5 off-grid venues are the perfect places for an intimate wedding

Featuring stunning backdrops, incredible hospitality and the ultimate addresses that thrive in seclusion, planning a wedding in the times of social distancing just became easier. We pick the perfect hotels to whisk away your beloved family and friends for the most memorable day of your life. Rest assured, it will be a wedding deeply etched in memory long after the celebrations come to an end. 

On the shores of the holy Ganga, Taj Rishikesh Resort & Spa is a sylvan, 79-room eco retreat that can accommodate 170 guests. Sprawled over a rugged topography of 12.5 acres, the remote, refined location is an unforgettable venue for a close-knit green wedding. With jaw dropping views of the mountains, the only distraction is the lilting birdsong that wafts through the whispery trees, making it a top choice for a private affair. Before the festivities begin, guests can go bird-watching in the dense forests or take off on a drive to explore the valleys and peaks, before heading off on a trek. To ease pre-wedding jitters, the couple can slip into the Jiva Spa for a relaxing massage and meditation session, and to rev up the celebrations, there’s sundowners at the Yoga lawn (minus the pretzel poses) while you tuck into a Garhwali meal. To celebrate wedded bliss, the hotel also offers a soul-stirring Ganga Aarti experience on the shores of the river at Pebble Beach, joining together the heart and soul.

COVID-19 protocols: An RT-PCR negative certificate for every guest checking in is compulsory. The hotel’s ground associates are vaccinated and follow strict COVID-19 protocols. Marshals further enforce these protocols by ensuring that guests are masked and various sanitising corners and multiple buffet set-ups have been created across the hotel’s public areas to avoid overcrowding. While the indoor venues can accommodate less than 50 guests, outdoor venues are limited to 200 guests (subject to government approval). 
How to get there: Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is 20km from Rishikesh and the resort is 33km from the city. It takes approximately an hour and a half from the airport. Meanwhile, Delhi to Rishikesh is 240km (a six-hour drive). 

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Rising from the Aravalli Range is the majestic Alila Fort Bishangarh, a former fortress converted into a palatial hotel, offering staggering views of the boulder-strewn terrain and Bishangarh village. The beautifully restored 231-year-old fort is the perfect venue for an intimate, storybook wedding. With just 59 rooms and suites, it can host up to 130 guests, with the possibility of 40 luxurious tents inside the property for a rustic luxury experience for additional guests. A unique example of the Jaipur Gharana architecture, the fortress presents endless opportunities for the perfect photographs. There are also over 24 picturesque settings to choose from for your big day. You’ll be spoilt for choice with an open-air ceremony at the Aravalli Lawn or inside the elegant Darbar Hall with its meticulous woodwork.

The hotel’s chefs take you on a gastronomic odyssey through regional dishes and beverages and a huge global smorgasbord. Style is synonymous with Alila, and the hotel will help plan quiet moments for the couple before they are whisked away by the pageantry. Seal your vows on a magical hot-air balloon ride before the ceremony or under a starry sky at the Hunter’s Camp at Aravalli Sands, or over a robust meal cooked over a fire pit, a prelude to the journey of a lifetime together.

COVID-19 protocols: Routinely, the team staying inside the premises, especially before a wedding, undergoes the mandatory RT-PCR test. Guests undergo a mandatory contactless temperature check, and guest rooms are thoroughly disinfected and sanitised after every use. The venues too are cleaned with hospital-grade disinfectants. Social-distancing norms are followed through the hotel.

How to get there: Alila Fort Bishangarh is easily accessible from Jaipur. The closest airport is in Jaipur, located about 78km away, a 90-minute drive. From Delhi airport, it is a three-and-a-half hour drive. 

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The pioneering Welcomhotel Bay Island, Port Blair, designed by the famed late architect Charles Correa, is the perfect location for sustainable nuptials amidst a cozy reunion of friends and family. With just 46 rooms and suites, it offers panoramic views of the pristine blue waters of the Bay of Bengal and lush greenery. Complementing the natural surroundings, the hotel has large overhanging roofs and a series of decks that cascade down the hillside. Exuding quintessential island flair, it has been built using indigenous materials such as local timber called pedauk and honours the fragility of the beautiful Andamans. The perfect locale for an eco-conscious wedding, the hotel’s planet-positive Green Banquets help you plan your precious moments mindfully by using zero plastic, serving sumptuous organic meals with local produce and by using daylight as much as possible. A cosy reception at the banqueting space, Milah, can accommodate 80 guests who can lap up delectable cuisine from the group’s repertoire of stellar restaurants, including Bukhara, Peshawri, Dum Pukht, and Royal Vega. An authentic celebration of raw nature, untouched wilderness and the untamed sea, guests can spend their extra hours on extravagant picnics, sojourns to the spice gardens or even get some downtime at K by Kaya Kalp - The Spa.

COVID-19 protocols: The hotel has implemented its WeAssure programme, designed in collaboration with medical professionals and disinfection experts. Factors like quality of air and water as well as linen, digitally-enabled services, and safe distancing are also of prime importance.
How to get there: Welcomhotel Bay Island, Port Blair, is a 12-minute drive from the Veer Savarkar International Airport. 

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Surrounded by 8,000 acres of whispery Siswan Forest Range, and perched at the foothills of the misty Himalayas, The Oberoi Sukhvilās Spa Resort is a beautiful escape that celebrates the natural beauty of Punjab. Plan your fairytale wedding amidst enchanting gardens, silent pools, gurgling fountains and Mughal inspired architecture. With just 60 rooms, villas and luxury forest tents, the retreat, spread over a lush 25 acres of foliage, sprinkled with fragrant trees and shrubbery, has ample space to socially distance. You will instantly feel like royalty inside the imposing 3,320 sq ft Durbar Hall with its stratospherically high ceilings, twinkling chandeliers and ornate glass doors. The stunning location opens al fresco to a 8,300sqft terrace that offers sweeping views of the forest. When dusk beckons, the party can linger on under the starry sky, lit by  fiery mashaal torches. Else, the charming Anant Mahal Courtyard with its domed gazebo, surrounded by expansive gardens, and the odd peacock preening in the dappled sunlight, is an unforgettable backdrop to seal your vows.

COVID-19 protocols: The hotel is taking all precautions recommended by the World Health Organization and Ministry of Tourism guidelines. It has also partnered with Bureau Veritas, the world leader in testing, inspection and certification services, to validate and review all measures and has received the Platinum Rating. 

Read about the SOPs here 

How to get there: The resort is just 30 minutes from Chandigarh city centre and 45 minutes from the Chandigarh airport. It is a five-hour drive from New Delhi. 

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Also read:

8 hotels in India with spectacular views that you can’t miss

How to plan a destination wedding: Everything you need to know 

8 hotels and resorts with unique experiences that you should bookmark for your next getaway