruned trees, the manicured lawns, the lovely small ponds around Rajasthani-style minarets, half submerged with creepers growing around them and lotus leaves floating with occasional flowers adding a sprout of colour, give an ethereal feel to the Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur.PS: It was not a sponsored trip and all information provided in the article is true and genuine. A temple encapsulated in timeAnd then at the edge of the pond is a 300‑year‑old Shiva temple. Standing there with folded hands, one feels a strange sense of peace and calm, as if some piece of time has been captured here. There is silence and simplicity, as if nothing has changed here. The temple closes at nine in the morning and opens again by six in the evening, so guests have a very small window to spend some spiritual moments here. No one quite knows who built it, but the temple was very much part of the old structure that Oberoi bought in the late 1990s.Nature in its raw form
As you walk through the garden, you are never really alone. Peacocks often fall into step beside you, pausing to dance, while the tītahrī and sandpiper stitch their calls into the stillness. Chef Rajiv Sinha jokes that, in local belief, the bird is forever searching for paras patthar, the mythical touchstone that turns everything it touches into gold. The bird runs lightly across the fields even at night, as if it has more ground to cover before dawn.For bird lovers, there is another quiet delight: a massive banyan tree that seems to hold a thousand birds in its branches. The chorus that rises from it every evening feels like manna for the soul, a living aarti offered back to the sky. To sit by this tree, overlooking the swimming pool, sipping an unhurried cup of evening chai, is perhaps the closest one can come to the dream life busy people secretly wish for. Quiet luxury
The rooms embody a quiet, old‑world luxury that never feels showy or forced. Each one opens into a small, walled courtyard, so even the bathrooms feel airy and connected to nature while still being completely private. Wide window seats invite you to curl up with a book, watching the gardens change mood through the day as peacocks and other birds wander past. Inside, the four poster bed, sturdy wooden chairs, writing desk and classic armchairs evoke a blend of Victorian and medieval stateliness, softened by warm lamps and muted colours. The linen is crisp and spotless, the floors gleam, and there is an almost old‑fashioned insistence on everything being in its place. The staff are so attentive, discreet and warm that after a day or two they stop feeling like strangers and start feeling like an extended, exquisitely trained family.Evening chai
By early evening, when the light begins to thin and the heat eases, tea becomes a gentle daily ritual. Tea time usually begins around 5 pm and winds down by 6 or 6.30, a soft prelude to dinner rather than an elaborate high tea. The spread is deliberately light: biscuits, tea cakes, a savoury or two, perhaps a local snack that nods to Rajasthan without overwhelming the palate. What makes it special is not what is on the plate but what is in the air. You sit quietly with your cup, listening to the riot of birdsong as the gardens fill with movement and sound. Peacocks call from the lawns, smaller birds return to their favourite trees and the sky slowly turns from gold to indigo. In that hour, with chai warming your hands and birds providing the soundtrack, even the busiest mind begins to relax.Food
Food is one of the biggest draws of this place, and not just for hotel guests but for anyone who cares about what lands on their plate. Chef Rajiv Sinha keeps the menus firmly rooted in clarity and comfort, even when they travel across continents. You could begin with a bright, carefully composed salad, move to a beautifully grilled piece of fish or meat, and end with a dessert that is more about balance than about sugar‑rush drama.
For those who crave local flavours, the Rajasthani thali is a gentle, well‑researched introduction rather than a heavy assault: delicately spiced dals, seasonal vegetables, ker sangri, gatte, fresh phulkas or bajra roti, and sweets that taste like someone’s grandmother made them. The kitchen is equally at ease with global favourites and regional classics, and the common thread is that everything tastes freshly cooked, thoughtfully plated and quietly confident. It is food that comforts without boring, and surprises without shouting.Special features
One of the loveliest indulgences here is private garden or poolside dining, complete with a personal butler. Guests can choose anything from an elegant high tea set‑up to a fully romantic, torchlit dinner under the trees, with menus customised to their tastes. These curated experiences usually start in the early evening and can cost in the range of about ₹12,500 to ₹15,000 for a couple, depending on the spread and set‑up. Many rooms and villas come with private, temperature‑controlled pools tucked into walled gardens, so you can swim in complete seclusion at any time of the day or night. It feels less like staying in a hotel and more like borrowing a luxuriously maintained private estate for a few days.Beautiful evenings
Evenings are designed to feel like a gentle cultural festival. There are traditional puppet shows for guests, live laqq (lac) bangle making demonstrations, and pottery sessions where you can sit at the wheel and shape your own piece with the help of local artisans. On some days, astrologers are invited in for personalised sessions, and you can watch craftsmen create intricate artwork entirely by hand. For those who love food and stories, there are spice‑centric talks and demonstrations, where experts explain how Indian culinary spices are used not just for flavour but also for digestion, healing and everyday wellness. It is the kind of slow, attentive programming that makes you linger, listen and then taste everything a little more mindfully at dinner.Is it expensive?
Visiting The Oberoi Rajvilas in the summer is a smart way to experience this world-class luxury property at a more accessible rate, because demand peaks in winter and prices rise dramatically. During the high season-from November through February-room rates typically range between ₹80,000 and ₹90,000 per night with breakfast included, especially for the Premier Room or equivalent categories. In contrast, summer months can see much lower rates, often dropping by 30-50%. What I did not like
The resort sits about 10-12 km from Jaipur’s city center and airport, which translates to a 20-40 minute drive, depending on traffic-peaceful if you seek seclusion, but it can feel remote for frequent sightseeing without pre-arranged transfers. While I drove down from Delhi, making distance no issue at all, others might find the location a hurdle if basing themselves here for city exploration.
