WelcomHeritage has expanded its presence in Rajasthan with the launch of WelcomHeritage Kurki Palace, a boutique heritage hotel in Jaipur that brings together royal Rajput traditions, architectural grandeur, and contemporary luxury hospitality.

Located within a peaceful residential enclave in Jaipur, the palace offers guests a serene retreat while providing convenient access to the city’s iconic forts, palaces, and cultural landmarks. Hosted by descendants of the renowned Ranbanka Rathore family of Kurki Fort, whose lineage traces back to the 23rd generation of saint-poet Mirabai, the property offers travellers an opportunity to experience Rajasthan’s living heritage.

Inspired by traditional Rajasthani havelis, WelcomHeritage Kurki Palace reflects a blend of Marwari, Mughal, and European architectural influences. The property features grand sandstone structures, stained-glass windows, antique artefacts, intricate craftsmanship, and family heirlooms that showcase the region’s rich artistic legacy.

The palace offers 34 luxurious accommodations, including one Maharaja Suite, four Maharani Suites, 18 Executive Mahal Rooms, and 11 Rawla Deluxe Rooms. Each room has been designed with handcrafted furnishings, regional artistry, and modern amenities to provide guests with an immersive heritage stay experience.

The property features four distinctive dining venues — Darbar – The Sky Lounge, Swarn Mahal, Badal Mahal, and Sugar Coated Café — offering curated culinary experiences inspired by Rajasthan’s flavours and artistic traditions.

Beyond accommodation and dining, WelcomHeritage Kurki Palace offers a range of wellness and leisure facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, spa, fitness centre, and curated relaxation spaces. The property also caters to destination weddings, private celebrations, and MICE events through elegant venues such as Darbar Banquet, Darbar Rooftop, and Badal Mahal.

With bespoke event services and parking capacity for up to 500 vehicles, the palace provides a regal setting for large-scale celebrations, corporate gatherings, and intimate occasions.

Aligned with responsible hospitality practices, the property incorporates solar energy into its operations, combining sustainability with heritage preservation.

Speaking on the launch, Ashutosh Chhibba, CEO, WelcomHeritage, said that WelcomHeritage Kurki Palace represents the brand’s vision of preserving India’s cultural legacy while creating contemporary hospitality experiences. He added that the property strengthens WelcomHeritage’s presence in Jaipur and offers travellers an authentic gateway to Rajasthan’s timeless charm.

Chhibba further noted that the launch marks WelcomHeritage’s 11th property in Rajasthan and takes the brand’s overall portfolio to 37 properties across India. He highlighted Rajasthan’s importance to the brand’s heritage hospitality journey and reiterated the company’s focus on creating destinations that travellers actively seek for unique cultural experiences.

Strategically located near Jaipur International Airport and Jaipur Railway Station, the palace provides easy access to major attractions including Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Jal Mahal, and Nahargarh Fort, making it an ideal base for exploring Jaipur’s heritage and vibrant culture.

The Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Bharatiya Shiksha Board (BSB) to integrate industry-aligned vocational education into India's school ecosystem, supporting the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged at the Bharatiya Shiksha Board headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of Swami Ramdev, Founder Chairman of Bharatiya Shiksha Board; Dr. N. P. Singh (Retd. IAS), Executive Chairman; Shri R. P. Singh (Retd. IPS), Secretary; and senior representatives from participating Sector Skill Councils.

Under the partnership, THSC will serve as the Quality Assurance, Affiliation, Assessment and Certification Partner for vocational education programmes under the Bharatiya Shiksha Board. The council will support school affiliations, establish quality assurance mechanisms, conduct Training of Trainers (ToT), certify vocational trainers, facilitate NSQF-compliant assessments, issue joint skill certifications, and strengthen industry linkages to provide students with experiential learning opportunities.

Speaking at the event, Swami Ramdev said the collaboration marks the first instance of a national education board establishing such a comprehensive academic-industry partnership. He noted that the initiative aims to equip students with industry exposure, internships, practical training, and entrepreneurial opportunities across sectors including tourism and hospitality, IT, green jobs, handicrafts, and wellness.

Commenting on the partnership, Rajan Bahadur, CEO of Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council, described it as a significant step towards building a future-ready education ecosystem where academic learning is integrated with practical skills and industry exposure. He said the initiative would introduce tourism and hospitality education at the school level while equipping students with employability skills, entrepreneurial capabilities, and career pathways.

Bahadur further highlighted THSC's experience of working with 23 State School Boards and conducting over 80,000 student skill assessments annually, stating that the council's expertise in quality assurance, certification, and industry engagement would help create a scalable model for delivering vocational education across the country.

The collaboration aligns with Bharatiya Shiksha Board's vision of introducing NSQF-aligned vocational education for students from Classes IX to XII through industry-recognised courses, standardised assessments, internships, and experiential learning. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between classroom education and industry while ensuring equitable access to skill-based education for students in both urban and rural India.

The partnership reflects the shared commitment of THSC and Bharatiya Shiksha Board to create an education ecosystem that combines academic learning with industry-recognised skill certification, enabling students to transition smoothly into higher education, apprenticeships, employment, or entrepreneurship while contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Air India Express has commenced operations from Raja Bhoj Airport, Bhopal, with the launch of two daily flights to Delhi and one daily flight to Mumbai, strengthening air connectivity from the capital city of Madhya Pradesh.

The inaugural Delhi-bound flight departed Bhopal at 12:45 PM and arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport at 2:15 PM, while the first Mumbai service departed at 1:40 PM, reaching Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 3:25 PM.

With the addition of Bhopal to its network, Air India Express now operates approximately 55 weekly flights across Bhopal, Gwalior, and Indore, further expanding its presence in Madhya Pradesh.

The latest expansion follows the airline's recent launch of direct international services between Indore and Abu Dhabi, reinforcing its commitment to improving regional and international connectivity from the state.

The newly introduced services are expected to support tourism, business travel, trade, and economic growth while providing passengers with greater travel flexibility between Madhya Pradesh and two of India's busiest metropolitan cities.

Bookings for the new routes are available through the Air India Express website, mobile application, and other major travel booking platforms.

As part of its Tales of India initiative, Air India Express also continues to showcase India's cultural heritage through aircraft tail art. Madhya Pradesh is represented on the airline's Boeing 737-8 fleet with designs inspired by the state's renowned Bagh hand-block printing and Chanderi handwoven textile traditions.

Air India Express, a Tata enterprise, currently operates more than 500 daily flights connecting 43 domestic and 16 international destinations across South, Southeast, and West Asia with a fleet of over 100 Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft.