The Oberoi idea, taken into the forest
Before the big lodges came, visitors to Ranthambore slept in forest rest houses such as the Jogi Mahal or in the Jaipur family's old hunting lodge in Sawai Madhopur. The new resorts changed the town. Vanyavilas showed that a tiger reserve could hold a hotel as finished as any palace in Jaipur, and it raised the standard for everyone.
The name: vanya means of the forest, and vilas means pleasure or delight, so Vanyavilas is a forest retreat by its very name.
- Operator
- The Oberoi group
- Opened
- Early 2000s
- Grounds
- About twenty acres
- Inspiration
- Royal caravans of Rajasthan
- Sister hotels
- Rajvilas Jaipur, Udaivilas, Amarvilas Agra
- The family: it belongs to the same group as The Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur, The Oberoi Udaivilas and The Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra, so the standards are the same throughout.
- The inspiration: the tents recall the royal caravans that once crossed Rajasthan, when rulers travelled with whole camps of canvas, carpets and furniture.
- The land: the resort was laid out in gardens and orchards on the edge of Sawai Madhopur, a short drive from the park gates.
- Its place in history: the forest beyond was a hunting preserve of the Jaipur maharajas, became a sanctuary in 1955, came under Project Tiger in 1973 and became a national park in 1980.
- The wider story: our Ranthambore guide explains how a royal hunting ground became one of India's great tiger reserves.
Gardens, water and peacocks
Twenty acres: landscaped gardens, waterbodies and native trees surround the tents, so the grounds feel spacious even when the hotel is full.
Walled gardens: each tent sits in its own garden with a deck, giving privacy without isolation.
- Wildlife at home: peacocks on the lawns, birds in the orchards and, in the cool months, the smell of woodsmoke at dusk.
- Close to the park: the gates are a few minutes away, so the dawn drive starts without a long run in the dark.
- Close to the station: Sawai Madhopur station is about 9 km away, roughly ten minutes by road.
- Easy to walk: the paths are flat and well lit, which matters for grandparents and young children.
Tents with the comforts of a palace room
The first time you lie in a Vanyavilas tent at night, the surprise is the sound. Through the canvas comes everything: a peacock settling, a nightjar churring, the far-off bark of a sambar in the forest. Inside, the air is warm and still, and the bed is as good as any in Rajasthan.
Air-conditioned canvas: every tent is cooled for the hot months and warmed for the cold ones, which makes Vanyavilas the easiest lodge at Ranthambore in April and May.
- Inside: a four-poster bed, a freestanding bath and a separate shower are the pattern, with wildlife art and Rajasthani textiles.
- Your own deck: each tent has a private garden and deck, the best place for breakfast after the morning safari.
- Private pools: some tents have their own pools, and the grandest tent pairs two tents around a courtyard with a heated pool.
- Butlers: every tent has butler service, which in practice means tea at the right hour, a hot water bottle on a December night and a quiet hand with children.
- No promises: we don't promise a specific tent, because allocation belongs to the hotel, but we request what matters to you, from a private pool to a tent near the main building.
Dining in the main hall and by the fire
The Dining Room: Indian, Rajasthani and international cooking, served in the main hall or by the courtyard bonfire, often with live folk music.
The murals: the central building's frescoes and murals depict the wildlife of the region. Look for them before dinner, when the light is low.
- The Bar: a quiet room for cocktails, wine and chess by the fire, its walls hung with oil paintings of tigresses.
- The Alfresco Bar: an open-air bar with a bonfire and Rajasthani folk musicians, serving grills in the old shikar-camp style.
- Dine by the Lake: the hotel's candlelit Rajasthani thali at a natural amphitheatre, a lovely last night.
- Ask for the local dishes: eastern Rajasthan cooks with wheat, dairy and seasonal greens. A winter dinner of dal, sarson, mustard greens, and fresh rotis is hard to beat.
- Dietary needs: tell us about Jain, vegan or allergy needs before you arrive. Our Rajasthani food guide explains the dishes.
Asmi, the spa, and a heated pool
Asmi by Oberoi: the group's wellness brand, with a philosophy drawn from Sanskrit ideas of the self. Treatment menus change, so we don't list them.
A haveli for a spa: the spa building recalls a Rajasthani mansion, with a courtyard and water at its heart.
- Spa
- Asmi by Oberoi
- Spa building
- In the style of a Rajasthani haveli
- Pool
- Temperature-controlled, with parasols
- Also offered
- Private yoga sessions
- When to book: late morning, after breakfast, or straight after a cold morning drive.
- The pool: temperature-controlled, so it is pleasant in January as well as in April, with snacks served poolside.
- Yoga: private sessions can be arranged in the gardens at the cool ends of the day.
- More on wellness: our page on spas and Ayurveda explains the traditions, and our wellness journeys combine forest and spa.
Safaris from Vanyavilas
Twice a day: drives run at dawn and in the late afternoon, about three hours each, in open six-seat Gypsies or larger canters.
Private Gypsies: we always book a private Gypsy for families, so each group sets its own pace and children can stop when they are tired.
- Permits: issued by the Rajasthan forest department, tied to each guest's passport and sold out early in winter. We book as soon as dates are fixed.
- Naturalists: the hotel's naturalists brief you before each drive and walk the gardens with you between them.
- Beyond tigers: leopards, sloth bears, sambar, chital, crocodiles and hundreds of bird species share the forest.
- Etiquette: low voices, muted colours and no chasing. Our page on tiger and leopard safaris explains the rest.
Days out between drives
Ranthambore Fort and the Ganesh temple
What it is: one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan inscribed by UNESCO in 2013, held by the Chauhans, taken by Alauddin Khalji in 1301 and surrendered to Akbar in 1569.
- The temple: families post wedding invitations to the three-eyed Ganesh of the Trinetra temple, and priests read them to the god.
- When: early morning or late afternoon, with a guide. Allow at least two hours.
The National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary
- Why go: the Chambal is one of the cleanest rivers in northern India, and a slow boat ride may bring gharials, turtles, skimmers and river terns.
- How long: a full day, with lunch by the river. Our page on Kota explains the Chambal country.
Surwal Lake
- Why go: a shallow lake near Sawai Madhopur that fills after the monsoon and draws waterbirds in winter.
- When: early morning or late afternoon, when the light is soft and the birds are feeding.
Crafts of the villages
- Dhonk: a local handicraft initiative the hotel visits, selling work made in the villages around the park.
- Dastkar Ranthambhore: founded in 1989, it employs village women in block printing, patchwork and embroidery. Our page on block printing and crafts has more.
Why families choose Vanyavilas
Children's activities: the hotel offers cooking with an Oberoi chef, pottery, block printing, drawing, treasure hunts, tree planting, camping and yoga.
Space to run: twenty acres of gardens, flat paths and a heated pool make the hot middle of the day easy.
- Grandparents: air-conditioned tents, short walks and attentive butlers suit older guests who dislike rough edges.
- Short drives: with a private Gypsy we can keep some drives short and turn back when children have had enough.
- Age limits: forest rules set minimum ages for some activities and change from time to time, so we check them when we book.
- Plan it: our family journeys and travelling with children pages have more ideas.
What most visitors miss
The murals at dusk: the wildlife paintings in the main building are best seen as the lamps come on, when the colours warm and the hall empties before dinner.
The garden birds: with twenty acres of trees and water, the grounds hold many of the species you will look for in the park, and they come much closer.
- The fort from the road: on the drive to the gate, look up. The walls of Ranthambore Fort run along the hilltop above the forest.
- Jogi Mahal and its banyan: beside Padam Talao inside the park stands one of the largest banyan trees in India, beside an old forest rest house. Ask your driver to pause.
- Rajbagh's ruins: the arches and pavilions of a royal hunting lodge stand in and beside Rajbagh Talao, a reminder of the forest's past.
- The town: Sawai Madhopur is a working railway town, and a short drive through its bazaar at dusk shows a side of Ranthambore few visitors see.
When to stay
October and November: green and fresh after the rains, with soft light and comfortable days.
December and January: cold dawn drives. Bring a warm jacket, gloves and a hat.
- Park season
- October to June
- Core zones closed
- About July to September
- Coldest months
- December and January
- Hottest months
- April to June, often 40 degrees plus
- Busiest weeks
- Christmas, New Year, Indian holidays
- February and March: warm days, cool mornings and the palash in flower, many people's favourite time.
- April to June: hot, but animals gather near water and sightings can be excellent. Air-conditioned tents make this the lodge we choose for summer.
- The monsoon: core zones close from about July to September, though some outer zones have opened in recent rains. We confirm what is running.
- Month by month: our guide to the best time to visit Ranthambore has the detail.
How long to allow
Two nights
- Drives: three or four, usually afternoon, morning, afternoon and a final morning.
- Good for: a short break between Jaipur and Agra, with little time for the hotel itself.
Three nights
- Drives: four to six, with one session swapped for the fort or a rest.
- Good for: almost everyone. It is what we recommend, and it is what our Ranthambore itinerary is built on.
Four nights or more
- Drives: six to eight, with days for the Chambal, Surwal Lake and the village crafts.
- Good for: photographers, keen naturalists and families who want an unhurried break in the middle of a long journey.
Who will love Vanyavilas, and who might not
Families and multi-generation groups: our first choice, for space, comfort and service that handles children and grandparents with ease.
Oberoi travellers: guests staying at Rajvilas, Amarvilas or Udaivilas get the same standard here, which makes a journey feel seamless.
- Summer travellers: in April, May and June the air-conditioned tents make a real difference.
- Couples wanting silence: you may prefer the intimacy of Aman-i-Khas.
- Wildlife purists: the deepest naturalist culture is at SUJAN Sher Bagh, where dinner is all about tigers.
- Compare them all: our guide to luxury hotels in Ranthambore sets the three side by side.
Vanyavilas on our journeys
Family: Jaipur, Ranthambore and Udaipur: built around Vanyavilas, with three nights between the Pink City and the lakes.
Golden Triangle with Ranthambore: Amarvilas in Agra, Vanyavilas at the park and Rajvilas in Jaipur make an all-Oberoi journey.
- The Royal Rajputana: two nights here break the grand tour between Jaipur and Jodhpur.
- Palaces and Tigers: three nights at the park before the leopards of Jawai.
- Multi-generation journeys: the lodge that suits the widest range of ages.
Before you go
Passports: park permits are issued in each guest's name and passport number, so we collect details early and carry copies.
Zones are allocated: each drive is assigned a zone, and no hotel can choose it for you. A good naturalist makes the most of any zone.
- Permits need
- Passport details for every guest
- Book
- As soon as dates are fixed
- Allow
- Three nights, four to six drives
- Pack
- Warm layers, scarf, binoculars
- Dress
- Muted greens and browns
- Cold mornings: from December to February an open jeep at dawn is genuinely cold, even when the afternoon is warm.
- Dust: the tracks are dusty in the dry months. A light scarf over the nose and mouth helps, and so does a camera bag that closes.
- Tipping: thanking your naturalist, driver and butler at the end of a stay is customary. Our page on money and tipping explains what is usual.
Getting to Vanyavilas
By train from Delhi: fast trains to Sawai Madhopur take around five hours, then about ten minutes to the hotel. Our page on trains in Rajasthan explains booking.
From Jaipur: about three and a half hours by road, and Jaipur is the nearest airport with good connections.
- From Agra: five to six hours by road, often broken at the Abhaneri stepwell.
- From Delhi by road: a long day of six to seven hours, so we usually route through Jaipur or use the train.
- By charter: our helicopter and charter journeys team can plan private flights.
What we tell friends before Vanyavilas
Stay three nights: four to six drives, a morning at the fort and real time in the gardens.
Book a private Gypsy: quieter, more flexible and kinder to children.
- Breakfast on your deck: after the morning drive, it is the hotel at its best.
- Have one dinner outside: by the fire, with the musicians.
- Don't count tigers: leopards, bears, crocodiles and birds make a good drive too.
- Avoid Ganesh Chaturthi week: in August or September the fort road fills with pilgrims.