Udaipur, the City of Lakes, has been unusually busy this week as it hosts one of the most talked-about weddings of the year. On November 21 and 22, billionaire businessman Raju Mantena is hosting the wedding of his daughter, Netra Mantena, with Vamsi Gadiraju, and the scale of this celebration has turned the entire city into a high-security, high-glamour zone. The guest list includes big international names, from Trump Jr. to pop sensations like Jennifer Lopez, Justin Bieber and more.
The celebrations will take place across some of Udaipur’s most beautiful and historically rich locations. Events are taking place at The Leela Palace, Manek Chowk, Zenana Mahal, and the most famous of them all, Jagmandir Island Palace, which stands in the middle of Lake Pichola. Here’s a look inside the venues of the wedding.
Jagmandir Island Palace: The heart of the wedding
The wedding is being hosted by Raju Mantena, Chairman and CEO of Ingenus Pharmaceuticals, a US-headquartered pharma company with operations in the United States, Switzerland and India.
The main wedding ceremony is being held at Jagmandir Island Palace, which is also considered one of the most premium wedding venues in the entire country. Its location on the lake gives it a floating-palace look, and the palace is famous for its architecture, especially the carved marble structures, domes and open courtyards that face the water.
Jagmandir has long been a favourite for destination weddings because it offers separate areas for pre-wedding functions, the main ceremony and post-wedding gatherings. Since the island has limited accommodation, priced around ₹15,000–₹20,000 per night (according to several wedding organising websites), guests are usually opt for nearby luxury hotels, where room prices also stay in the ₹15,000–₹20,000 range for wedding dates.
Wedding planners often describe Jagmandir as a “timeless jewel” because of how it sits on the lake and how magical it looks during sunset ceremonies and late-evening functions. While the Jagmandir Island Palace and other Udaipur venues used for Netra Mantena and Vamsi Gadiraju’s wedding are well known for their luxury and high-end rates, the exact estimated cost of the Mantena wedding has not been disclosed.
What a wedding at Jagmandir really costs
Hosting a wedding at Jagmandir comes with a hefty price, especially when booking the venue for a large gathering. For a wedding with around 300–350 guests, the venue cost alone is reported to be Rs 75 lakh to Rs 95 lakh plus taxes, and this does not include decoration, technical setup, or entertainment, according to one wedding-planning website.
Lunch typically costs ₹2,500–₹3,000 per person, while dinner usually ranges between ₹3,000–₹3,500 per person. For a 200-guest wedding, the per-day spending often adds up to: accommodation: around ₹24 lakh–₹30 lakh, Food, around ₹7 lakh–₹12 lakh.
In the case of Netra Mantena and Vamsi Gadiraju’s wedding, reports say Udaipur’s top hotels are nearly fully booked with VVIP suites blocked for international guests, including Donald Trump Jr. Even the invitation is said to be a luxury keepsake, a box decorated with gemstone-style designs and personalised details, adding to the overall opulence of the celebration.
A royal history
Jagmandir palace construction began in 1551 under Maharana Amar Singh of the Sisodia Rajput dynasty and continued under Maharana Karan Singh around 1620–1628. The palace was finally completed by Maharana Jagat Singh I (1628–1652), after whom it is named. Around 1623–1624, it served as a refuge for Prince Khurram, who later became Emperor Shah Jahan, during his rebellion against his father, Emperor Jahangir.
The architecture of Jagmandir is a stunning blend of Rajput and Mughal styles. Historically, the palace has been a summer retreat and venue for royal festivities of the Mewar dynasty. During the 1857 Indian rebellion, it also offered shelter to European families. Today, Jagmandir Island Palace is managed by the HRH Group of Hotels as a heritage destination, featuring a café, fine dining, a spa, and event spaces.
Lakshyaraj Singh of the Mewar royal family told News18 Rajasthan that events like these help showcase Udaipur to the world. Guests at the Mantena–Gadiraju wedding are expected to experience traditional Mewari hospitality, folk artists, royal-style processions and menus inspired by local cuisine, all set against the backdrop of palaces and lakes that have made Udaipur a top choice for destination weddings.
Top Bollywood faces, including Hrithik Roshan, Ranveer Singh, Madhuri Dixit, Shahid Kapoor, Nora Fatehi, are also expected. Media reports say more than 120 celebrities from around 40 countries are invited. Naturally, Udaipur police and US security teams have taken over key routes, palace grounds, and luxury hotels.
