The short answer
The Oberoi Rajvilas: what visitors should know first
Book this if you want spacious grounds, gardens and a slower pace over easy access to the old city's monuments, which are a 20–30 minute drive away. Non-guests can visit for a spa treatment or a restaurant meal with a reservation.
History and context
The story behind The Oberoi Rajvilas
The resort opened in 1998 on a 32-acre site outside Jaipur, built new rather than converted from an existing palace or haveli. An 18th-century Shiva temple already on the land was restored and kept as the centrepiece of the grounds.
Useful facts
The Oberoi Rajvilas facts at a glance
- Location
- Goner Road, 15–20 minutes from the old city
- Stay style
- Fort-style resort built in 1998, spread over 32 acres
- Location trade-off
- Well outside the old city; better for a slower stay than day trips
- Best suited to
- Multi-night resort stays, honeymoons, spa breaks
- Origins
- Built 1998; incorporates a restored 18th-century Shiva temple
- Operator
- Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
Why it matters
Why The Oberoi Rajvilas is worth your time
Rajvilas represents a different model of heritage-style hospitality in Jaipur from Rambagh Palace or Samode Haveli: rather than restoring an existing royal building, it built new structures in a consciously Rajasthani vocabulary, spread across enough land for genuine privacy between guests. That approach shaped a wave of resort-style luxury hotels across Rajasthan that followed it.
The temple at its heart also matters locally. Incorporating an existing shrine into the resort, rather than clearing the site, kept a small piece of continuous local worship inside what is otherwise a modern development, and it remains a point of quiet interest for guests walking the grounds.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The central Shiva temple
A working shrine, several centuries old, restored and kept at the heart of the grounds rather than removed.
- 02
The gardens
32 acres of landscaped grounds with reflecting pools and courtyards, unusually spacious for a Jaipur hotel.
- 03
Spa in a garden setting
Treatment rooms set among the gardens, open to non-guests with a booking.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
The Oberoi Rajvilas opened in 1998 and was built from scratch to resemble a fort-and-haveli complex rather than being converted from an existing building, unlike several of Jaipur's other heritage hotels. The result is a single-storey spread of sandstone courtyards, domed chattris and reflecting pools across 32 acres of gardens, with rooms, tents and villas set apart from one another for privacy.
At the centre of the property is a restored temple, several centuries old, that predates the resort and was incorporated into the design rather than removed. It is one of the few places in Jaipur where a working shrine sits inside a hotel's grounds, and guests are usually free to walk past it on the way to the spa or restaurants.
For a non-guest, the most realistic way in is a spa booking or a restaurant meal, both of which need advance reservation. Because the resort sits well outside the walled city, it works better as a base for a slower two- or three-day stay than as a day-trip stop between old city sights.
Plan with confidence
Before you book the room.
- Book spa or dining visits well ahead if you are not staying
- Factor in a 20–30 minute drive to old city sights each way
- Ask about golf-cart transfers if walking long distances is a concern
- Confirm current spa and restaurant policies for non-guests before travelling out
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Goner Road, roughly 15–20 minutes from the old city
- Time needed
- A few hours for a spa or dining visit; a full stay for guests
- Best time
- Cooler months, October to March, to make the most of the gardens
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Grounds are flat and paved, with golf-cart transfers available across the 32-acre property so guests are not expected to walk long distances between the temple, restaurants and rooms.
- Tickets and access
- No public entry ticket. Non-guests need a spa or dining reservation, and access outside those bookings is limited; call ahead to confirm current policy.
Best for
Plan it with
Book with confidence
Check rates at The Oberoi Rajvilas
Compare room types, cancellation terms and breakfast before you book. Ask for a ground-floor or lift-access room if anyone finds stairs hard.
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Travelling with parents?
Grounds are flat and paved, with golf-cart transfers available across the 32-acre property so guests are not expected to walk long distances between the temple, restaurants and rooms.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is The Oberoi Rajvilas close to Jaipur's old city?
No, it is on the outskirts, roughly 20–30 minutes by car from Hawa Mahal and the old city bazaars.
Can non-guests visit the temple or gardens?
Access is generally limited to guests and those with a confirmed spa or dining reservation; there is no general sightseeing entry.
What makes Rajvilas different from Jaipur's other heritage hotels?
It was purpose-built in 1998 in a fort-and-haveli style rather than converted from an existing palace, and it incorporates an older temple into its grounds.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
