A ROYAL AFFAIR

LUXURY MEETS HISTORY AT THIS GRAND 14TH CENTURY FORT TURNED WELLNESS RESORT, WHERE ONE OF BOLLYWOOD'S MOST-LOVED COUPLES GOT MARRIED

- KARTIKEVA SHANKAR

THE USUALLY SLEEPY LITTLE TOWN of Chauth Ka Barwara in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan was buzzing with activity on December 9, 2021. Media outlets and paparazzi, armed with an assortment of cameras and lenses, eagerly waited to click the perfect shot of Bollywood sweethearts Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif tying the knot at the magnificent Six Senses Fort Barwara, a 14th-century fortress converted into a luxurious heritage hotel and wellness resort boasting 48 lavish suites. And as soon as the highly coveted image surfaced on social media and various websites, it became an instant sensation, propelling Six Senses Fort Barwara, India’s inaugural outpost of the hotel chain, to newfound fame.

Fast forward to April 2023, as I perused the invitation to visit Six Senses Fort Barwara to experience its newly introduced wellness experience, "Eye of the Tiger," the memory of the much-talked-about #Vik-Kat wedding at the exact location came to mind. I couldn’t help but wonder what all the fuss was about and eagerly anticipated experiencing the hotel’s grandeur first hand. city of Rajasthan, took around two-and-ahalf hours. Outside my window, the urban landscape of Jaipur and its suburbs gradually gave way to quaint villages. A sign announced that our destination was close by. I perked up, eager to reach the resort after spending the past couple of hours in the car. As we ascended the bumpy stone path, which once accommodated elephants carrying royals on their backs, I beheld the awe-inspiring design of the hotel. A massive fortification extended as far as the eye could see, with antique structures stacked one upon the other. The colossal red sandstone gate to the complex, restored by grouting the cracks and replacing damaged materials, was where the hotel staff greeted me.