Royalty's Maverick

A new-age royal, Abhimanyu Alsisar is an entrepreneur who juggles multiple projects and spearheads offbeat cultural initiatives.

- Riaan Jacob George

For Indian and international travellers, a stately Rajasthan palace doubling up as an opulent heritage hotel is not quite out of the ordinary. However, when a marvelously realised 16th century heritage palace hotel decided to host India’s most exclusive EDM festival, it almost stood out like a false note in a symphony. But Abhimanyu Alsisar has made the Magnetic Fields, a “niche” festival for electronic music lovers held on the grounds of his palace hotel and home, Alsisar Mahal in Shekhawati, a resounding success. While Magnetic Fields, already in its fourth year, is a big draw for well-heeled hipsters, the initiative is part of Alsisar’s larger plan to give niche luxury tourism in Rajasthan a fillip, beyond the state’s typical cultural trappings.