Co-Founder & Chairmen

Mr Aman Nath : Co-Founder & Chairman

Mr Amar Nath Neemrana Hotels

In 1986, Aman Nath acquired Neemrana Fort-Palace and began its restoration. The hotel opened in 1991.

Aman Nath is a historian by education. From an early age he has written poetry, as also practiced graphic design and copywriting for several path-breaking advertising campaigns. He has co-written and authored thirteen large-format illustrated books on art, history, architecture, corporate biography and photography, two of which have won national awards. His Jaipur book was the first Indian book chosen by Christie’s for worldwide distribution. Two of these books are also used as the official gifts of the President and the Prime Minister of India.

Aman Nath the youngest founder member of INTACH was also the curator of Art Today, the contemporary art gallery of India Today for seven years where he had earlier looked after the arts pages of the magazine. Actively involved in the restoration of India’s lesser-known architectural ruins, he is the co-founder of the Neemrana non-hotel  Hotels, which were nominated in 2004 for the Aga Khan Award, and have won awards from Unesco, the Indian travel trade industry, as well as National Awards from the Government of India. The word ‘Neemranification’ has now come to symbolise a viable and sustainable heritage tourism involving the local communities so that their rural pride resurges to win the battle to counter migration to urban slums.

Aman Nath is an inveterate traveller and has contributed to several travel magazines: after walking 400 kms to Mount Kailash in Tibet; to a hidden monastery between Rohtang and Leh; or to the sub-Antartic in an ice breaker, just after the film Titanic was released! Among the many prizes he has received, the latest was the Condé Nast Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017. In 2017, he was appointed as the Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur by the president of the French Republic which is the highest civilian honour in recognition of his outstanding achievements in Heritage Conservation.

Late Mr. Francis Wacziarg: Co-Chairman

24th Feb. 1942 - 19th Feb. 2014
After completing an MBA in France, Late Mr. Francis Wacziarg came to India in 1970. Initially, he was the deputy trade commissioner at the French consulate in Bombay (now called Mumbai). Subsequently, he headed the representative office of the Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) in New Delhi.

On gaining Indian citizenship, after an active 20 year affair with India, he joined Aman Nath, to co-author two books as also to invest in Neemrana Fort-Palace in 1992 when it was already running as a hotel. In 1993, Aman Nath & Late Mr. Francis Wacziarg co-founded Neemrana Hotels Pvt Ltd.

Late Mr. Francis Wacziarg was a founding member of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) and a trustee on IFA (India Foundation for the Arts). He was President of the Alliance Francaise of New Delhi and was actively involved in promoting the arts and culture with an emphasis on building bridges between different people and varying cultures.

Mr. Francis Wacziarg Neemrana Hotels

Late Mr. Francis Wacziarg, was the Founder of The Neemrana Music Foundation, which put India on the world map of Western and Indian classical music. TNMF has, over the last six years, trained students through a number of music workshops and master classes held in New Delhi and Mumbai. The Foundation has produced ten major operas: ‘The Fakir of Benares’, ‘The Pearl Fishers’, ‘Carmen’, ‘Violetta, A Traviata’, ‘If I Were King’, ‘Hair’, ‘Mozart Magic’, ‘Don Pasquale’, ‘Orfeo’ and ‘Romeo & Juliet’ with a cast of Indian, French and Sri Lankan artistes. These performances were well received by packed audiences indicating the great interest in western classical music and opera in India.