Hotel
The Oberoi Rajvilas
Oberoi resort on 32 acres of gardens outside central Jaipur, with private-pool villas, luxury tents, a spa and an old Shiva temple in its grounds.
Taj-run former royal residence built in 1835 as a guest house and hunting lodge, with 78 rooms and suites set in formal Mughal gardens south of the old city.
Good to know
Rambagh Palace is one of Jaipur's best-known palace hotels. The building dates from 1835, when it started life as a royal guest house and hunting lodge, and it was later converted into a hotel. Today it is run by Taj, and it remains the benchmark for a classic royal stay in Rajasthan.
There are 78 keys in total, split between 45 rooms and 33 suites. The palace is surrounded by elaborate Mughal-style gardens, which are one of its great pleasures, especially in the early morning and at dusk. Guests have butler service and 24-hour in-room dining, and check-in is from 14:00, with check-out by noon.
Food and drink are a big part of the experience. Suvarna Mahal, in a hall styled on an 18th-century palace ballroom, serves royal Indian cuisine, while the Rajput Room and the Verandah Café cover international dishes, the latter with outdoor tables. The Polo Bar is the place for a drink and light bites, and Steam is a lounge set in a restored railway carriage with a steam engine, serving Mediterranean food and cocktails.
For downtime, the J Wellness Circle spa offers traditional Indian therapies, and there are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, one of them heated, plus a fitness centre and yoga sessions. The hotel organises heritage walks, and the concierge can arrange sightseeing across the city. Pets are not permitted.
Rambagh suits honeymooners, special celebrations and anyone wanting the full palace-hotel experience; it is expensive, so book early for the peak season from October to March, when demand is highest. The hotel's heritage walks are a good introduction for first-time visitors. Even if you are not staying, booking dinner at Suvarna Mahal or a drink at the Polo Bar gives a taste of the setting.
The hotel holds EarthCheck certification and has EV charging stations, and its concierge desk can help plan visits across the city, from Amber Fort to the bazaars of the old city. Reserving restaurants through the hotel is wise in the busy season, even for residents.
The palace stands on Bhawani Singh Road, south of the old city, about 30 minutes by car from Jaipur International Airport. Taxis reach the Pink City sights in a short drive, and the Albert Hall Museum and MI Road are also close.
The building dates from 1835, when it began as a royal guest house and hunting lodge.
78 in total: 45 rooms and 33 suites.
It is a Taj hotel.
Suvarna Mahal, the Rajput Room, the Verandah Café, the Polo Bar and Steam.
Yes, the J Wellness Circle spa and indoor and outdoor pools.
Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out is by 12:00.
About 30 minutes by car from Jaipur International Airport.
No, pets are not permitted.
Attraction
Hilltop Rajput palace-fortress above Maota Lake in Amer, about 11 km from Jaipur, known for its courtyards, Sheesh Mahal mirror work and UNESCO-listed walls.
Bar
Blue-painted Italian bar and restaurant in the gardens of Narain Niwas Palace, opened in 2013, known for its murals, tented pavilions and evening cocktails.
Thing to do
The old city's jewellers' street near Hawa Mahal, lined with family-run shops selling gemstones, kundan and thewa jewellery in Jaipur's planned grid of pink shopfronts.
Restaurant
Rambagh Palace's formal Indian dining room, set in a hall styled on an 18th-century palace ballroom and serving royal recipes from Rajasthan and beyond.