The Oberoi Vanyavilas

Oberoi Vanyavilas is ideal for those seeking the unforgettable Indian safari experience but who want to come back to luxury after stepping off the jeep. Ten minutes away from Ranthambore, the old hunting reserve of Rajasthan’s maharajahs, the property is ideally located, and offers guests two slots for safari: dawn and dusk. Nothing quite captures the orange eyes of a Bengal tiger glowing saffron in the early morning light however, so guests will want to rise for the occasion. Outside of safari, Vanyavilas embodies everything one might expect from India’s premier luxury hotel group. Guests stay in plush tents inspired by caravan trains that once crossed through the Rajasthan desert. Triple-roofed and temperature-controlled, they remain temperate all day and night and are resistant to every type of weather. And they are decadently comfortable, featuring tiger-print rugs, a four-poster canopy bed, classy teak floors and even a pillow menu. The hotel also offers Ranthambore’s only temperature-controlled pool, a seasonal restaurant, a gorgeous spa offering indigenous treatments and an array of kid-friendly activities to wow your little ones.

An oasis of high-life adjacent to India’s most famous wildlife reserve

Off-radar. Vanyavilas offers free wifi for up to four devices per guest.

You want to see the largest of the big cats and the symbol of India, the majestic Bengal tiger, but also want Ayurvedic bliss, a refreshing pool, a host of family activities and specialty Rajasthani spice cooking.

As your jeep rounds the sandy bend, an old verandah comes into view, its old architecture soaking in the early dawn light. You stop to admire the view, a ruin amidst tall teak trees, but as you look into the viewfinder to snap a shot, you note a flash of orange, then one of black, then another of orange. A tigress melts into view, perching on the verandah, framed perfectly by centuries-old Mughal carving: the iconic Ranthambore shot.