Get married in royal style in Rajasthan

Jaipur: More and more non-resident Indians (NRIs) are coming to Rajasthan not as mere tourists, but to get married in true royal style.

Wedding tourism is booming this year with the state receiving many queries for hosting marriages.

"Several NRIs are keen to hold their marriages in the state capital this year. Over 20 NRI marriages will be held in Jaipur alone between November 2006 and March 2007," a travel agent, Navendu Goswami said.

The city offers a wide range of venues for the ceremonies – Banquet halls, lush green lawns and poolside expanses of luxury and heritage hotels are popular among the elite.

"Arrangements are mostly made in five star hotels and heritage hotels. Tourists are keen to hold such functions in hotels like the Raj Mahal Palace, City Palace, Rajputana Palace Sheraton, Jaimahal Palace and Rambagh Palace," Goswami added.

"The vibrancy of the marriage processions, the convenience and comfort offered by these hotels make weddings in Rajasthan an occasion extraordinaire for the families involved,” a tour operator, Sanjay Kaushik said.

The accessibility, accommodation and transportation facilities available in Rajasthan cities have made the state almost a "marriage hub".

Tour operators and event managers now offer clients a complete royal wedding package in cities like Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Jaipur. But many foreign tourists prefer solemnising their wedding in the holy city of Pushkar.

According to industry experts, an average wedding package, complete with traditional rituals and catering to about 70-100 guests, costs anywhere between Rs 3,00,00 and Rs 5,00,000.

Free-flowing traffic, easy transportation facilities and manageable distances, which make travel hassle-free are some of the add-on benefits of these wedding galas.