India, the land of innumerable hues and colors, never ceases to amaze you. The seventh largest nation in the world, bounded by the great Himalayas in the north and caressed by the sparkling Indian Ocean in the south, India is a paradise for tourists.
Its rich flora and fauna; ancient cultures and traditions; delicious cuisines; imposing forts and havelis from a bygone era; majestic monuments and historical palaces whose cracks whisper in your ears the stories of valor and chivalry of ancient warriors and rulers; friendly and smiling people; and pristine and beautiful beaches, inspire tourists to visit this beautiful country again and again.
Many travelers come to India to cleanse themselves and find true meaning in life through spiritual and religious tours. Many others come here to get a first-hand experience of throbbing, pulsating India, while many others come here just to have fun and enjoy themselves in a tranquil, jungle setting. The purpose may be different but the destination remains the same: India. Without a doubt, what other country in the world can offer so many surprises and attractions?
India can be explored through various means, making use of the main travel routes that interconnect most of the tourist hotspots in the country. Various attractive tour packages to suit all budgets, and cooperative tour operators and travel agencies ensure that travelers to the country visit the many destinations of their choice without facing any problems.
India’s luxury trains, as the name suggests, come with luxuries befitting the rajas and maharajas of the bygone era, giving tourists the chance of a lifetime to explore the wonder that is India in the best way. possible.
Such trains are different from the others in that they only cater to the most demanding, mainly the rich and famous. What really sets these trains apart from the rest is that they pamper visitors a lot making them feel like maharajas as they explore the various tourist spots of the country scattered throughout the various states.
India currently offers five luxury trains namely Palace On Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, Heritage On Wheels, Fairy Queen and Golden Chariot. These trains that come with all the major facilities and luxuries that the wealthiest travelers can think of take visitors on royal tours to some of the most famous tourist spots in the country.
palace on wheels
Palace On Wheels is the best luxury train on offer. Perhaps the best luxury train in the world, the Palace On Wheels is only for those quality-conscious travelers who are unwilling to compromise on luxury and comfort. The train, which operates from September to April, takes tourists on a wonderful journey through various attractive destinations that they will remember all their lives.
Covering the three states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, the train gives tourists the chance to get a feel for the cultural, architectural, natural and traditional facets of many regions. The memorable train journey begins in Delhi and takes travelers to Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur, and Agra before returning to the national capital.
Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, and Udaipur are some of the major Indian cities well known for their many imposing monuments, forts, and other landmarks showcasing the best of Indian architecture. Jodhpur, besides being famous for its monuments, is also world famous for its Bird Sanctuary. And, Agra is popular for one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the one and only Taj Mahal.
The train has 14 AC lounges and each lounge has four cabins complete with all modern facilities. Palace On Wheels’ two kitchen carts, Maharaja and Maharani, serve delicious cuisine ranging from Rajasthani to Chinese and Continental. The laundry, hairdressing and salon facilities offered on board nicely complement the other services on offer. The Khidmatgars (servants) make sure that visitors are looked after in the purest Hindustani style, in the best possible way.
deccan odyssey
Another luxury train, the Deccan Odyssey, takes visitors through various tourist spots in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Goa. The elegant blue luxury train with 21 state-of-the-art carriages complete with all modern facilities can give even the most famous luxury train, Palace On Wheels, a run for its money when it comes to unrivaled style, luxury and comfort.
The Deccan Odyssey, with a capacity of 104 passengers, has a well-stocked library, a gym, a beauty salon, an Ayurvedic body massage center and a bar, among many other facilities. The well-maintained bar car attached to the train offers passengers a variety of international and national brands of top-shelf spirits.
In a seven-day stay, the train takes tourists to various forts, beaches, palaces, as well as the financial capital of India, Mumbai. The exciting train journey begins in Mumbai and covers Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Pune, Aurangabad, Ajanta and Nasik before heading back to Mumbai.
heritage on wheels
The enormous popularity of Palace On Wheels inspired the Indian government to introduce another luxury train to cover the desert state of Rajasthan. The new train, Heritage On Wheels, a joint venture of Indian Rail and Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, covers the Bikaner and Shekhawati region of Rajasthan and has become a huge success.
The 14-car luxury train comes equipped with all the modern facilities that are the hallmark of this type of luxury train. Heritage On Wheels’ two pantry cars, Maharaja and Maharani, serve delicious cuisine to passengers who enjoy it as the train winds its way to its many destinations.
Many passengers after enjoying the sumptuous cuisine settle into the luxury train’s bar-lounge which offers many famous brands of Indian and international spirits. Heritage On Wheels starts its journey from Jaipur and takes passengers to Bikaner, Haat, Gajner, Taal Chhapar, Ramgarh and Nawalgarh before heading back to the state capital.
fairy queen
This is yet another luxury train that makes visiting India’s tourist spots a pleasurable experience for wealthy, quality-conscious tourists. Operating from October to March, the Fairy Queen begins her journey on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. This heritage train has a 50-seater AC coach. You start your journey from Delhi and go to Alwar and Sariksa Wildlife Sanctuary on a two day and one night trip before heading back to the national capital.
The main draw of Fairy Queen is that it is run by the oldest locomotive in regular operation in India. Passengers enjoy the view of the locomotive sitting behind a large glass window on the train.
The pantry car attached to the train serves delicious cuisine to passengers.
Fairy Queen is primarily for wildlife lovers as she takes them to the Sairksa Wildlife Sanctuary and gives them the opportunity to enjoy a jeep safari into the nature of the sanctuary and have a date with the big cat, the tiger. There is also something for the culturally inclined passengers. Cultural programs are organized in the great Sariksa Palace.
the golden chariot
The Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation, run by Golden Chariot, is the latest in the fleet of luxury train services in India and covers the various destinations within Karnataka.
Taking its name from the stone chariot from the ruins of Hampi, the Golden Chariot starts its journey from the state capital Bangalore and makes its way to Srirangapatnam, Mysore, Kabini Shrine and Shravanabelagola. From here it departs for Belur, which is associated with 11th century Hoysala architecture, Halebidu, Hampi, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal and Shravanabelagola, before culminating in Goa.
The itinerary allows you to see palaces, fauna and beaches. The Golden Chariot promises a golden experience with privacy, comfort and a host of lively attractions throughout the seven-night, eight-day voyage.
The train’s interiors have been inspired by the opulence of Mysore and Hoysala architecture, and each of the cabins is equipped with wi-fi, LCD TV, desk and wardrobe. There is also a lounge bar and two restaurants (Nal and Ruchi), a business center and wellness facilities (a spa and a gym) on board.
