TravTalk India Online Magazine
Castle Mandawa, known for its allure among international tourists, is now positioning itself as a top destination for Indian weddings, events and cultural tourism. Angad Singh Mandawa, Owner, Castle Mandawa, shares how the property is leaving no stone unturned to tap domestic markets and creating a heritage wedding haven in the heart of Rajasthan.
Nisha Verma
The iconic Castle Mandawa, known for its charm among international tourists, is now positioning itself as a top destination for Indian weddings, events and cultural tourism. Angad Singh Mandawa, Owner of the Mandawa Group of Hotels, shares how the post-pandemic shift in travel trends has shaped a renewed vision for the property—and for the Shekhawati region at large. To create buzz for Castle Mandawa, a Fam tour was conducted recently, where wedding planners and travel agents were invited to experience the venue first-hand.
Tapping domestic weddings
Earlier, Castle Mandawa was mostly known in the inbound market. “We used to cater almost exclusively to international travellers. However, post-COVID, the whole business landscape changed. A large portion of the 15 million Indians who used to travel abroad for weddings or leisure have turned inwards, exploring domestic sites,” he said.
Experiences,
not just stays
With this focus, the Mandawa Group is also reimagining the property to better suit weddings and experiential travel. “We are creating spaces tailored for specific wedding functions, as well as beautiful backdrops for pre-wedding photo shoots. The charm of a heritage hotel like ours is the natural grandeur—you do not need artificial sets when you already have arches and courtyards that look like film sets,” he claimed.
Offline relationships
In a world of properties going on OTAs and direct channel, he emphasises the importance of offline engagement. “There is a limit to what you can showcase online. Weddings are about understanding client needs and building trust,” he underlined.
