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JAIPUR: This could well be the last word in destination weddings. At least in India.
If you have bags of money and want the mother of all weddings, you could very soon be able to tie the knot at Jaipur's historical Amber Fort. The Amber Development and Management Authority (ADMA) is toying with the idea of letting out the fort on lease to those who want to get married in style.
The CEO of ADMA, S Ahmed, said, "Rajasthan is a favoured place for grand weddings among the rich and famous, not only Indians but also foreigners. There are many who come here to tie the knot in the grand historical places and do not mind shelling out good money.
"If they are willing to pay so much, then why not fork out some more and have the whole fort for themselves? That is why we are thinking of leasing out the fort for weddings. The money generated will be used for the fort's maintenance."
Though the nitty-gritty are still being worked out, officials said getting Amber fort on lease for the function could set you back by Rs 5 crore. "For that money, they can have the whole fort for the function, but, of course, some parts will still be off-bounds," a source in the government said.
"Actually, these are the issues that still need to be sorted out. Which parts should be restricted and all that. After all, one has to ensure that the fort is in no way damaged," the source added.
The fort is made of red sandstone. Man Singh I began its construction in 1592. It was completed by Jai Singh I in the 17th Century. The fort, perched on the Aravalli hills, is 11 km from Jaipur, and still retains much of its old grandeur. It's structure has been remarkably preserved.
The money from weddings will only help in the preservation effort. Sources said the government spends Rs 15 lakh every month on just cleaning the fort. Even now, large sums are being spent in restoring and renovating the fort.
But isn't Rs 5 crore a little steep? It may be on the higher side but Rajasthan is known for its celebrity weddings. In 2006, US millionaire and hotel tycoon Vikram Chatwal and model Priya Sachdev held their pre-nuptial parties in Udaipur. The next year, Arun Nayar and Hollywood actress Liz Hurley tied the knot at the Devigarh Palace Hotel in Udaipur.
So, it's probably a matter of time before Amber becomes The Destination for celebrity weddings. And all of Hollywood and Bollywood come trooping down.
If you have bags of money and want the mother of all weddings, you could very soon be able to tie the knot at Jaipur's historical Amber Fort. The Amber Development and Management Authority (ADMA) is toying with the idea of letting out the fort on lease to those who want to get married in style.
The CEO of ADMA, S Ahmed, said, "Rajasthan is a favoured place for grand weddings among the rich and famous, not only Indians but also foreigners. There are many who come here to tie the knot in the grand historical places and do not mind shelling out good money.
"If they are willing to pay so much, then why not fork out some more and have the whole fort for themselves? That is why we are thinking of leasing out the fort for weddings. The money generated will be used for the fort's maintenance."
Though the nitty-gritty are still being worked out, officials said getting Amber fort on lease for the function could set you back by Rs 5 crore. "For that money, they can have the whole fort for the function, but, of course, some parts will still be off-bounds," a source in the government said.
"Actually, these are the issues that still need to be sorted out. Which parts should be restricted and all that. After all, one has to ensure that the fort is in no way damaged," the source added.
The fort is made of red sandstone. Man Singh I began its construction in 1592. It was completed by Jai Singh I in the 17th Century. The fort, perched on the Aravalli hills, is 11 km from Jaipur, and still retains much of its old grandeur. It's structure has been remarkably preserved.
The money from weddings will only help in the preservation effort. Sources said the government spends Rs 15 lakh every month on just cleaning the fort. Even now, large sums are being spent in restoring and renovating the fort.
But isn't Rs 5 crore a little steep? It may be on the higher side but Rajasthan is known for its celebrity weddings. In 2006, US millionaire and hotel tycoon Vikram Chatwal and model Priya Sachdev held their pre-nuptial parties in Udaipur. The next year, Arun Nayar and Hollywood actress Liz Hurley tied the knot at the Devigarh Palace Hotel in Udaipur.
So, it's probably a matter of time before Amber becomes The Destination for celebrity weddings. And all of Hollywood and Bollywood come trooping down.