Oberoi Rajvilas: an emblem of Rajasthani culture

The Oberoi Group has always been synonymous with luxury and being located in Jaipur, on the renowned Golden Triangle, we have a lot of responsibility when it comes to showcasing the very best of our culture. It’s important to embrace the flavour of the city hence why the architecture and essence of Oberoi Rajvilas is entirely devoted to Rajasthan’s colours and craft. Every stone is carefully chosen, the brass doors weighing around 500 pounds each are all hand carved. During the building process we employed the ancient and extravagant method of araish citrus-based plaster work popular for the polished, glossy effect it produces with fine examples of the technique seen in various opulent palaces and havelis. We’ve also commissioned famous artist, Ghanshyam Nimbark, lauded for his beautiful gold leaf work.

Every day, we set up a type of bazaar. Among the artisans that we invite, there’s a lady who makes delicious chai, a puppeteer whose family has been visiting for 25 years and a bangle maker who makes jewellery in front of your eyes.

Rooms are artistically designed with sandstone floors, sunken marble bathtubs and adorned with Rajasthan’s famous blue pottery tiles. We’re the first hotel in India to have created beautiful, canopied tents as rooms. Four of our rooms (soon to be eight) have private pools but the main swimming pool is just stunning, especially at night under torchlight – the ideal place for a private dinner.

We are blessed with 32 acres of lovely gardens with peacocks roaming around (don’t miss the bird watching activity). Our outdoor facilities include a 5-hole golf course, two tennis courts, croquet, badminton and a herb garden where guests can pick their ingredients for breakfast. Adults can recharge in the spa, a converted haveli with therapies such as sound bowl healing while children can burn energy on treasure hunts, cupcake making and block printing for which Jaipur is so well known.

We have two restaurants, one named Surya Mahal with a good array of international cuisine as well as Rajasthani food from thalis to gatta curry. Raj Mahal is our Indian speciality restaurant. Last year, the theme was The Royal Sport of Hunting which included a khad murg, my favourite – a whole marinated chicken cooked in the ground under hot charcoal. But if it’s real indulgence you’re after, we can take guests for high tea at the owner’s private residence, Naila Fort. Soak up the hill-top views while you’re attended to by a butler. Not many people can say they have dined like an Oberoi.