Onora Hospitality has launched jüSTa Luxe High Point Jawai, an 18-key boutique resort in Rajasthan’s Jawai region, positioning the property as a design-led alternative in India’s rapidly expanding wildlife tourism segment. The resort opened on 6 January 2026 in Village Bijapur, situated between Udaipur and Jodhpur.
The property spans 2.5 acres within the Jawai Leopard Conservation Reserve, an area formally protected since 2010 that hosts one of India’s highest leopard densities. The reserve’s granite hills and cave formations provide natural habitat for an estimated 50–60 leopards, according to government conservation data, making the region a prominent destination for wildlife photography and experiential travel.
Ashish Vohra, Founder and CEO of Onora Hospitality, framed the launch as a strategic response to shifting travel demand. “The growing popularity of Jawai as a wildlife and experiential travel destination presents a meaningful opportunity for us to introduce our signature style of intimate, design-led hospitality,” he said. “This launch also strengthens our expanding presence in India’s national parks.”
The company already operates wildlife properties in Sariska and Jim Corbett under the jüSTa brand, along with Ranthambore under its Bookmark Resorts label. The Jawai addition extends Onora’s footprint across four of India’s notable wildlife circuits.
Property specifications and positioning
The resort comprises 18 rooms and suites, with select units featuring heated plunge pools, private gardens, open-air showers and dedicated sit-out spaces. Standard amenities include climate-controlled air conditioning, high-speed Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions and mini-bars.
Facilities include a swimming pool, a multi-cuisine restaurant offering both indoor and al fresco dining, a 1,500-square-foot banquet hall, and a spa with two treatment rooms and steam facilities. Recreational options extend to carrom, foosball, badminton and cricket.
The property’s compact footprint reflects broader industry trends in wildlife hospitality. Research from Hotelivate indicates that the average inventory size across India’s wildlife destinations stands at approximately 35 keys, with operators favouring smaller, premium developments that command rate premiums while maintaining intimate guest experiences.
Market context and industry dynamics
India’s safari tourism market is projected to grow from USD 2.8 billion in 2025 to USD 5.3 billion by 2035, according to Future Market Insights, driven by rising domestic travel and growing international interest in the country’s biodiversity. Resort and hotel reservations account for approximately 48% of safari tourism revenue, with upscale properties near established reserves commanding premium positioning.
The wildlife hospitality segment has seen substantial supply expansion following pandemic-era shifts in leisure preferences. Branded room inventory across wildlife locations grew from 1,139 keys in 2022 to an anticipated 2,793 keys by 2025 – representing approximately 145% growth in four years, per Hotelivate analysis. Properties typically achieve 30–40% gross operating profit annually despite the mandatory three-month monsoon closure of national parks.
Jawai’s appeal lies partly in its accessibility. The region sits approximately 140 kilometres from Udaipur and benefits from road connectivity to both Udaipur and Jodhpur. Unlike dense forest reserves, Jawai’s open granite terrain enables higher sighting success rates – operators report 80–90% leopard sighting probability during safaris.
Strategic implications for the wildlife hospitality segment
Onora’s expansion reflects the competitive dynamics reshaping India’s wildlife tourism. Established players including Taj Safaris and Oberoi Hotels continue to dominate the luxury segment, while mid-market operators increasingly target the growing domestic audience seeking experiential alternatives to conventional leisure destinations.
The broader ecotourism market is forecast to grow from USD 15.5 billion in 2025 to USD 41.5 billion by 2035, according to Future Market Insights projections, supported by government initiatives including the Wildlife Action Plan (2021–2031) and state-level eco-tourism policies.
For Onora, the Jawai property represents the continuation of a portfolio strategy that pivoted toward domestic leisure following pandemic disruptions. Vohra has previously noted that the company realigned its entire product offering from city hotels to include hill resorts and wildlife destinations in response to sustained domestic travel demand.
The resort offers guided leopard safaris, birdwatching experiences and access to regional attractions including Jawai Dam, Ranakpur Jain Temple and Pola Lake. The combination of wildlife programming and design-forward accommodation positions the property within the experiential luxury category that has driven growth across India’s emerging tourism circuits.
