Khandala · Formerly The Dukes Retreat
Wedding at Athiva Resort & Spa, Khandala
Location: Khandala, on the old Mumbai–Pune road · about 1.5 km from Khandala station, under two hours from Pune
For decades, a Khandala wedding meant The Dukes Retreat. The resort now runs as Athiva Resort & Spa, with more rooms and a dedicated wedding team, but the reason people book it hasn’t changed: lawns and a ballroom right on the edge of the ghat, with the Khandala valley as the backdrop. Here is what the spaces hold, what it costs on published figures, and how we plan the bride’s day.
- 147 rooms and suites
- Lotus lawn for about 500 seated
- 6,000 sq ft Lotus Ballroom
- Our bridal photos and reels below
Pune-based, travelling worldwideTejaswini Gote has done Indian bridal makeup for 14 years. For Khandala the team drives up from Pune and stays over before any morning function.
4 bridal reelsThe venue
From The Dukes Retreat to Athiva.
The resort was rebranded under Athiva, which also runs a wedding team called Vivaah. Most directories and many guests still call it “Dukes”, so expect both names on invitations and maps.
The wedding spaces
| Space | Setting | Capacity | How we would use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus lawn | Main outdoor lawn | About 500 seated, 700 standing | The pheras or the reception |
| Lotus Ballroom | Indoor, about 6,000 sq ft | Large banquet | A cold-night sangeet or a monsoon wedding |
| Poolside | Open deck and lawn | Smaller groups | Mehendi and haldi |
| Wellington, Edinburgh, Windsor | Indoor function rooms | Small to mid-sized | Family dinners, a warm base on the wedding day |
Lawn capacity from WedMeGood; ballroom size and total event space from Athiva; smaller room names from older Dukes Retreat listings and may have changed. Confirm current spaces with the resort.
Weddingz notes that the resort allows late music and overnight events, has changing rooms for the couple and permits havan — worth reconfirming under the new management, but a useful starting point for a long sangeet night.
We are not affiliated with the resort and receive nothing for linking to it.
Our approach
Planning the bride’s day in Khandala.
Khandala sits right on the edge of the ghat, and the weather on the lawn can be quite different from the weather in Pune that morning.
- Wind on the ghat edgeValley views come with a breeze. Hair is pinned and set for wind, and the dupatta drape is secured for walking across an open lawn.
- The sun goes behind the ridgeOn the Khandala side the light fades earlier than the clock suggests. Couple portraits go in the hour before, with the bride ready well ahead.
- Ballroom backupIf you are marrying in October, keep the Lotus Ballroom on hold — late rain still happens. It is also a good, well-lit space for evening touch-ups.
- A Marathi wedding at the DukesMany of the weddings here are Pune and Mumbai Maharashtrian families. Nauvari draping and nath fitting take time; we schedule them first so the morning isn’t rushed.
The bridal portfolio
Looks for a valley-view wedding.
From Tejaswini’s portfolio, chosen for open lawns and soft ghat light. All photographs are our own work from other weddings, not from Athiva.
The reels
Four reels of Tejaswini at work.
A Maharashtrian bride, a soft look, a full transformation and the team behind it. Tap to play; nothing autoplays.
The budget
What a wedding at Athiva costs.
Athiva quotes weddings as packages. These are the figures we found in public listings — useful for a sense-check, not a quote.
| Line item | Published figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Catering, vegetarian | From about ₹2,800 per plate | WedMeGood listing |
| Rooms | Quoted by season and room category | The resort |
| Bridal makeup, hair and draping | ₹45,000 per look | Our Lonavala rate |
| Family member look | ₹20,000 per look | Our Lonavala rate |
| Our team’s travel and stay | Quoted | Depends on functions and start times |
- Taxes on topPer-plate figures in listings rarely include GST. Ask for the all-in number.
- Vendor roomsMakeup, photography and decor teams need rooms the night before a morning function.
Checked in October 2026. Full makeup pricing is on the Lonavala price page.
Booking us for Athiva
Bridal makeup, hair and draping in Khandala.
₹45,000 per bridal look and ₹20,000 per family look, with the team’s travel and stay quoted separately.
Bridal look
Family member look
Still comparing venues?
Questions
Athiva Khandala wedding questions, answered.
Venue facts from Athiva and wedding directories, checked in October 2026.
Is Athiva Resort & Spa the same as The Dukes Retreat?
Yes. Athiva Resort & Spa, Khandala is the former Dukes Retreat, rebranded under Athiva with a dedicated wedding team.
How many rooms does Athiva Khandala have?
Athiva lists 147 rooms and suites. Older Dukes Retreat listings give 80, which predates the expansion.
How many guests can the Lotus lawn hold?
WedMeGood lists the Lotus lawn at about 500 seated and 700 standing. The resort also has the 6,000 sq ft Lotus Ballroom for indoor functions.
What does catering cost at Athiva?
WedMeGood lists vegetarian menus from about Rs 2,800 per plate. Confirm the current rate, taxes and minimum guarantee with the resort.
Do you do bridal makeup in Khandala?
Yes. Tejaswini is based in Pune and travels to Khandala for weddings: Rs 45,000 per bridal look, Rs 20,000 per family look, travel and stay quoted separately.
Is Khandala colder than Pune in winter?
Mornings and evenings are noticeably cooler and often misty in December and January. Guests will want a shawl on the lawn after dark.
More in this guide
Bridal makeup artist in Lonavala & Khandala: every page
Athiva Khandala bookings
Marrying in Khandala? Send us the date.
Tell us your dates, functions and the spaces you have booked, and you will get a written quote with travel shown separately.
