Forts of Bundelkhand to become heritage hotels a la Rajasthan model. Rampur Fort in distrct Jalaun (Bundelkhand) would be the first fort to be taken up on experimental basis. Young erstwhile Raja of Rampura, Sh Keshvendra Singh, has taken up the task to showcase Bundeli traditions and culture to the world by providing a glimpse into feudal rustic living of Bundelkhand. Talks underway for Jagammanpur fort followed by three more forts of Bundelkhand namely, Todi Fatehpur, Samthar and Bijana fort.
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Jhansi. Bundelkhand is awakening to a new dawn. Travellers to this hinterland now have the unique opportunity of experiencing the royal grandeur of erstwhile Rajas and Maharajas. Rampura Fort near Panchnada (five rivers) in district Jalaun has refurbished 5 rooms of the fort as paying guest accommodation. It is a part of the U.P. Tourism department’s endeavour to popularise the fort as a ‘Heritage Home Stay’ (as mentioned in its official website) where guests can experience a few days of feudal rustic living surrounded by the silence of the ravines and forest. The mammoth task of maintenance and utilization of the sprawling fort as also showcasing Bundeli traditions and culture
to the world has been taken up by the young scion of the Rampura fort, Sh Keshvendra Singh, who is also the present resident of this fort. R. Prasad, Deputy Director (Tourism), Jhansi Division informed that the U.P. Tourism has registered the Rampura fort as a Paying Guest Unit for 05 rooms (10 beds) w.e.f. 1st October 2007 onwards. This is per State policy as outlined in Government orders no. 2187 dated 8-8-1994 and no. 1246 dated 25-7-1998. Next in line is the nearby Jagammanpur fort. Sh Rajendra Shah, Raja of Jagammanpur too is considering the proposal to open his privately owned Jagammanpur fort in Jalaun for tourists. Talks are underway for three more forts of Bundelkhand namely, Todi Fatehpur, Samthar and Bijana fort. The U.P. Tourism department is going all out to cash on the mystical value of these heritage sites, and has created a separate page ‘heritage properties’ on its official website up-tourism.com. The site gives detailed descriptions of the forts, the historical background, tourist attractions, handicrafts available, pleasure activities etc. Infact future plans about Jagammanpur fort on the website stateup-tourism.com. The site gives detailed descriptions of the forts, the historical background, tourist attractions, handicrafts available, pleasure activities etc. Infact future plans about Jagammanpur fort on the website state ‘Ready for any good reasonable proposal which can help maintaining the property in future. Sale not on cards’. Rampur fort is already being occupied by the tourists from Germany. “I was delighted to receive a call from France directly for a booking in future. They told me that they reached me through the information provided on U.P. Tourism website.
Three rooms are already being used and I am working on refurnishing two more rooms before they arrive,” commented an ecstatic Keshvendra Singh. When questioned regarding the reactions of the tourists, Keshvendra Singh informed that the tourists were delighted over the traditional welcome given to them at the temple of the fort by applying tikka and paying obeisance to God. Also they felt ‘great’ staying inside the fort. “’Oh it feels so-o-o royal,’ most of them had exclaimed. They enjoyed watching all the artifacts maintained in fort”, said Keshvendra. “Then their schedule during their stay at Rampur was set according to their convenience and they really appreciated that. Evenings were spent in discussions on weapons, literature, social structure….basically getting to know…What is India. They were very happy understanding various aspects of India”, he continued. D.D. Tourism informs that more forts of Bundelkhand would be encouraged for paying guest accommodation scheme and added, “Talks are on with other erstwhile rajas too. The policy states that only those forts can be
By:Arti Agarwal