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Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Elephants in silver ornaments, folk dancers welcome Vance family to Amber Fort as US Vice President goes sightseeing in Jaipur
When the people of Hathi Gaon in Jaipur heard they were about to host US Vice President J D Vance, they knew exactly what to do – bring out the silver ornaments famously used when former US President Bill Clinton was in town 25 years ago. Vance, his wife Usha, and their three children visited Amber Fort, about 10 km from Jaipur city, on Tuesday morning. There, they were greeted by two elephants – Chanda and Pushpa – adorned with the silver ornaments. The ornaments inclduded paajeb (anklets), kantha (necklace), mukut (head piece), kangoje (earrings), sher ki jhool (silver embroidered cloth covering the elephant) and audha (the seat on the elephant), said Ballu Khan, president of Hathi Gaon development committee and one of the mahouts of the elephants. Hathi Gaon is an area near Amber Fort where elephants are housed and cared for. 'These ornaments are taken out only on special occasions on the requests of the government. These are ornaments that are provided to us by the former Maharaja of Jaipur and we have been keeping them since then,' Ballu Khan told The Indian Express. At Amber Fort, the Vance family also saw folk artists, who performed the Kachhi Ghori, Ghoomar and Kalbelia dances. After this, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari met Vance and family. The Second Family of United States spent one-and-a-half hours at Amber Fort, and visited various parts of the massive complex made of different materials, including sandstone, marble and yellow stone. They visited the Diwan-e-Aam, Ganesh Pol, Sheesh Mahal and Man Singh Mahal in the fort. At 11.30 am, they left the fort and went back to the Rambagh Palace Hotel, where they are staying. The US Vice President is on a four-day visit to India. He reached Delhi on Monday, and after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he visited the Akshardham temple in the national capital. He reached Jaipur at 9.30 pm Monday.
New Indian Express
22-04-2025
- New Indian Express
US Vice President JD Vance begins Jaipur trip with traditional Rajasthani welcome at Amer Palace
JAIPUR: US Vice President JD Vance began his four-day trip to Jaipur by visiting the historic Amer Palace on Tuesday morning. From the elephant stand in Amer, he was taken to the palace in an open gypsy. At the entrance, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari extended a warm welcome. Adding a touch of royal tradition, two well-adorned elephants, Chanda and Pushpa, greeted the guests at the palace. The Jumbos were decorated with traditional jewelry said to be over 350 years old, including ornaments like Kantha and Payjeb. Following this, Rajasthani folk artists performed vibrant cultural dances, leaving the foreign guests visibly delighted. To offer a glimpse of Rajasthani culture, the Amer Palace was specially prepared for the visit. The entire fort was cleared for security reasons ahead of the arrival of the American dignitary and his family. The Fort Palace was closed to the public from 12 pm on Monday to make preparations for the Vance family's visit. Vice President Vance and his family entered the Amer Palace through Jaleb Chowk, where artists performed folk dances in their honor. During their visit, the Vance family toured key attractions within the palace, including the Diwan-e-Khas (Sheesh Mahal), Diwan-e-Aam, Baradari, and the palace fountains. They spent approximately about 40 minutes exploring the palace complex. After this amber visit, the Vice President's convoy passed by Jaipur's iconic landmarks — Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal, the famed pink-walled streets, and the ancient city ramparts - en route to Rambagh Palace where the Vance family are scheduled to have lunch featuring traditional Rajasthani cuisine. The Vance family is staying in the Grand Presidential Suite at Rambagh Palace - the most expensive accommodation the iconic property offers. Spanning an impressive 1,798 square feet, the suite has been specially adorned with photographs of US Vice President JD Vance's family and decorated with fresh, handpicked flowers to mark the occasion. The cost for a single night's stay in this luxurious suite is reportedly as high as Rs 16 lakh. Besides tight security in every nook and corner, as part of the high-level hospitality, a dedicated team of doctors and nurses will be on standby round the clock. In the afternoon, Vice President Vance is slated to address a business summit at 2:30 pm at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC). Later in the evening, he will hold meetings with Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, the Rajasthan Governor, and senior ministers. Discussions will focus on Indo-US collaborations, bilateral relations, and trade/investment opportunities.
