What do actor Raveena Tandon, businessman Sanjay Hinduja, influencer Diipa Khosla and Reliance industry scion Isha Ambani have in common? They all said ‘yes’ to the same wedding destination—Udaipur, often dubbed as the most romantic city in India. Turns out, it is also likely the most expensive wedding venue in India. But industry experts will tell you that there is a good reason why the City of Lakes commands its price.
Spoilt for choice
Ringed by the gentle Aravallis and dotted with lakes, Udaipur provides a beautiful natural ambience for a wedding. Add to this, the city’s rich heritage and world-class hospitality and you have the perfect setting for the Big Day. Now, Rajasthan itself has no dearth of options on this front—from the palaces of Jaipur to the dunes of Jaisalmer, there’s plenty to pick from. But ask the people who make these dream weddings happen and they’ll tell you why they and their clients often prefer Udaipur.
Rituraj Khanna, CEO of Q Events, is a specialist in Udaipur weddings. Having planned the weddings of Padmaja Kumari Parmar and her brother Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, both of the House of Mewar, the former royal house of Udaipur. “When we started planning weddings in Udaipur 15 years ago, there were limited choices—HRH Group of Hotels, Radisson Udaipur and a local property. It’s a very different scenario now, with many more options,” he says. The wedding-scape in the city changed with the arrival of The Oberoi Udaivilas Udaipur in 2007 and The Leela Palace Udaipur in 2009, both on the banks of Lake Pichola. Together with the iconic Taj Lake Palace in the heart of Pichola, it is the Holy Trinity of wedding venues in Udaipur. Then there is the Shiv Niwas Palace by HRH Group of Hotels and Taj Fateh Prakash Palace within the City Palace complex on the banks of the lake. Trident Udaipur is internally connected to The Oberoi Udaivilas, making it easy to combine both hotels for a larger guest list. Jagat Niwas Palace, Udai Kothi, Chunda Palace and The LaLiT Laxmi Vilas Palace Udaipur are some other go-to heritage properties. As you move away from the old city, one can find options like RAAS Devigarh, Taj Aravali Resort & Spa, Fateh Garh Palace and Ananta Udaipur. Raffles Udaipur, which sits on its own island on the Udai Sagar Lake, is the newest entrant, and when the 450-key JW Marriott comes up, it could be the largest hotel in the city.
Experts say that the sheer range of high-quality accommodation makes Udaipur a preferred choice for the Big Fat Indian Wedding. In Jodhpur, it’s the Umaid Bhawan Palace that lords over every other alternative. Jaipur has several options but they are spread across the city, while Jaisalmer has very few hotels to choose from. The 48-suite Six Senses Fort Barwara in Ranthambore, where Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal tied the knot, is best for intimate celebrations. “There are many hotels of equitable calibre in Udaipur, as well as options catering to different budgets,” says Vandana Mohan of Wedding Design Company, who has been setting up weddings in the city for the past 25 years.
“Let’s not forget venues like Zenana Mahal and Manek Chowk within the palace complex. And the iconic 17th century Jagmandir Island Palace on Lake Pichola. These are experiences in themselves. It makes couples feel they are in the midst of history as they exchange vows,” adds Khanna.
Wedding planner Devanshi Patel of Shreem Events says that though the hotels may be smaller, they are all close by, letting planners spread their events across venues. “And then being ferried to your hotel or venues via a boat ride on the lake becomes a memorable experience to offer your guests.”
Read More at https://www.cntraveller.in/story/udaipur-rajasthan-destination-wedding-venue-price-cost-lake-palace-pichola/