United States Vice President James David (JD) Vance is on a cultural tour of Jaipur with his wife Usha Vance and their three children. The visit comes after his arrival in New Delhi on Monday, where he held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and paid a visit to the renowned Akshardham Temple.
Late Monday evening, the Vance family arrived in Jaipur and checked into historic Rambagh Palace. On Tuesday morning, their day started with a visit to the iconic Amer Fort. In view of the VIP visit, access to the fort was limited, and the premises were cleared for security reasons.
The Vice President, along with his family, was taken to the fort in an open jeep from Hathi Stand, witnessing the picturesque views of its impressive outer structure, Mavtha Lake, and the decorative Kesar Kyari gardens along the way.
They received a ceremonial welcome in the presence of two elephants, Pushpa and Chanda, who wore traditional Rajasthani clothing and antique jewellery ornaments over 350 years old. Mahout Ballu Khan disclosed that the elephants had worn ancient ornaments, among them a kantha (a necklace) and payal (anklets). Pushpa imparted blessings on JD Vance, while Chanda put a flower garland over his neck as they finished giving him the majesty welcome.
Folk artists presented classical Rajasthani dance and music in tribute to the Vice President's visit. After the ceremony, a guide took the Vance family through the historical interiors of the fort.
The following on the agenda are the Panna Meena Kund and the Anokhi Museum. Following the tours, the Vance family returns to Rambagh Palace for a short respite before JD Vance departs for the Rajasthan International Center (RIC) at 2:45 p.m. to present an address during the US Business Summit. The summit is predicted to showcase increased trade relations and collaborative efforts between India and the US.
In the later part of the evening, the US Vice President will be meeting Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and Industry Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore at Rambagh Palace. Current Indo-US joint ventures and economic cooperation will be the subject of discussion.
In the morning, Vance will be briefed on Jaipur's architectural wonders, such as the Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal, and the city's famous pink-colored buildings. The Vance family will then be treated to a traditional Rajasthani lunch.
Security at Jaipur, particularly around Amer Fort, has been considerably tightened, with US security personnel coordinating with local law enforcement and intelligence agencies to provide absolute security.
As per officials, the Vice President will go to Agra on April 23. He will visit the Taj Mahal complex for three hours, after which he will be heading back to Jaipur in the afternoon. He will visit the City Palace upon his return, where Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari will officially receive him.
The Vance family will leave for America on the 24th morning of April to end their diplomatic and cultural trip to India.
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