Travel on India luxury trains has become a new trend in the Indian tourism culture. It is a best way to explore the country and its heritage without compromising on the luxury and comfort. These luxury trains in India display ancient royal Indian culture and also involve a fun of visiting different destinations in India.
It gives an opportunity to people to know about the stories of ancient India and enjoy modern amenities in a laid back Maharaja style. Also it gives a privilege to travel India sitting in the comfort of luxurious place and enjoying the mesmerizing beauty of the country.
Since all the prices of visiting monuments are included in the costs, you just have to sit back and enjoy the beauty of ancient India. These trains are listed to be the best luxury trains in India which promise a worthwhile experience.
PALACE ON WHEELS
Among the first four luxury trains in India on Indian railways and one amongst the top 10 luxury trains of the world, it has been one of the best and very popular since its launch. It was launched to promote and for the progress of Indian tourism in Rajasthan. The idea of the train hails from the royal background of the coaches which were the personal coaches for the Nizams of Hyderabad and princely British rulers.
There are 14 coaches in the train and each coach has 4 cabins. Every coach is named after former Rajput states Alwar, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Bundi, Dholpur, Dungargarh, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Jhalawar, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, Kota, Sirohi and Udaipur. The train serves continental and Chinese cuisine in Rajasthani ambience. It has two restaurants, the Maharaja and the Maharani, one bar cum lounge and spa salon.
Delhi based interior designer Monica Khanna has done a fabulous interiors of the train.
A smart use of furniture, paintings and handicrafts perfectly displays the culture of the state. The train departs from New Delhi goes to Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur and Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Agra and finally returns to New Delhi. It takes 7 nights and 8 days.
The schedules and tariffs are easily available on their website www.thepalaceonwheels.com.
THE DECCAN ODYSSEY
A train which was modelled keeping in mind the Palace on Wheels is a venture of ministry of railways and Maharashtra government. With an objective of promoting tourism on the Konkan belt, its route starts from Mumbai and covers Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Belgaum, Kolhapur, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Ajanta-Ellora, and then back to Mumbai. Travel duration is 7 nights covering all the tourist spots and starts every Wednesday from Mumbai.
With 21 coaches in all, it has two restaurants and bar, a sauna and a business centre on board. It aims to be a 5-star hotel on wheels with such amenities. It also has 10 air conditioned cabins with attached toilets, running hot and cold water, shower. The presidential suite saloons are designed in a combination of bedroom and living rooms. All the cabins are equipped with channel music player and intercom.
Tariffs, schedules, tour packages and enquiry forms are available online on www.deccanodyssesy.com. A fascinating train journey which cannot be forgotten.
MAHARAJA EXPRESS
A luxury train service started by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism in March 2010, it runs on 5 circuits covering 12 places across India. It is registered as “The World’s Leading Luxury Train” twice. It has 14 carriages with 43 individual cabins. It has many deluxe cars and presidential suite cabins are well equipped with modern amenities like live television, Wi-Fi, dining cars, bars and lounge. Also it has an electronic safe available in each guest cabin. The train has two dining cars with a searing capacity of 42 guest and two restaurants named Mayur Mahal and Rang Mahal. They serve traditional Indian food along with continental and Chinese cuisines. It has five new journey packages as follows:
Heritage of India
Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days [12]
Destinations Covered: Mumbai –Pachora – Ajanta – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Bikaner – Jaipur – Ranthambore – Agra – Delhi.
Treasures of India
Duration: 3 nights/4 days [13]
Destinations Covered: Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Delhi.
Gems of India
Duration: 3 Nights / 4 Days [14]
Destinations Covered: Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Delhi
Indian Panorama
Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days [15]
Destinations Covered: Delhi – Jaipur – Ranthambore – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Gwalior – Orchha – Khajuraho – Varanasi – Lucknow – Delhi
The Indian Splendour
Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days [16]
Destinations Covered: Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Bikaner – Jodhpur – Udaipur – Balasinor – Mumbai
Its tariffs and fares can be fetched through any Indian luxury train website.
They are also as follows (maybe subject to changes):
Presidential Suite
Adult: $27300; Single Supplement: $27300; Child (sharing cabin with parents 1–12 years): $11,900.
Deluxe Cabins: Adult: $6,840; Single Supplement: $5,160; Child (sharing cabin with parents 1–12 years): $3,420.
Junior Suite: Adult: $9,890; Single Supplement: $8,910; Child (sharing cabin with parents 1–12 years): $4,950.
Suite: Adult: $13,800; Single Supplement: $13,800; Child (sharing cabin with parents 1–12 years): $6,900.
So, come over and pack the essence of India and carry this bagful of memories with you.
ROYAL ORIENT TRAIN
This is a luxury train running between Gujarat and Rajasthan started in the year 1994-95 by Gujarat railway and Indian railways. It has a blue theme to it, so as to differentiate from the palace on wheels. It has 13 coaches in the name of kingdom of Rajputana. It provides a 5 star comfort with facilities like intercom, TV DVD system and also a massage cum beauty parlour. There are multi-cuisine restaurant serving Gujarati, Rajasthani Chinese and continental cuisine.
It also has lounge cum bar in every coach where passengers can read books, magazines and listen to music. It is a 7 day /8night journey package that covers Chittorgarh, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Mehsana, Junagarh, Veraval, Sasan gir, Ahmedpur, Mandvi, Palitana and Sarkhej starting from Delhi. Passengers can find a detailed itinerary on the website of Royal Orient Train. All the information about tours, packages and tariffs can also be fetched from www.luxurytrainsofindia.in.
We welcome one and we welcome all to come and enjoy an altogether different experience. This comfortable journey doesn’t only include travel but it involves the aura of the Indian soil which would leave you contented and speechless at the same time.
Team DainikDisha