Amitarasa

Twenty-eight acres on a slope at the foot of Nandi Hills, next to the Kanive Nandeeshwara temple, built in stone that follows the older building traditions of the region rather than the usual banquet architecture. The property takes one event at a time.

The spaces are separate places rather than partitions of one hall. Mantapa is a semi-covered pavilion for 650 to 800. Kalyani is an open-air amphitheatre seating around 600. Baagh and Aangan are two lawns on different levels, 300 to 350 each. Aahara handles dining for 500 to 600, with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Two villas sit on the property with their own courtyards and dressing rooms, seven bedrooms between them. That covers the immediate family; a neighbouring resort holds another 62 rooms for everyone else, which is what makes a two or three-day celebration workable this far out.

The kitchen is a full commercial one and you bring your own caterer, so the per-plate rate is yours to negotiate rather than fixed by the venue.

The distance is the real decision. It is roughly an hour and a half from South Bangalore and about forty minutes from the airport, so guests flying in have an easier journey than family driving up from Jayanagar. For a wedding where most of the guest list is travelling anyway, that arithmetic works in its favour.