Jaipur– U.S. Vice President JD Vance has canceled his planned visit to Jaipur’s City Palace amid heightened security concerns following a recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Vance, who is on a four-day visit to India (April 21-24) with his family, was originally scheduled to tour the City Palace on Wednesday.
While no official explanation has been provided, sources indicated that the decision to cancel the visit came shortly after Vance returned from Agra. The recent terror incident is believed to have played a role in the change of plans.
Earlier in the day, Vice President Vance and his family visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, spending about three hours at the world-famous monument before returning to Jaipur. The family is staying at the Rambagh Palace Hotel and is scheduled to depart for Washington, D.C., early Thursday morning at 6:30 a.m.
Throughout their visit, the Vance family has embraced Indian culture, wearing traditional Indian attire. Vance’s two sons, Vivek and Ivan, were seen in kurta-pajamas, while his wife, Usha Vance, held hands with their daughter, Mirabel, upon arrival in Agra. The family was warmly welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who greeted them with a bouquet.
The Vances arrived in Jaipur on Monday night and visited the historic Amer Fort on April 22, spending over an hour exploring its architectural wonders. Vice President Vance showed particular interest in notable landmarks within the fort, including Diwan-e-Aam, Ganesh Pol, Man Singh Palace, and Sheesh Mahal.
The City Palace Museum Director, Vaibhav Chauhan, had previously announced that the City Palace would be closed to tourists on April 23 in preparation for Vance’s visit. U.S. security teams had conducted thorough inspections of the site on Tuesday to review security arrangements. “The City Palace, Jaipur, is honored to welcome U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his family on April 23, 2025,” Chauhan had stated earlier.
Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari and Padmanabh Singh, a member of Jaipur’s former royal family, were expected to greet the Vice President and his family during the visit, which has now been called off. The family remains at Rambagh Palace instead.
During his trip, Vance also addressed U.S.-India relations at the Research and Information Center (RIC), emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the two nations. “The 21st century will be prosperous if India and the U.S. work together,” he said. (Source: IANS)
