The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace, Khajuraho, the first palace hotel from The Oberoi Group, recently opened its doors to luxury travellers. To give its guests a true palatial experience, the Group restored this 350-year-old architectural structure with a 76-acre estate featuring a pristine natural lake.

Originally built by Maharaja Hindu Pat of the Bundela dynasty, the palace rises from the slopes of the Maniyagarh Hills, surrounded by ancient Sal and Palash forests and framed by sweeping views of the Vindhyachal mountain ranges. “The restoration of The Oberoi Rajgarh Palace has been an extraordinary journey of bringing history back to life. Our teams worked meticulously to preserve the architectural integrity of this remarkable Bundela monument while introducing contemporary comforts with sensitivity and respect,” said Arjun Oberoi, Executive Chairman, The Oberoi Group. “Every arch, courtyard, and detail has been revived with the intention of honouring the palace’s heritage and creating a timeless experience for generations of travellers to come.”

The estate features 65 elegantly designed rooms and suites, including grand palace suites, villas with private pools, and accommodations with private gardens and terraces overlooking the hills, forests, and the shimmering lake. From the expansive Kohinoor Suite with two bedrooms and a private pool to the intimate palace rooms with sweeping 360-degree vistas, each space evokes tranquillity, grace, and palatial grandeur.

Dining at the palace brings in a touch of regional heritage and natural beauty. Maanya serves authentic royal recipes from an era gone by in an opulent palace setting, offering both indoor and outdoor seating with serene views of the Maniyagarh Hills—open exclusively for dinner. Neerangan, set along the lake’s edge, presents Indian and international cuisines throughout the day, accompanied by live evening entertainment and breathtaking views of the water and surrounding hills. Amrava, overlooking the palace courtyard, offers inventive cocktails and artisanal small plates amid the gentle cadence of water fountains and refined palace architecture. A series of private dining venues across the estate allows for bespoke culinary experiences in atmospheric, richly historic settings.

According to Vikram Oberoi, CEO, The Oberoi Group, this palace hotel reflects the Group’s long-term strategy of creating exceptional luxury destinations in locations of deep cultural and natural significance. “Rajgarh presented us with a unique opportunity to safeguard a historic palace while redefining it for the discerning global traveller. Our focus has been to integrate heritage, sustainability, and contemporary design into an experience that is immersive and relevant,” Oberoi said. “With its remarkable setting, thoughtful restoration, and curated guest journeys, Rajgarh strengthens our portfolio of distinctive destinations and underscores our commitment to growing with purpose and integrity. We are delighted to welcome guests from India and from across the world to discover this extraordinary addition to the Oberoi portfolio.”

The palace also offers venues for intimate gatherings, with banquet spaces that accommodate up to 200 guests within 440 sq. m of regal indoor settings, complemented by an additional 518 sq. m outdoors. The grand chandeliers, majestic pillars, vaulted ceilings, and elevated terrace overlooking the palace gardens and the distant forests of Panna all come together to create an unforgettable setting for weddings, celebrations, and select corporate events.

This palace property also offers immersive well-being experiences—guests can reach the spa by boat through the palace’s natural lake to the tented treatment suites overlooking the water and forested hills. Asmi by Oberoi serves as a sanctuary of self-discovery, offering personalised therapies, mindfulness practices, and holistic rituals designed to restore harmony and renewal. With private lakeside treatment rooms and tranquil natural surroundings, the spa experience blends seamlessly with the estate’s serene landscape. Two temperature-controlled pools—one a lakeside infinity pool and the other set within the palace—invite relaxation at any time of the day.

A collection of immersive experiences allows guests to explore the region’s heritage and wilderness. “Footsteps of the Chandela,” led by the palace historian, begins at dawn and reveals the beauty of Khajuraho’s temples at sunrise before a lakeside breakfast. “Crown of the Wild,” an Oberoi-curated safari, brings guests face-to-face with the wildlife of Panna National Park, guided by expert naturalists.

“Canyon of Legends” explores the dramatic granite formations of Raneh Gorge and the Ken Gharial Sanctuary before concluding with handcrafted cocktails at Amrava. Evenings unfold with dhoop daan rituals, dance performances, and storytelling sessions that illuminate the region’s history, ecology, and legends. Within the palace, guided explorations reveal hidden chambers, ancient shrines, subterranean passages, and the evocative remains of the Mastani Mahal. Younger guests enjoy imaginative experiences, including “The Royal Quest” and “The Mindful Maharaja.”

Aligned with The Oberoi Group’s commitment to responsible luxury, the palace integrates advanced sustainability and CSR practices, including solar power integration, solar-heated water in all guest rooms, an electric laundry system, 100% LED illumination, comprehensive water recycling through STP and ETP facilities, on-site vegetable and herb cultivation, an organic waste converter, and an in-house water bottling plant that eliminates the carbon footprint from bottled drinking water. These initiatives, along with programmes supporting local livelihoods, regional sourcing, and cultural preservation, reinforce the palace’s dedication to ecological stewardship and community wellbeing.