Warm and personal when it works, but still finding its rhythm. Named staff — Borenya, Gershion, Manav, Shrinkhala — draw repeated praise for anticipating preferences and curating excursions. That said, the old Oberoi instinct of pre-empting every need is not yet universal; concierge follow-through before arrival and at checkout can be patchy.

A genuine strength. The lakeside Neerangan handles international and Indian with range, while Maanya inside the palace delivers a five-course tasting menu with chef narration and live sitar. Breakfast is made-to-order rather than buffet-only. In-room dining occasionally runs slow.

Spacious, modern, and beautifully finished, whether inside the palace or in the garden villas. Palace suites carry the heritage views and atmosphere; premier villas with private pools are handsome but undercut by young landscaping that offers thin privacy. If you want the palace experience, book a room with "Palace" in the name.

Remote and deliberate. Khajuraho airport takes one daily flight from Delhi, and the onward drive isn't trivial — but Panna National Park is roughly 15 minutes to an hour depending on gate, and the temples are close. Connectivity is the trade-off for the setting.

Expensive, and the experience is not yet fully dialed in. When service clicks and you're in the right room, it justifies the rate; teething issues with buggy logistics and concierge make the spend feel uneven.

The restoration is the headline — frescoes, courtyards, and the palace infinity pool overlooking Panna are genuinely cinematic. The gardens and young plantings still need years to mature, and one or two outlets feel stylistically off-key against the heritage setting.