Chokhi Dhani comes to Pune

Chokhi Dhani, the Rajasthani village resort, promoted by NRI Gulraj Vaswani, has granted its franchise in Maharashtra to Pune-based Goel Ganga Group.

Goel Ganga's Managing Director Atul Goel said that the first resort has been opened last Sunday at Vagholi near Pune. Also, Goel Ganga intends to open Chokhi Dhani resorts in other major cities of the state.

Goel said the group has invested about Rs 2 crore to set up the resort, on 13 acre that is a replica of the Chokhi Dhani - the ethnic Rajasthani village resort outside Jaipur.

"Chokhi Dhani (which means, Fine Hamlet) has always been synonomous with Rajasthani culture and we have created the same atmosphere with mud and thatched huts, cottages, havelis, restaurants, Rajasthani folk dances and performers.

The flagship Chokhi Dhani resort is in Jaipur, and the second is in Indore, and the third is now coming up in Pune. Around 130 villagers including artisans, cooks and performers from Rajasthan have come to Pune Chokhi Dhani to provide warmth and hospitality as per the Rajasthani tradition of 'Padharo Mhare Des.'

The group expects that the Chokhi Dhani would attract visitors from all over western India and will soon become a centre of tourist attraction just like Chokhi Dhani Jaipur and Indore.

"The other cities in Maharashtra have not been finalised yet but we will soon have an announcement," said Amit Kumar, director, Chokhi Dhani, Pune. He however informed that the Pune resort will soon offer residential facilities in the specially built cottages. Vaswani said that the company has nation wide expansion plan through the franchisee route.

The resort targets people across the economic strata," he said.