Tent City at Statue of Unity site is open — as a wedding venue

Bookings are open for customised wedding packages in the Statue of Unity complex, with the Gujarat government planning to open up tourist destinations after the three-month Covid lockdown.

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Packages drawn up for 50 people as per Covid guidelines. The cost per package is Rs 2.5 lakh. (File)

A PANDAL, a complimentary banquet hall, e-invites, henna artists, music, all-day meals, including starters and mocktails — and of course, hand sanitisers, social distancing and seating only for 50.

Bookings are open for customised wedding packages in the Statue of Unity complex, with the Gujarat government planning to open up tourist destinations after the three-month Covid lockdown.

The wedding venue is Statue of Unity Tent City 1, located on Dyke 4 of the Narmada Dam about 4 km from the 182-metre statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

“The picturesque location and open-to-sky setting with Statue of Unity and Narmada Dam in the backdrop makes for a perfect destination wedding,” says Chetan Verma, Manager-Operations, Statue of Unity Tent City 1, which has 60 tents and two “Presidential Cottages”.

“We have drawn up packages for 50 persons as per the state government’s Covid guidelines. The cost per package is about Rs 2.5 lakh, which is extremely affordable as our cottages cost about Rs 12,000 each per night at the regular price (before the lockdown),” says Verma.

Tent City 1 is being developed, operated and managed by Lallooji and Sons, an Ahmedabad-based event management company, on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Officials say that ever since it opened on October 27 last year, it has mainly hosted official events, starting with the World Bank Conference, which saw the participation of World Bank CEO David Malpass, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

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Over the next five months, until the lockdown in March, three weddings were held, including that of the daughter of Principal Secretary (Health) Dr Jayanti Ravi.

Before the lockdown, the complex drew an average of 15,000 visitors on weekdays and 22,000 over weekends.

Says Nilesh Dubey, Kevadia Deputy Collector and Chief Administrator of Statue of Unity: “Promoting the location for destination weddings is a good idea, and will be good for the Statue of Unity in the long run. We don’t have word yet on when tourist spots can open, but we are prepared. The Tent City is open.”

Aditi Raja

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More

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