Ranthambhore tiger
Nestled among lush lawns and a forest of trees, the Oberoi Vanyavilas Hotel is a luxury jungle resort, making guests really feel like they are on safari and yet with all the amenities of a luxury hotel. Near the famed Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in India, each room of the hotel is a separate building complete with a soaring canopy.
Entering the room, guests are greeted with an opulent atmosphere with wood floors in rich, warm tones inviting guests to step inside. The room is composed of two main areas with the inviting bedroom and sitting area comprising roughly three-fifths of the room and the bathroom filling the rest. For added privacy, curtains can be drawn to separate these areas. The tiger print rug under the bed and a wing chair, also in a tiger print, serve as constant reminders of why we are here. We are here to experience the majesty of the elusive tigers at the nearby tiger reserve.
Ranthambhore tiger drinking water
The four poster bed, complete with curtains that can be released to envelop the bed, beckons the weary guest to unwind after an exciting day of searching for those tigers.
guest room at Oberoi Vanyavilas
A very welcome surprise, the hotel staff prepares a hot water bottle for each guest upon arrival. Having never used a hot water bottle before, we were not sure what to expect. Wow! What a treat! The hot water bottles are placed in the foot area of the bed and managed to keep our feet toasty through the night. In fact, we enjoyed this experience so much that we bought hot water bottles when we arrived home. We use them several times a year, when it’s just chilly enough to want to warm our feet, but not worth turning on the furnace.
The sitting area is also on this side of the room and contains the tiger print wing chair, accommodating side tables, a few other chairs, and a writing desk, which serves double duty as the TV stand. In between jungle drives, guests can easily relax here and write postcards home.
Oberoi Vanyavilas sitting area
A central bathtub and separate shower are located in the other section of the room. This area contains two wash basins, the opulently appointed free-standing tub in the middle of this area and a large shower located on the outer edge of the room. This area also boasts ample closet space and soft robes.
bathroom at Oberoi Vanyavilas
bathtub at Oberoi Vanyavilas
Outside, a private patio surrounds the entire building. A dinette set is on one side is the perfect setting for a light breakfast as all the birds in the area also start their morning singing. On another side, guests find the perfect place to relax and perhaps take a nap on the chaise lounge in between game drives in the tiger reserve.
patio for guest room at Oberoi Vanyavilas
chaise lounge outside guest room at Oberoi Vanyavilas
At night, the hotel offers a bonfire as guests unwind from the day. As guests fall asleep, they may be rewarded with the roar of a tiger in the distance. No telling what dreams that may evoke!
The hotel also has a pool (heated in the winter), a billiard room, a spa, and a tower from which the surrounding area can be surveyed. This view really gives a sense of how the individual guest room buildings are nestled among the trees. For the adventurous, hotel staff also can arrange elephant rides on their two resident elephants.