Latest news with #Narain
NDTV
4 days ago
- NDTV
6 Heritage Havelis That Are Now Stunning Boutique Hotels
India is full of old havelis with stories etched into their walls. Many of these historic homes have now been lovingly restored and turned into boutique hotels. Staying at one is like stepping back in time without giving up on comfort. From the royal palaces of Jaipur to the vibrant lanes of Old Delhi, these heritage havelis offer a perfect blend of tradition and modern living. Whether it's the detailed architecture or the peaceful courtyards, each hotel tells its own unique story. Here are six such beautiful havelis that are now stunning boutique hotels. Check them out below: Here Are 6 Old Havelis That Have Been Transformed Into Boutique Hotels: 1. Narain Niwas Palace - Jaipur, Rajasthan Built in the 1920s, this haveli was once a royal residence and now functions as a heritage hotel right in the heart of Jaipur. The rooms retain vintage charm, while modern amenities ensure comfort. The hotel also houses the famous Bar Palladio - a blue-themed lounge that has become an Instagram favourite. 2. Haveli Dharampura - Delhi Located in the heart of Old Delhi, Haveli Dharampura dates back to the Mughal era. The haveli's transformation into a boutique hotel allows guests to experience the soul of Shahjahanabad. With traditional jaali work and ornate balconies, this stay offers an immersive cultural escape. 3. RAAS - Jodhpur, Rajasthan RAAS Jodhpur combines old and new effortlessly. The boutique hotel is built around an 18th-century haveli, with new structures designed to complement the original architecture. It offers fort views, red sandstone walls and tranquil courtyards that create a beautiful setting for guests to enjoy. 4. The Johri - Jaipur, Rajasthan Another heritage haveli transformed into a boutique hotel is Johri. Located in the bustling Johri Bazaar, it has been designed with great attention to detail. Each of the five suites in the hotel is uniquely styled, and the vegetarian restaurant serves traditional Marwari dishes with a modern twist. 5. Alsisar Haveli, - Jaipur, Rajasthan Alsisar Haveli is a beautiful 18th-century mansion in Jaipur that has been converted into a heritage hotel. It mixes classic Rajput design with modern comforts. With its detailed carved archways and old-fashioned furniture, it offers a calm and peaceful break from the busy city. It's one of the easiest ways to enjoy a heritage experience in Jaipur. 6. Ranvas - Nagaur, Rajasthan Situated inside the Ahhichatragarh Fort, Ranvas was originally the residence of the queens of Maharaja Bakht Singh. It has been restored into a luxurious boutique hotel that celebrates its Mughal and Rajput roots. Here, you'll get to see intricate carvings and peaceful terraces. Which of these heritage hotels are you planning to visit first? Tell us in the comments below!
India.com
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
This 2-hour 25-minute thriller is a blockbuster with 8.4 IMDb rating, has killer action scenes, hero kills mafia in one night; Movie name is…, actor is…
In 2019, a low-budget action thriller film was released, creating a stir at the box office. The amazing thing is that the movie has a hero but no heroine. There is tremendous action in the 2-hour 25-minute movie. The film not only won the hearts of the audience, but also topped in terms of earnings. Directed by the famous director Lokesh Kanagaraj, the movie is Kaithi, the first instalment in the Lokesh Cinematic Universe. The film stars Karthi in the titular role, alongside Narain, Arjun Das, Harish Uthaman, George Maryan and Dheena. Kaithi's storyline takes place primarily on one night, meaning the entire movie's story unfolds within a single night. The first schedule of the film began in Chennai during mid-December and was completed in less than 15 days. Karthi has played the lead role in it. At the same time, stars like Arjun Das, Narain, George Maryan, Harish Peradi and Amjad Khan are seen in important roles. The film begins with an honest police officer who busts a big drug racket and seizes a huge amount of cocaine. But this move puts him and his colleagues in danger, as the mafia is ready to go to any extent to get the drugs back. In the film, Dilli (Karthi) enters the story as a man who has recently been released from jail after serving his sentence. He has only one dream, to meet his 10-year-old daughter for the first time, whom he has never seen. Circumstances force him to help a police officer. Dilli is compelled to drive a truck for the police and takes on the responsibility of rescuing injured policemen and taking them to a safe place. But he agrees to do so on one condition: that he will be allowed to meet his daughter once the task is complete. The movie is packed with intense action scenes and features an emotional climax. The tense and impressively shot Tamil action thriller was made in Rs 25 crore. According to the report of trade website Sacnilk, the film grossed Rs 86.80 crore in India while the total earnings worldwide were Rs 106.80 crore.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Mixed report card for Bengal environment
Kolkata: Bengal received mixed results in a nationwide assessment of states' performance on environment, sustainability, agriculture, public health, and infrastructure, according to State of India's Environment in Figures 2025, released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on the eve of World Environment Day. When it comes to agriculture and land use, Bengal fared better, ranking 6th with a score of 60.5, thanks to improved agricultural input usage and land sustainability. However, it lagged in terms of farmer welfare indicators, like indebtedness and insurance coverage. The report placed Bengal 23rd among 28 states in overall environmental performance, with a score of 50.1 out of 100. It fell behind on key indicators, like solid waste management, sewage treatment, and polluted river stretches, although it had moderate scores in climate-related parameters and forest cover. In terms of public health, Bengal fared poorly, ranking 23rd with a score of 39.4. The state continued to grapple with high rates of undernutrition among children, poor health infrastructure, and low percentages of medically certified deaths. Its performance across health outcomes, such as infant and maternal mortality, life expectancy, and insurance coverage, was also weak. In public infrastructure and human development, Bengal ranked 22nd, with a score of 43 out of 100. The state struggled with issues such as low female workforce participation, high graduate unemployment, and inadequate per capita power availability. CSE director general Sunita Narain emphasised that the data, sourced entirely from official govt statistics, offers a sobering picture. "India's most populous states — Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh — home to 49% of the country's population, rank low on nearly every theme. This shows that large segments of the population remain vulnerable and exposed to multiple threats," she said. Narain added: "Numbers usually give us the truth, and what we are unveiling clearly indicates that this is not the time for complacency, nor chest-thumping." No state emerged as a comprehensive leader, with even top-ranking states struggling in key areas. Andhra Pradesh, while leading in forest and biodiversity conservation, struggled with sewage and river pollution; Sikkim excelled in sustainable land use but lagged in farmer welfare; Goa, despite being the best in health and human development, faced bed shortages and low female labour participation.
Pink Villa
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
6 palaces in India where Hindi movies have been shot, including Saif Ali Khan's Rs 800 crore ancestral property
Bollywood films and Indian palaces go a long way in history. Over so many decades, different movies have been shot in the opulent locations of these majestic architectural marvels, which were once the houses of royals. Here's revisiting 6 iconic films that have been shot in palaces across India: Narain Niwas Palace-Zubeidaa Karisma Kapoor's iconic film Zubeidaa was shot inside the Narain Niwas Palace in Jaipur. It was constructed in 1928 and is built in an Anglo-Indian style. Another Rajput marvel, this place continues to remain duly maintained in its glory even today. Pataudi Palace, a.k.a. Ibrahim Kothi—-Veer Zara A significant portion of Yash Chopra's soulful romance Veer Zaara was shot inside the Pataudi Palace in Haryana. This heritage property was passed down from cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi to his son and actor Saif Ali Khan. The palace was built in the early 1900s and is valued at about Rs 800 crores. Chomu Palace—Bhool Bhulaiyaa Akshay Kumar 's iconic psychological horror-comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa was shot inside the beautiful Chomu Palace. It was established by the descendants of Prithviraj Chauhan and is now a 300-year-old palace turned luxury hotel in Rajasthan. Its structure has been made by strictly following the vastu-shastra of the place. Laxmi Niwas Palace-Khoobsurat Sonam Kapoor's fairytale romance Khoobsurat gave a brilliant peek into the beauty of the Laxmi Niwas Palace of Bikaner. It was built for Sir Ganga Singh in 1904, following the Indo-Saracenic style. The structure of the palace is based mostly on sandstone and was designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob. Amer Fort—Bajirao Mastani Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus Bajirao Mastani, starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, was beautifully shot at one time inside the Amer Fort in Jaipur. The structure remains one of the key remnants of the Mughal architecture and was done under Raja Man Singh in 1592. Udaivilas Palace-Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone's rom-com Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani was shot inside the Udaivilas Palace in Udaipur for some crucial scenes. While it has been converted into a hotel now, this used to be the hunting grounds for the Maharana of Mewar.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Yamuna cleaning: Faecal sludge to free flow, CSE report charts new course
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based research and advocacy group, released a comprehensive report on Thursday that calls for immediate and systemic reforms to revive the heavily polluted Yamuna river. The report titled 'Yamuna: The Agenda for Cleaning the River' emphasises the need to collect and treat all faecal sludge from non-sewered areas. It recommends reworking strategies for the Najafgarh and Shahdara drains, which contribute a staggering 84% of the pollution load into the river. Highlighting inefficiencies in current sewage treatment practices, the CSE criticises the discharge of treated water into drains that are already polluted with untreated waste, rendering the treatment process ineffective. 'Each sewage treatment plant (STP) must plan not just how it will treat, but also how it will discharge treated effluents,' the report notes. It also calls for an increase in river flow to improve the river's ability to assimilate waste. This could involve reducing water intake, enhancing storage, and directly discharging clean, treated water into the river. The report raises concerns about unchecked industrial pollution, particularly from units operating in unauthorised areas beyond regulatory oversight. CSE Director General Sunita Narain stated that despite years of investment and legal pressure, the river shows no sign of improvement. 'The agenda for cleaning the river is critical as a 'dead Yamuna' is not just a matter of shame, it also adds to the burden of providing clean water to Delhi as well as to the cities downstream,' Ms. Narain said. 'We must realise that cleaning the Yamuna will require much more than money. It will need a reworked plan which will guide us towards thinking and acting differently,' she added. Faecal coliform levels, an indicator of sewage contamination, remain alarmingly high, said the report, which likens the river to a 'sewage canal.'
