Rajpura, Ludhiana Mughal serais may hold weddings soon

THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAS IDENTIFIED 3 PROPERTIES THAT, AFTER RESTORATION, COULD BE PUT ON HIRE FOR WEDDINGS

MOHALI If all goes according to plan, three of Punjab’s Mughal serais, dating to the Mughal period, will soon become destinations for the big fat Punjabi wedding.

As part of its efforts to revive tourism, the state government has identified these properties that, after restoration, could be put on hire for weddings for state’s residents as well as the diaspora.

The first of such properties is the one near Shambu barrier in Rajpura. The other two properties are in Ludhiana — serai Lashkari Khan and Doraha Serai.

State tourism director Shivdullar Dhillon and his team submitted the idea in a presentation made before the executive committee of Indian Heritage Hotel Association at ISB, Mohali.

“In addition to serais, we are also considering the use of forts as wedding destinations. Tents can also be pitched for tourists at places like-Aam Khas Bagh in Sirhind,” Dhillon added.

“Serais with fine Mughal-era architect provides the perfect setting to hold weddings,” said Abha Narain Lambah, a consultant with the tourism department.

“Specific details of the destinations and modalities of the conversion process will be clear once the government unveils new tourism policy, expected soon,” he said

All these properties are in a shambles depilated conditions and require a lot of restoration work. Principal secretary, tourism, Jaspal Singh said these properties will run on public-private partnership under strict supervision of experts for revival aspects

“Punjab has magnificent heritage assets but we failed to showcase and preserve it in past,” he said, adding that the new tourism policy, that was in the works, aimed to double tourist arrivals in five years.