Ranthambore Reopens, and Marriott Is Waiting
Ranthambore National Park's core zones reopened on 1 October, and JW Marriott's resort there, Marriott's 10,000th hotel, starts its first full season.
Ranthambore National Park’s core zones reopened to jungle drives on 1 October, the start of the tiger season. For the first time, Marriott has a luxury base there for the whole season. JW Marriott Ranthambore Resort & Spa opened recently as Marriott Bonvoy’s 10,000th hotel and the 11th JW Marriott in India.
The resort
It has 127 rooms across a wide spread of types:
- 14 tented suites, four with their own temperature-controlled private pool
- 10 family villas with private pools
- a Presidential Suite, lake-view executive rooms, junior suites with garden access and deluxe rooms
Marriott’s pitch is about what happens after the jeep comes back. Days can include guided nature walks, pottery and bangle-making with local artists, camel cart rides, art walks, pickleball, archery and a bowling alley. A culinary school offers private sessions with the chef.
Food and spa
- Skyloft, the signature restaurant and bar, is modelled on the machan, the raised towers once used to watch the forest. Its menu reworks recipes from the royal kitchens of Mewar and Marwar.
- Roar is the all-day restaurant; Elan the pool bar; JW Market a grab-and-go shop selling Indian brands.
- Spa by JW has six treatment rooms, with Ayurvedic treatments built around each guest’s dosha.
- Family by JW runs a free kids’ club, Eureka.
Beyond the park, the area has the UNESCO-listed Ranthambore Fort and the Trinetra Ganesh Temple.
For advisors
- Who to pitch: wildlife clients on a Golden Triangle trip, and multi-generation families. The villas and kids’ club make Ranthambore work for all ages.
- What to book: the tented suites with private pools; safari permits early, since core-zone drives are limited.
- Points clients: as a JW Marriott, it is bookable with Marriott Bonvoy, which helps loyal Marriott travellers.
Oman Hassan