Latest news with #Dwarika
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Stay Beyond Ordinary: Unique destinations where culture, nature, and luxury retreats come together
South Asia presents unique travel experiences beyond typical tourist spots, blending heritage, undisturbed wildlife, and authentic luxury. From Nainital's colonial charm and Kathmandu's cultural richness to Jawai's wildlife encounters and Sri Lanka's coastal serenity, these destinations offer immersive stays. Gujarat combines history and spirituality, while Kochi blends modernity with preserved history, and Jaipur showcases royal grandeur. In a world increasingly overrun by tourist clichés, there remain places that quietly defy the ordinary, destinations where heritage whispers through stone walls, wildlife roams undisturbed, and luxury finds its roots in authenticity. Across the varied landscapes of South Asia, a new kind of travel experience is emerging, one that doesn't just invite you to see a place, but to truly stay in it. Nainital, Uttarakhand: The lake district blending colonial charm Nainital is one of North India's most celebrated hill stations, often called the 'Lake District of India.' With its glassy emerald lakes, lush emerald hills, and echoes of colonial history, the town offers a delicate balance of natural wonder and nostalgic charm. Among its scenic treasures, the Naukuchia House Hotel stands out—nestled near the mysterious Naukuchiatal Lake, the hotel combines tranquil modern comforts with panoramic lakeside vistas, creating an inviting haven for travelers. It is within close reach of the revered Kainchi Dham—a spiritual haven—making it an ideal base for those wishing to combine nature, nourishment, and spiritual exploration during their stay. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What Will Happen to Your Body If You Start Eating 3 Eggs Every Day? Undo Guests at Naukuchia House Hotel can enjoy easy access to scenic boats, forested trails, and Nainital's vibrant bazaar, while savoring regional cuisine and warm hospitality in serene seclusion. Kathmandu: Crown of Nepal Kathmandu is unique yet not far from the borders. The city is a hidden gem offering a blend of history, culture, and nature. Very few people know that the city has quiet temples, charming little villages, and trekking routes. The city is alive with Newar culture in the form of local festivals and workshops dedicated to the arts and crafts of Nepal. One can experience a distinct stay blending luxury with culture in Dwarika's hotel. The hotel, featuring Newari architectural intricacies, has handwoven textiles, terracotta floors, and sumptuous timeless wooden masterpieces from the Kathmandu valley blending in with the city's refreshing retreat. In addition, the hotel has authentic Nepali cuisine, spa treatments, and courtyards. Jawai: A Fusion of Wildlife and Culture Its blend of wildlife and culture is not the only alluring feature in Jawai. The stunning granite hills and dam with the local communities like the Rabari and the Jat, adds to the culture of the place making it even more breathtaking. The place is home to The Jawai Leopard Sanctuary. This is the only place in the world where you can witness leopards coexist with humans. This region is the only region offering intimate glimpses with the wildlife and humans in the surrounding region, not to forget the addition of the rugged breathtaking Cheetagarh offers a secluded, offbeat destination with a perfect mix of history, wildlife, and natural beauty. The Jawai Cheetagarh Fort offers sweeping views of the rugged terrain, allowing guests to explore the wildlife sanctuary up close, while also experiencing local tribal culture. Whether seeking adventure or peace, Jawai Cheetagarh is the ideal base for exploring Jawai's true essence. Coastal Yala, Sri Lanka: Where Wildlife can be Wild and Stay Calm Coastal Yala, Sri Lanka, offers the indelible Sri Yala national park with its unique Sri Lankan fauna which includes Sri Lankan leopards and ground elephants, alongside the peace and serenity provided by the numerous Indian ocean beaches. Coastlines filled with palm trees accompany indented surf battered rocky formations which combine the calm and the wild. Jetwing Safari Camp Yala looks to be the perfect escape from the bus and noise of the world coming from the luxurious cars tented accommodations with their all you can eat offer. Therefore, their proximity to the national park and Yala's dense fauna guarantee Sri Lankan luxury throughout the safaris and the lounging at the coast guaranteed by the eco-friendly leisure. Yala's wonders are absolute for the eyes, blending boost to spirit with ach calming surroundings. Narmada District, Gujarat: Nature and Spiritualism Blended into History Gujarat's Narmada district unfolds to be known for extreme diversities in one area, all at the same time coming equal in a powerfully well connected sequence. First comes The Statue of Unity which portrays one of the most praised modern Indian leaders, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, giving it the title for the tallest statue in the world. For those that love the clean fresh air, they would greatly enjoy the beautiful valleys Ninai and Zarvani waterfalls offer. Lastly, the religious people can also enjoy a visit to Poicha temple which also makes the area nirvana tourist friendly. For a unique stay, the Statue of Unity Tent City offers comfort amidst the region's natural beauty and proximity to these iconic landmarks. With eco-tourism initiatives along the Narmada River and vibrant cultural festivals, Narmada is a perfect blend of history, spirituality, and adventure. Kochi, Kerala: A City of Modern Developments along with Preserved History Kochi is one of the most beautiful cities of India, sometimes referred to as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea'. This city is filled with various bits of history, culture and modernity. The city includes the famous Chinese fishing nets and the oldest European church in India, St. Francis Church and the Paradesi Synagogue. In addition the city is surrounded with beautiful beaches and backwaters, further adding to the city's bounty of natural beauty. The metro and water metro of the city is a sign of modern advancement. The city is home to India's first biennale the Kochi-Muziris which further represents the city as a center of 'Artistic Kochi'. A warm and pleasant stay is offered at the Brunton Boatyard which makes use of a former Victorian shipyard as a hotel. This Boatyard provides a colonial feel to the modern world which is greatly sought after. The hotel is located near breathtaking natural views such as the harbor. Jaipur, Rajasthan: A city of royal grandeur and living heritage Jaipur, the famed Pink City, dazzles with its blend of royal palaces, bustling bazaars, and timeless traditions. From the rose-hued Hawa Mahal to the hilltop Amber Fort, the city offers a regal journey through Rajasthan's history, artistry, and culture. With handicraft-lined streets, vibrant festivals, and warm hospitality, Jaipur invites travellers to immerse themselves in its colourful heritage while savoring fragrant Rajasthani delicacies and sunset silhouettes over ancient forts. At Mementos Jaipur, guests are welcomed with the grand Shahi Aagman ceremony, complete with soulful folk melodies. The property offers curated local experiences, serene wellness options, and unique moments like tea at sunset, traditional performances under the stars, and family recreations such as kite flying , crafting an unforgettable royal escape.
IOL News
24-05-2025
- IOL News
How the family of slain MUT lecturer Chanlall Dwarika seeks closure after justice is served
Slain engineering lecturer Chanlall Dwarika. Image: Supplied The family of slain Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) lecturer said they would carry the grief of his brutal murder for the rest of their lives. This is after the Durban High Court sentenced his killers to life imprisonment. Engineering lecturer, Chanlall Dwarika, 61, was kidnapped on May 28, 2023, and his body was found in the bushes of Durban's infamous township, Inanda, on June 3, 2023. On the day he was kidnapped, he had come to his investment property in Sea Cow Lake to conduct maintenance as the property was being renovated. His killers, Thobani Mhlongo and Kwanele Makhaye, with whom he provided food, lived on this property. The agreement was that they would look after the material for renovations, as it kept being stolen. The killers' co-accused, Siyabonga Freeman Mahaye, also lived on the property. On the day of the kidnapping, CCTV footage from the area showed Dwarika speaking to three men, who then forced him into the rear of his Honda CR-V. The trio forced him to hand over his bank cards and ATM PINs. Several withdrawals were made. At some point, Mahaye left his co-accused and took the bank cards. Mhlongo and Makhaye kept Dwarika at knife point, driving him to the Inanda bushes where they killed him. They disposed of his Honda by setting it alight before fleeing the scene. When he failed to return home, his family reported him missing to the police. His pictures were circulated on social media, and MUT held a media briefing calling for his safe return. The post-mortem results revealed that his throat had been slit and partially decapitated. Judge Khosi Hadebe described the trio as low lives and sentenced Makhaye and Mhlongo to life imprisonment each, 15 years each for robbery with aggravating circumstances, and five years each for the kidnapping. Mahaye was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for kidnapping and 15 years' imprisonment for the robbery. Dwarika's daughter Ayuushi Dwarika-Rajbansi said they were happy with the life imprisonment imposed by the court. 'The sentences were fair and we are happy that the perpetrators got life sentences,' she added. She said she did not know if the family would ever find closure because of how her father was killed, adding that justice was served. 'The perpetrators were caught and reprimanded for what they had done. Their actions did not go unpunished. There is closure in that aspect. However, the way my dad passed, I don't think we will ever get closure. It will be a pain that we will carry for life.' She said they were happy with Sihle Mkhize's confession because without him, the police were not going to be able to crack her father's case. Mkhize was acquitted on Wednesday when the court handed down its judgment. He was with the killers when they killed Dwarika, and he told the court that he went to tell his supervisor at work about what his friends forced him to witness. When Mkhize told the court what happened, he said Dwarika begged for his life, and his co-accused killed him like a goat. At one point, Judge Hadebe asked him if he needed to take a break as he would get emotional while leading his evidence. [email protected]
The South African
23-05-2025
- The South African
Suspects receive life sentences for MUT lecturer's murder
The Durban High Court has given life sentences to suspects who killed and kidnapped Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) lecturer, Chanlall Dwarika. Dwarika was kidnapped and murdered in May 2023. The suspects, who lived at his property in Sea Cow Lake, kidnapped the deceased with the intention of stealing money from his account. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), during the kidnapping, the suspects instructed the deceased to contact his wife and tell her to have his bank cards ready. 'The Electrical Engineering lecturer was handed down his phone by the suspects and instructed him to call his wife at their home in Ethekwini (location withheld), KZN, to have his bank cards sent to the vehicle when they arrived at the gate,' said RUSA. Dwarika attempted to contact RUSA for assistance. However, the suspects noticed and removed the phone from his possession. RUSA said, 'This angered them (the suspects) and they drove him to a canefield and slit his throat.' The deceased was found partially decapitated in a cane field in Inanda. One suspect was convicted of kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances and sentenced to five years. The two other suspects were convicted of kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances and murder. They were both sentenced to five years for kidnapping, 15 years for robbery and life imprisonment for murder. Terry Jabulani Ngomane (35) was sentenced to 25 years in prison for murdering and robbing a pensioner and ex-police officer at his home in Theunissen. Ngomane received 20 years' imprisonment for murder and 10 years' imprisonment for robbery with aggravating circumstances. 'Five years' of the robbery sentence will run concurrently with the murder sentence, meaning he will serve an effective 25 years behind bars,' read a police statement. Ngomane killed Sabata Tsoai at his residence in May 2018. 'His hands and feet were tied with cables, brutally assaulted and killed. His body was discovered a day later, with his property scattered throughout the house in Theunissen,' mentioned a police statement. Additionally, a firearm safe was found open with a missing firearm and the victim's cellphone. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
21-05-2025
- IOL News
Three men convicted in the murder trial of Mangosuthu University lecturer Chanlall Dwarika
Slain MUT lecturer Chanlall 'Shan' Dwarika. Image: Supplied Three men have been found guilty of the murder of an electrical engineer lecturer Chanlall Dwarika from the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) . At the same time, one was acquitted of all charges in the Durban High Court on Wednesday. Siyabonga Mahaye, Thobani Mhlongo, and Kwanele Makhaye were found guilty of kidnapping and killing 63-year-old Dwarika and robbing him. Their co-accused, Sihle Mkhize was acquitted of all charges as the court said that without him, Dwarika would never be found. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Dwarika was kidnapped on May 28, 2023, and his body was found in the bushes of Durban's notorious township, iNanda, on June 3, 2023. On the day he was kidnapped, he had come to his investment property situated in Sea Cow Lake to conduct maintenance. The daughter of Chanlall Dwarika, Ayuushi Dwarika-Rajbansi, and her mother, Janitha Dwarika. Image: Nomonde Zondi CCTV footage from the area showed Dwarika speaking to three men, who then forced him into the rear of his Honda CR-V. When he failed to return home, his family reported him missing to the police. His pictures were circulated on social media, and MUT held a media briefing calling for his safe return. The post-mortem results revealed that his throat had been slit and partially decapitated. Delivering her ruling, Judge Khosi Hadebe said the evidence presented by the State set out the role played by each of the accused on the day Dwarika met his gruesome death. She stated that it was evident to the court that Mahaye, Mhlongo, and Makhaye viewed Dwarika as a source of easy money. 'It is very possible that the Dwarika owed them unpaid wages,' Judge Hadebe said. She said Dwarika provided a shelter for the accused, he saw it fit to feed them, and he trusted them. 'Unfortunately, his trust cost him his life,' she added. She said the behaviors of the accused put them in a category of low lives, adding that the court was satisfied that the State proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. She said Mahaye was guilty of kidnapping and robbery with aggravating circumstances. According to her, the State failed to prove that he murdered Dwarika. She said Mhlongo and Makhaye were guilty of all the charges. Discharging Mkhize on all counts, Judge Hadebe said he was a sincere witness, and his actions of going to tell his supervisor after witnessing Dwarika being killed helped police make a breakthrough in the case. The wife of Dwarika, Janitha Dwarika, whom they had been married to for 40 years, could not utter a word as she cried after the court proceedings. His daughter, Ayuushi Dwarika-Rajbansi, said that since the passing of her father, they had received support from other academics from MUT who checked them from time to time. She got emotional talking about the trial. 'It was quite sad to hear what my father had to endure. I wish we had known sooner and tried to help. I wish we had a fighting chance to have helped him,' she said. Sentencing is expected on Thursday.
TimesLIVE
19-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Judgment in case of four Dwarika murder accused expected on Wednesday
Durban high court judge Khosi Hadebe on Monday refused to entertain a request by an accused linked to the murder of Mangosuthu University of Technology engineering lecturer Chanlall 'Shan' Dwarika for time to sort out his banking issues. Kwanele Makhaye, 29, through his legal representative, had asked to address the court on his banking woes. He told the court that there was R11,000 in his bank account but he was unable to retrieve the money as his card was lost. Makhaye also told the court his four children were suffering due to his detention and the death of his father last year. 'Two of my children are staying with my mother while the other two are staying with their mother,' he said. He also said he was assaulted by the police on the day of his arrest. Hadebe did not entertain Makhaye's concerns. 'Mr Makhaye, since you are not on bail there must be security measures which should be put in place and the investigating officer can also not assist you,' said Hadebe. Makhaye is charged alongside Siyabonga Freeman Mahaye, 35, Thobani Mhlongo, 23, and Sihle Mkhize, 23, with kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances and murder. Mhlongo has previously pleaded guilty on all charges. Hadebe was on Monday expected to deliver judgment in the case against the four suspects but she indicated she was not ready to proceed as she was still preparing the judgment. The case was then adjourned until Wednesday. Dwarika, 63, was kidnapped on May 28 in 2023 and later found dead. His body, according to police spokesperson Col Robert Neshiunda, was found in Mafuya Road in Inanda six days later. According to the indictment, Dwarika owned a property in Sea Cow Lake while he lived on another property in Verulam, north of Durban. Dwarika was renovating the Sea Cow Lake property as he intended to sell it to a tenant, identified as Pastor Miya. However, renovations were marred by the continued theft of materials. Another accused, Mahaye, hobbled into court using crutches and told senior prosecutor adv Krishen Shah he had been left injured in the prison showers. 'It's not nice being in prison,' lamented Mahaye. This prompted Shah to sympathise with him by saying 'sorry'. Dwarika's family members attended the court sitting. Previously, Dwarika's daughter Ayuush Rajbansi had testified in court. Rajbansi, who is based in Johannesburg and had access to her father's FNB cheque account, told the court there were a number of transactions which made her suspicious on the day he went missing. 'Three other transactions related to purchases made at a tavern,' said Rajbansi. She called her mother and contacted an aunt to find out about his whereabouts and found he was not with them. 'I put out a flyer on WhatsApp and Facebook and contacted [security company Reaction Unit SA,' said Rajbansi. She notified her manager about her father going missing. 'I was given time off work and my brother and I drove to Durban. On the way we received information from a neighbour who told us she had seen my dad with three men.' Rajbansi said they asked for footage from the neighbour, which they sent to the security company. A clip of the video footage of Dwarika being kidnapped from his Sea Cow Lake property was screened in court. In the video, the lecturer is seen being bundled into a vehicle. Three men are with him but their faces are not clearly visible in the dark. Rajbansi said her father planned to sell the property because of theft and burglary. In November, Mkhize during his testimony, told the court how the lecturer had begged for his life before his throat was slit. Postmortem reports indicated that Dwarika's throat was slit and he was also partially decapitated. Mkhize denied that Dwarika was assaulted and forced to increase the limit in his banking account before being taken to the bushes in Inanda where he was killed. Mkhize also recalled how when he initially got into Dwarika's Honda SUV, his co-accused was driving and he sat in the front seat while Dwarika was seated at the back. Mhlongo and Makhaye had previously been identified as the culprits who had hatched a plot to kill Dwarika.
