Filming & Pre-Wedding Shoots at Hathi Gaon: Permits, Costs & Ethical Guidelines

Why this guide

Hathi Gaon (Elephant Village) sits just beyond Amer Fort’s ramparts and often shows up in couples’ mood boards and directors’ location scouts. It’s undeniably photogenic—but it’s also a sensitive, regulated animal habitat. This guide explains, in plain language, how permissions work, what you might realistically spend, and how to plan an ethical, low-impact shoot whether or not elephants appear in the frame.

Hathi Gaon in 60 seconds

• What & where: Hathi Gaon is an “elephant village” near Kunda–Amer, Jaipur, set up to house elephants and mahout families. Since 2017, the Jaipur Development Authority handed the site to the Rajasthan Forest Department. This means forest/wildlife rules apply, not the standard monument rules.
• Why ethics matter here: Elephants are Schedule-I wildlife under Indian law. Any commercial use—films, ads, or even a couple cameo with an elephant—triggers wildlife and animal-welfare compliance. The Forest Department and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) are the key regulators.

Can you shoot at Hathi Gaon?

Short answer: Yes—with multiple permissions. The village is not a public “studio” or a ticketed monument. You’ll typically need:

1. Location permission from the Rajasthan Forest Department (because Hathi Gaon is under its control). Expect scrutiny of your call sheet, crew size, timings, equipment, drone plan, and any animal interaction.
2. If an elephant appears in any frame (even a silent background cameo):
   • The elephant’s custodian must be registered with AWBI under the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001; and
   • The production must obtain pre-shoot permission and a NOC from AWBI (the Board will not consider post-facto approvals, barring limited exceptions).
3. Film/TV unit: Use Rajasthan Tourism’s Single-Window Clearance (plus Police/Traffic/Archaeology, as applicable for other locations on your schedule).
4. Drone/UAS: Comply with DGCA’s Drone Rules, 2021 via Digital Sky, fly only in permitted (green) airspace, and obtain any local/airport/ATC permissions required. Jaipur’s airspace includes controlled and heritage zones—do not assume drones are allowed by default.

Important: In 2010 and later clarifications, Rajasthan authorities and courts emphasized that elephants used in rides or shoots must be registered and permitted under the Performing Animals framework. Treat this as non-negotiable documentation for any plan that includes elephants.

What permits look like (step-by-step)

A) If your frames do not include elephants (location only):

1. Write to the Forest Department (Range/Division covering Hathi Gaon) with: concept note, crew list, dates/timings, gear list, risk assessment, indemnity, and proof of insurance.
2. If you’re filming beyond stills (web/TV/OTT), also apply on Rajasthan Single-Window for Filming; coordinate local police/traffic permissions if you’ll control crowds/roads.
3. Submit a drone plan (if any) on Digital Sky; include area maps and altitude—many drones end up grounded for missing this step

B) If your frames include elephants:

1. The owner/custodian of each elephant must be AWBI-registered as a performing-animal owner, and each elephant must be registered, current on health checks, and approved for the proposed act.
2. The production company must seek AWBI pre-shoot permission & NOC for animals, with shot breakdowns and welfare safeguards. AWBI accepts applications directly from the producer (no agents).
3. Pair this with Forest Department permission for location use (Hathi Gaon) and any transport permissions for moving elephants (if proposed), as guided by Project Elephant/MoEF&CC norms.

What does it cost?

There is no public “rate card” for Hathi Gaon—fees are assessed per proposal by the Forest Department and may include refundable security, supervision charges, and conditions (e.g., limited crew, no amplified sound). For context:

• Rajasthan opened ticketed monuments/museums for wedding shoots in 2021 with ₹5,000 per two hours during office hours, and ₹15,000 per hour outside office hours (policy for state-protected sites like Amer Fort—not automatically applicable to Hathi Gaon).
• A separate film-shooting charges schedule exists for state monuments (security deposit etc.), useful for budgeting—but again, Hathi Gaon is not a monument; treat those figures as reference, not entitlement
• Full pre-wedding packages across Jaipur vary widely by creative scope; high-end vendors quote ₹1.5 L–₹10 L+ for multi-location styling/permits/crew—useful to set expectations if you want controlled sets, styling, and multiple spots.

Practical budget checklist (for Hathi Gaon proposals):

• Location permission fee (Forest Dept) + refundable security
• On-site supervision/forest staff charges
• Insurance (public liability; worker cover)
• Drone permissions (Digital Sky) + pilot
• AWBI pre-shoot permission/NOC (if animals appear)
• Welfare line items if animals appear (mahout fees, vet health certificate, rest windows, water/forage, shade, emergency transport)

Tip: Many couples achieve the “Amer belt” look without involving elephants by using private sets near Hathi Gaon (e.g., film studios/farms on Amer Road). These are designed for shoots, publish fixed-slot packages, and simplify logistics.

Ethical guidelines you should not skip

Even when fully permitted, your creative choices have real-world impacts. Build these into your brief:

1. No rides, no paint, no tricks. Avoid any depiction that normalizes rides, paints, chains, “poses,” or touching. Align with Project Elephant welfare guidance; do not stress animals for frames.
2. Paperwork & health first. If an elephant is in frame, insist on AWBI registration details and a current veterinary fitness certificate; the onus is on the production to verify.
3. Distance & duration. Use longer lenses; avoid crowding, flashes, or loud music near animals. Keep takes short; plan rest and shade windows.
4. Drones respectfully. Never overfly animals; even in permitted zones, maintain offsets to avoid rotor noise stress. Follow Digital Sky maps and local instructions.
5. Transparency on set. Post basic welfare dos & don’ts on your call sheet. Assign a crew member to monitor compliance. (AWBI emphasizes owner/production responsibility for humane conditions.)

When elephants shouldn’t be in your shoot (and great alternatives)

If your ethical bar (or paperwork timeline) rules out animal frames, your Jaipur visuals are still golden:

• Amer/Amber Fort & precincts (select windows; paid permissions apply). Policies have allowed exclusive pre-wedding slots for a fee; slots and rules change, so always confirm with the Department of Archaeology/Museums before scheduling.
• Purpose-built sets near Hathi Gaon—controlled lighting, changing rooms, predictable permits. Great for fast fashion/outfit changes and stress-free timelines.

Context note: Elephant ride policies around Amer have seen ongoing legal and pricing disputes—another reason to avoid animal-dependent concepts and focus on architecture/landscape.

Drones, sound, and crowd control (quick rules)

• Drones: Register on Digital Sky, obtain UIN/RPC as required, and fly only with airspace clearance. Jaipur’s yellow/red zones restrict spur-of-the-moment flights; assume “no permission, no takeoff.”
• Sound: Skip amplified audio near animals; keep generators baffled and away from sheds.
• Crew caps: Smaller is safer. Forest permissions often cap crew; build a lean, efficient unit to minimize habitat impact. (This is common in forest/wildlife permissions across India.)

Best time to shoot

• Light & weather: Oct–Mar offers cool mornings and crisp light; May–June is harsh; July–Sept can be humid/overcast.
• Crowds & logistics: Weekdays are kinder. If you’re mixing Amer Fort with private sets, front-load the monument slot early and finish at a studio near Hathi Gaon for outfit changes.

A sample, ethical pre-wedding plan (Amer belt, elephant-free)

• Sunrise–10:00 AM: Paid slot inside Amer/nearby vistas (with valid permit).
• Late morning–afternoon: Move to a private set near Hathi Gaon for look changes and thematic frames.
• Golden hour: Terraces/Aravalli backdrops; drone only if cleared on Digital Sky and not over animals/habitations.

FAQs

1) Do we need special permission to shoot at Hathi Gaon?
Yes. Hathi Gaon is under the Rajasthan Forest Department. You need formal location permission, and if any elephant appears in frame, AWBI pre-shoot permission/NOC and documented animal registration/fitness are mandatory.

2) How much will a pre-wedding shoot cost here?
There’s no public rate card for Hathi Gaon. For benchmarking, state-protected monuments like Amer allow paid pre-wedding windows at ₹5,000 per two hours (office hours) or ₹15,000 per hour (off-hours), but these do not automatically apply to Hathi Gaon. Expect a location-specific quote from the Forest Department, plus insurance, security deposit, and any drone/AWBI fees.

3) Can we include elephants in our film or photos?
Only if all animal-welfare conditions are met: AWBI registration for the owner and elephant(s), AWBI pre-shoot NOC, Forest Department permission, current vet fitness certificates, and a humane shot design. Many productions choose elephant-free concepts to avoid both ethical concerns and long approvals.

4) Are drones allowed?
Drones require compliance with DGCA Drone Rules, 2021 and Digital Sky permissions. Jaipur’s airspace has restrictions; never plan drones without checking the live airspace map and getting approvals.

5) Is there an easier alternative near Hathi Gaon?
Yes. Private film sets/farms on Amer Road (near Hathi Gaon) offer controlled backdrops, changing rooms, and straightforward booking—ideal for stress-free, animal-free visuals.

6) Why all the caution around elephants?
Because elephants are protected wildlife. Rajasthan’s circulars and AWBI’s enforcement history make it clear: performing animals need registration and pre-approvals, and productions must ensure humane conditions at all times.

Final word

Hathi Gaon rewards thoughtful crews: you’ll get the Amer-side atmosphere while showing respect for wildlife and local rules. If you must film with elephants, expect serious paperwork and on-set welfare protocols; if you don’t, Jaipur still gives you stunning frames—from sunrise forts to purpose-built sets near the village—without the ethical baggage.