This Historic Royal Palace Is Now India's Most Breathtaking New Retreat
Overview
At The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace in Khajuraho, you'll find dazzling historic architecture, superb food, and a window into the region's cultural wonders, from tiger safaris to bawdily decorated temples. The property joins a growing wave of heritage-hotel conversions across India, where centuries-old royal residences are being restored and reopened as high-end retreats rather than left to decay or sit as museum pieces.
Why Khajuraho Matters
Khajuraho, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, is best known for its temple complex built by the Chandela dynasty between roughly the 9th and 12th centuries. The temples are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for their intricate stone carvings, including the sensuous and explicit sculptures that have made the site famous — and occasionally controversial — well beyond India's borders. Staying at a palace hotel in this town puts guests within easy reach of that architectural legacy, rather than treating it as a day-trip detour from a bigger city.
A Palace Reimagined
Converting a royal residence into a working hotel is a delicate balancing act: original architectural details, courtyards, and craftsmanship typically have to be preserved even as modern plumbing, climate control, and hospitality infrastructure are quietly added behind the scenes. The result at Rajgarh Palace is a property that trades on genuine history rather than a themed recreation of it — guests are moving through spaces that were actually built and lived in as part of a royal household, not a modern building styled to look old.
Beyond the Temples: Wildlife and Landscape
The region's appeal isn't limited to architecture. Khajuraho sits within striking distance of central India's tiger reserves, and safari excursions are a natural pairing with a stay here — giving travelers a reason to extend their trip beyond a single day of temple viewing. The combination of dense forest, wildlife, and Chandela-era stonework gives Madhya Pradesh a distinct identity among India's tourism circuits, one that blends cultural heritage with nature-based travel.
Food and Hospitality
Dining is central to the experience, with the property's kitchens drawing on regional Indian cuisine and the broader hospitality standards associated with the Oberoi group, known internationally for pairing luxury service with a strong sense of place rather than generic five-star uniformity.
FAQ
Where is The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace located?
In Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, near the town's famous UNESCO-listed temple complex.
What is Khajuraho known for?
Its Chandela-dynasty temples, dating roughly from the 9th to 12th centuries, renowned for detailed and often erotic stone carvings.
Can visitors combine the palace stay with a safari?
Yes — the area is close to central India's tiger reserves, making wildlife safaris a common addition to a Khajuraho itinerary.
Source
Originally published at www.vogue.com.