India Luxury Trains

The Palace on Wheels luxury train offers an enchanting journey through the majestic landscapes of sand dunes and regal palaces. Ranked as the 4th best luxury train globally, it exudes an ambiance that complements the grandeur and beauty of India's terrain.

The train embarks on its adventure every Wednesday evening from New Delhi, concluding the following Wednesday morning at the same station. Covering over 3000 kilometers (1850 miles) in 7 nights and 8 days, this journey is filled with luxury and excitement. It provides a unique opportunity to experience the era of kings and queens, where royalty embodied magic, charm, and mysticism.

The Palace on Wheels features 39 Deluxe Cabins and 2 Super Deluxe Cabins, accommodating a total of 82 passengers. Fully self-sufficient and air-conditioned, each cabin offers modern conveniences including Wi-Fi, a mini pantry, a music channel, a safe, and wall-to-wall carpeting. Each saloon also has a personal attendant, or khidmatgar, at your service.

The historical coaches of the train are named after famous palaces and forts of Rajasthan, with interiors in shades of Ruby, Turquoise, or Pearl. The train includes two resto-bar lounges and an Ayurveda spa facility. Complimentary Wi-Fi services are available through shared dongles.

The dining cars, Maharaja and Maharani, serve freshly prepared international cuisine from an attached kitchen saloon.

Tour by Themes: India Luxury Trains

History

The concept behind India's first luxury train tour, which remains relevant today, is to provide comfortable overnight travel in air-conditioned sleeping chambers and pre-arranged group sightseeing by air-conditioned buses during the day. Historically, the rulers of princely states in Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Viceroy of British India traveled in these luxurious coaches. After India's independence, the coaches were left unused for about 25 years until 1981-82, when the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and Indian Railways introduced the Palace on Wheels as a heritage tourist train to offer a unique experience to visitors.

The train's name, Palace on Wheels, reflects the royal heritage of its coaches. Over the years, many infrastructural changes were made to the coaches, while maintaining the royal aesthetics of the interiors. In the late 1980s, the original passenger saloons of ex-Maharajas were replaced by Metre Gauge trains with air-conditioned cabins and shared bathrooms. In 1996, with the conversion of rail tracks in India, a Broad Gauge version of the Palace on Wheels was introduced, featuring cabins with private bathrooms. In September 2017, new, more spacious train carriages were introduced, allowing guests to choose between Deluxe and Super Deluxe Cabins