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If you are looking for supersize destination weddings, Rajasthan has to be the most popular choice. The luxury hotels and resorts located in the state's many havelis and forts lay out the royal, opulent wedding theme really well.
Here are five forts and palaces in Rajasthan where celebrity couples have tied the knot.
Six Senses Fort Barwara
This resort is the venue for the most talked about wedding right now - between Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal. Originally owned by a Rajasthani royal family, the 14th-century fort has been converted into a Six Senses property after restoring and conserving two palaces and two temples within the walled fort. It faces the ancient Chauth ka Barwara mandir. The romantic viewing gallery has a stunning view of the lake, and sunsets.
For more info, check here.
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Chosen by Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas as well as Elizabeth Hurley and Arun Nayar for a wedding venue, this imposing building presents luxury on a grand 26-acre scale. One of the largest private residences in the world and one of Asia&rsquos youngest palaces, Umaid Bhawan is a curious blend of identities, with a rich individuality that hides just behind its five-star-hotel façade. Designed by Edwardian architect Sir Henry Vaughan Lanchester, the structure has a strong colonial air even though the layout of the gardens is essentially Mughal.
Rajput and Hindu traditions are amalgamated through carvings on the eaves and parapets. The domed lobby is the palace&rsquos showpiece with a 105-ft-high cupola ceiling, and decorated glass panels that filter in the changing direction of the sun. Each of the refurbished rooms is unique with curved furniture, angular lamps, imitation Art Deco chandeliers, striped carpets, square-within-square motifs.
Read a person account of a visit to the palace here.
For more info, check here.
The Oberoi Udaivilas
Spread over fifty acres, this luxurious hotel with stunning views of Udaipur's Lake Pichola was the venue for Isha Ambani and Anand Parimal's wedding. The architecture takes inspiration from the city&rsquos heritage palace. The interiors are exquisite, from the stunning lotus pond to the sparkling domes, lawns and rooms.
Vast arrays of pink domes and cupolas crown the structure, chhatris and arches abound, and a large version of the bronze, mustachioed sun god symbol of the princes of this neck of the desert adorns the driveway. But it is a modern building a few years old, styled to look like a Mewari palace.
Read a personal account of a visit here.
For more info, check here.
Shiv Niwas Palace
Built in the early 20th century, this palace has been meticulously maintained and preserved. Raveena Tandon and Anil Thadani tied the knot here. The suites and rooms have original furniture and portraits that have been with the royal family for generations. All the suites look out onto the natural beauty of lakes and hills of Udaipur.
For more info, check here.
Alila Fort Bishangarh
Located about close to Jaipur this rugged fort was the wedding venue for Aman Kapur and Divya Khandelwal. The rooms can be filed under &lsquoheritage chic&rsquo. It's difficult to belive that this was once a war fort, meant as a lookout for armies approaching Jaipur from the north. Many parts of it remain rugged and unfinished, reminders of its military past. The lovingly reconstructed residential parts are a faithful recreation of the flavours of Shahpura royalty. We must recommend the views from Nazaara, the open-air restaurant on top - they are stunning. The cuisine here is local and seasonal, featuring Shekhawat and Bishangarh specialities.
Read a first person account of a stay in the fort here.
For more info, check here.
