A fairyland trip on the ‘Palace on Wheels’? It is one incredible prestigious Maharaja train journey that takes you on the royal tour of Rajasthan in the most luxurious and organized way and in the least possible time.
The ‘Palace on Wheels’ offers comforts of the modern world in and is popular among the discerning tourists and is rated among the best rail journeys in the world. Being considered one of the most fabulous train trips in the world, the train offers royal comforts from royal suites to lounges and restaurants, the train shows class in its interiors.
‘Palace on Wheels’ Schedule
The week long royal voyage starts from New Delhi every Wednesday. After a day tour of Delhi, the train goes to Rajasthan at night. The first halt is at Jaipur on Thursday morning and returns to Delhi on Wednesday at 6 A.M.
During the journey, one enters the territory of Maharajas – Bhartpur, the city of Chittaurgarh, the red stone city of Fatehpur Sikri; the ‘Pink city’ of Jaipur; Jaisalmer ‘the jewel of the desert’; Jodhpur; Sawai Madhopur, Udaipur, and Taj Mahal - one of the seven wonders in the world!
‘Palace on Wheels’ is the star product and concept of the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, the Indian Railways, the Tourism Department of Rajasthan and the Government of India.
It derived its name from its royal background for its 14 carriages or coaches. Their names are based on the princely states of Rajasthan - Alwar, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Bundi, Dholpur, Dungarpur, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Jhalawar, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, Kota, Sirohi, and Udaipur. Each saloon highlights the cultural ethos of the state through the lavish use of furniture, handicrafts, painting and furnishings in there.
History of the Palace on Wheels
The history of the ‘It Palace on Wheels’ is legendary and their carriages have a history of their own. Originally it was used as a favorite medium of transport by the rulers of the princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Viceroy of British India. The coaches had well decorated traditional interiors with gorgeous furnishings, and as such it was not viable to include the coaches in the normal passenger train. So a unique holiday train powered by a steam engine was launched on 26th January in 1982 on India’s Republic Day.
The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and the Indian Railways departments gradually made many infrastructural changes in the coaches of the ‘Palace on Wheels’. In 1991, a new air-conditioned meter gauge was replaced by the broad gauges.
Hospitality in ‘Palace on Wheels’
The hospitality on the train is impeccable and fit for the kings; and a tour aboard ‘Palace on Wheels’ gives you something of everything and more - forts and palaces, birds and tigers, deserts and mystical lands, and the greatest gift of mankind to love - the Taj Mahal. It will be a tour of erstwhile Maharajas and Nawabs of India, with wonderfully exotic destinations, rich heritage, and smiling faces – all these that make the ‘Palace on Wheels’ an enjoyable journey that will stay in one’s memory for a long, long time.
Facilities Aboard the ‘Palace on Wheels’
Known for its lavish hospitality, the comforts and facilities offered onboard ‘Palace on Wheels’ are royal in nature, and are difficult to find on any other trains in the world and also comparable to the best of 5-star hotel facilities. The facilities provided on board the ‘Palace on Wheels’ can be divided into many categories:
- Accommodation: 14 fully air-conditioned deluxe coaches or saloons are all well equipped and beautifully decorated with wall to wall carpeting and traditional paintings. Each saloon has 4 cabins attached to it and the saloon includes bath & shower, H/C water supply, attached modern toilets, channel music, intercom, and satellite phones.
- Dining: Two well-maintained restaurants cum kitchen cars – the Maharaja and the Maharani – offer delicious and mouth-watering traditional Rajasthani, Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisine.
- Lounge: A separate beautiful lounge car is attached at the end of each coach, providing exotic views of the great Indian countryside. Newspapers and journals are provided, and there is a well maintained library with a good collection of books to choose from. There is also a color television and a DVD player.
- Bar: A 24 hour well-maintained bar is well stocked with a wide variety of scotches, wines and cocktails of Indian and international brands.
- Bazaar:A beautiful gift shop called ‘The Bazaar’ sells exotic handicrafts and gift items.
Services like the laundry services, doctor on call at each station, a barber shop, a beauty parlor, luggage collections, mineral water, and mailbox facility are available. There is an attendant, called the ‘Khidmatgar’, to cater to all travel needs.
Travel Packages
The ‘Palace on Wheels’ has a travel package which gives a peek into the era when kings and queens ruled, and where Royal Rajputs lived in grand style.
‘Palace on Wheels’ is a royal experience full of exuberance and luxurious feeling where it epitomizes the rich Indian heritage and journeys through one of the most exotic regions in the world – Delhi, Rajasthan and Agra that are amazing, dazzling and royal. The grandeur of a journey on ‘Palace on Wheels’ will remain etched in one’s memory forever.
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