In 2019, when Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra flew to South Africa together to ring in the new year, relationship rumours quickly started floating in the industry. After years of are-they-aren’t they speculation, the duo’s three-day destination wedding is upon us. Much like their relationship, Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra maintained hermetic silence about their big day on February 7, 2023 in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. But what’s not shrouded in secrecy is the Shershaah co-actors’ stunning and stately wedding venue, Suryagarh Jaisalmer.
The Sandstone Sanctuary
A hovering sandstone oasis primed for visual, sensual and culinary pleasure, Suryagarh Jaisalmer occupies a colossal bluff atop a low hill. The topography of the bare scrub desert and the material memory of the surrounding erstwhile forts created a dominant design palimpsest for the contemporary hotel imagined by Architect Ravi Kumar Gupta & Associates in 2010.
At first glance, Suryagarh Jaisalmer illustrates the archetypal Dhanavana Durg (desert-fort) architecture. A closer look at the marvel spotlights the symbiosis between stylistically different design movements. Think 200-year-old Jaisalmer architecture with a mélange of Rajput and Mughal schemes plus some European influence. The golden edifice integrates the architect’s signature construction of using only stone and mortar masonry without steel in many portions. The fort's massive sandstone walls are hand-crafted and hand-chiselled, giving the illusion of a tawny lion hue in the day and waning to amber-gold tones as the sun sets. By employing local artisans and regional resources for the entire project, the hotel cites a noteworthy testimony of how design brings inherent impact and value to a destination where conventions on conservation are observed through a modern lens.
“Placed in the golden city of Rajasthan, this contemporary hotel maintains the remarkable architectural purity of its destination. Its sprawling structure is seated in the Thar Desert from which it draws its sensuality, inspiration and adventure,” reinstates Siddharth Yadav, Vice President, The MRS Group of Hotels. “Suryagarh Jaisalmer welcomes you to the beating of drums, to cavalry on camelback, to showers of desert roses, as well as to folk-dancers and balladeers. The intricate carvings, decorated jharokas, vaulted arches and water bodies lend Suryagarh an authenticity and offers aesthetics of a heritage property,” he elaborates.
A Palatial Paradise
Behind Suryagarh’s sandstone ramparts, languid luxury permeates. “Here at the hotel, landscape artists have conjured up a series of sculptural gardens and courtyards reminiscent of times past. With every turn, Suryagarh offers an ‘experience’, to catalogue and to curate,” shares Yadav, painting a picture of what made it an obvious and a royal wedding venue choice for Advani and Malhotra. Naturally, the hotel has hosted a kaleidoscope of larger-than-life weddings over the years and celebrity guests including Gauri Khan, Neha Dhupia and filmmaker Karan Johar who is also part of the couple’s milestone occasion.
The Wedding Delights
“Be large scale or intimate, Suryagarh Jaisalmer offers various gardens and courtyards for celebrations of every kind. The Celebration Garden is a sprawling complex of intricate stone masonry evident in the courtyards and cultivated gardens that wrap around a traditional baradari pavilion. This versatility allows you to use the al fresco space as creatively as you desire. As you enter the grand walkway leading up to the hotel, the Champa Garden catches your eye with its lush lawns, fragrant frangipani trees and wandering peacocks. It’s a lively spot for intimate lunches and dinners. At the heart of the hotel is the stately Central Courtyard. Jaw-droppingly spectacular with intricately carved jaalis, jharokhas, pillars and stone benches, this airy space is thoroughly multi-purpose. The Tulsi Aangan, approached from the Central Courtyard, is a special place for a musical night. The Bawdi is styled like a traditional stepwell and utterly romantic to view. This open air space can be used for musical evenings, wedding ceremonies in an amphitheatre setting or for intimate celebrations,” says Yadav.
The Central Courtyard served as Advani and Malhotra’s haldi ceremony venue, whereas their pheras were held at The Bawdi. Against the truly magnificent backdrop, Altair by Janki Desai truly personalised the wedding décor to the T in keeping with the couple’s tastes and journey. White and pastels was the underlying theme for the decorations for the main ceremony. For the sangeet held on February 6, swatches of rani pink accentuated the palatial property. “During evening functions, the outdoor venues of Suryagarh, under a canopy of open skies and endlessly twinkling stars transport you to a place you’ve never been.”
Fit For A King and Queen
The Bollywood couple’s star-studded wedding party including Shahid and Mira Kapoor, Manish Malhotra and Isha Ambani Piramal among others is hosted at Suryagarh’s grand rooms. The chameleonic stays are evocative of time-honoured Rajasthani interior design, while being outfitted with every modern-day luxury and state-of-the-art gadgetry. Augmenting the ambiance is fine furniture along with decorative arts and collectibles procured from villages and old havelis by Manvendra Singh Shekhawat, the owner and the managing director, MRS Group of Hotels.
“We have eight categories of rooms at Suryagarh. The Fort, Pavilion and Heritage rooms are individually configured to allow for personal preferences. Then, there are the exclusive suites, some of which feature private pools and separate living rooms. These are segregated as Signature, Luxury and Suryagarh Suites. The hotel also offers two Haveli category rooms, Jaisalmer Haveli with two bedrooms and The Thar Haveli with three bedrooms. Rich local textures and superlative comforts characterise these carefully detailed suites,” shares Yadav.
