The Palace on Wheels, one of India's most famous railway experiences, this luxury Indian train started operating on a regular basis from October 1982 and has been voted as the fourth luxurious train in the world. The train is a mobile hotel & fitted to look like a traditional maharaja's state carriage. The concept of the train was derived from the royal background of the coaches, which were originally meant to be the personal railway coaches of the erstwhile rulers of the princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizams of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India.
Originally the train used carriages that once belonged to various maharajas, but these became so ancient that new carriages were refurbished to look like the originals. They were also fitted with air-conditioning. This way the Palace on Wheels pioneered the tradition of luxury train journey in India and made its maiden journey as a luxury steam engine train.
In the year 1991, Palace on Wheels was refurbished again and this time it appeared as a meter gauge train having 13 salons, a kitchen car, 2 luxuriously appointed restaurants, a bar with a lounge and 4 service cars. To make the journey all the more magical, the train introduced the concept of personal 'Khidmatgars' or attendants who are made available to the service of the guests round the clock.
Over the years this Indian luxury train has went through several renovations to deliver the best travelling experiences to the guests.
About The Train
The train with its quaint décor, state of the art amenities and a seamless blend of the traditional Rajputana and contemporary panache brings to you a journey unlike any before. Each moment of the journey is suffused with the romance of endearing experience through the most colorful terrains of Rajasthan. A total of 14 guest carriages can accommodate upto 88 guests. Restaurant, bar and lounge are available to add to the experience of a unique rail journey in India.
Cabins
Whereas the original train was composed of the personal carriages of the erstwhile maharajas of India, Cabins of the refurbished Palace on Wheels include the replica carriages of the originals to accommodate the technological advancement. Each cabin is named after a different clan of the Rajputana who used to rule the erstwhile princely states of Rajasthan.
Other highlights of The Palace on wheels cabinsare :
All 14 salons named after provinces of Rajasthan such as Alwar, Bharatpur, Bundi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Udaipur etc.
Each of the coaches has been done up in extraordinary lavish styles comprising of miniature paintings, mirror work, furnishings, and upholstery.
Channel Music system
Mini Pantry
Attached bathrooms
A personal attendant called ‘Khidmatgar’
Dining
Palace on Wheels facilities includes two restaurants with elegant décor and each serving succulent cuisines for the platter of the guests. Apart of table d’hôte meals included in the Palace on Wheels tariff, an eclectic assortment of a la carte menu is also served for the guests. Cuisines which include European and Indian along with traditional Mewari delicacies are available on board. The restaurants have been named as:
Maharaja Restaurant
The in house bar with its authentic ambiance and selection of alcoholic and non- alcoholic beverages is the best place to visit for some thrill and fun!
Sitting Lounge
To relax and unwind, visit the sitting lounge aboard the Palace on Wheels. The lounge offers a relaxing and comfortable ambiance for all guests to come and relish.
Other Facilities on board the Palace on Wheels include:
Welcome aboard the Palace On Wheels on its splendid and enchanting royal journey through the bygone era of the erstwhile Maharajas. Each moment of the journey is an experience in itself and you will feel the magic of the royal Rajasthan and the amazing Agra. Colour, action, fun and frolic added with rich local culture and tradition create an ethnic ambience and attract large number of tourists to these Indian destinations every year. The beautiful landscapes are there to bewitch you entirely. The journey promises to be the most vivacious and vibrant week of your life. The royal retreat takes you through the hues of the pink city, city of lakes, national park and the elegy of love
(TajMahal ).
The journey commences on the Wednesday night when the dinner is served onboard.
The eight days' and seven nights' magnificent journey in royal splendour takes you across the Tourist Destinations in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Details of the itinerary have been given below for your perusal:
Day 1 – Delhi
Departure: 1830 hrs
Reach at Safdarjung Railway Station by 1600hrs for a traditional welcome and to get set for a luxurious Palace on Wheels journey across "the Land of Maharajas" Rajasthan. The train departs at 1830hrs.
Day 2 – Jaipur
Arrival: 0345 hours, Departure: 2330 hours
As you enjoy a leisurely morning breakfast onboard, the train will enter the terrain of Jaipur. de-board the train and set out for an explorative tour to Jaipur visiting the Hawa Mahal or Palace of Winds. Move towards Jantar Mantar, the 18th century astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II. This is followed by a visit to City Palace; once the home of the rulers of Jaipur, it now serves as a royal museum. Take pleasure in a lip smacking lunch at Amber Fort; if you want, you can also take a ride of the festively decorated elephant. Post lunch; explore the beauty of Amber Fort. By the late evening, return to the train to continue the journey to Sawai Madhopur. Dinner and overnight stay will be onboard Palace on Wheels. Return to the Palace on Wheels by 18:00 hours for tea and some moments of leisure. Depart for a grand dinner experience awaiting you at the Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur and post-dinner set off for the next location - Sawai Madhopur.
Day 3 - Sawai Madhopur – Chittorgarh
Arrival: 0530 hours, Departure: 10:30 hours
Early morning reach the tiger terrain of Sawai Madhopur and de-board the train for a thrilling jungle safari to Ranthambore National Park. Return to the train after safari to relax and unwind. Enjoy a refreshing breakfast and then a grand lunch onboard and take delight of the constantly changing outside views while the train move towards its next destination - Chittorgarh.
As you reach Chittorgarh, de-board the train and make a visit to the Chittorgarh Fort, which still revives the stories of Rajputana valour before the eyes. The evening tea accompanied by a beautiful light and sound show is arranged at the Chittorgarh Fort. Later return to the train for dinner and overnight stay onboard.
Take delight in a lavish dinner experience and return to the train for overnight stay.
Day 4 – Udaipur
Arrival: 0800 hours, Departure: 1530 hours
You will arrive in Udaipur by 08:00 hours on the 4th day of the Palace on Wheels sojourn. Known as the city of lakes, Udaipur was founded by Maharana Udai Singh in the 15th century and is today one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Visit the city attractions like Jag Mandir, Jag Niwas - Lake Palace, and the Jagdish temple etc. enjoy a luxurious lunch in a heritage hotel and visit the City Palace complex. Also enjoy a romantic boat ride on Lake Pichola accompanied by the mild lapping of the breeze.
Return to the train to continue this magic journey to Jaisalmer. Dinner onboard the train
Day 5 – Jaisalmer
Arrival: 0915 hours, Departure: 1145 hours
The train will land you in the city of Jaisalmer in the morning of the 5th day of journey. Post breakfast you can start off your voyage across the city and visit the astonishingly beautiful havelis and mansions including the Patwon ki Haveli, the Nathmalji ki Haveli, and Salim Singh ki Haveli. You can also visit the local markets for their extensive menu of local handicraft products!
Enjoy a delectable lunch in the Hotel Moomal and then depart for sightseeing across the Sam sand dunes. The camel ride and the gorgeous views of the sunset will more than make your day memorable. Dinner and a cultural extravaganza wait to surprise you in the sand dunes of Jaisalmer.
Return to the train for overnight stay and travel down to Jodhpur.
Day 6 – Jodhpur
Arrival: 0700 hours, Departure: 1530 hours
Reach the blue city of Rajasthan - Jodhpur by the morning.. Jodhpur is famous for housing a number of majestic monuments in its bosom including the Mehrangarh fort, the Jaswant Thada, and the Umaid Bhawan Palace. These and several other places you will get a chance to visit on the 6th day of the Palace on Wheels itinerary. Post breakfast, set out for a sightseeing tour to the city of Jodhpur. Lunch will be arranged in a luxurious resort in the city. Return to Palace on Wheels for a ride to Bharatpur.
Dinner and overnight stay will be arranged onboard.
Day 7 - Bharatpur/Agra
Arrival: 5:00 hrs, Departure: 8:45 hrs
The train arrives at Bharatpur by 05:00 hours. Bharatpur is well-known for housing the Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary and National Park. The huge numbers of migratory bird species that flock to this place every year, make the wildlife environs of Bharatpur all the more special. A trip across the jungles will take almost 3 hours; therefore it will already be 0900 hours by the time you will depart for the next destination - Agra.
Agra is mostly visited for Taj Mahal - one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Epitomising the love of Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is visited by all guests visiting India.
After you have travelled around the Agra monuments and the markets (mostly visited for its marble souvenirs, jewellery and leather goods After exploring the magnificence of this Seventh Wonder of the World, come on board to enjoy a lavish dinner as the train starts rolling back to Delhi.
Return to the train for overnight stay.
Day 8
Delhi (Return)
Reach Delhi in the morning of the 8th day. After a leisurely breakfast onboard, bid farewell to this magic expedition and continue your onward journey back home.
Palace on Wheels Schedule
Palace on Wheels operates weekly tours to the princely state of Rajasthan from September to April every year. The train departs every Wednesday from New Delhi and after taking the guests to the majestic cities and towns of Rajasthan, concludes its weeklong journey in Delhi itself. Here's detailed view of the Palace on Wheels departure schedule for the seasons 2013-14:
Departure Dates for the season September 2013 to April 2014
September 2013
4, 11, 18, 25
October 2013
2, 9, 16, 23, 30
November 2013
6, 13, 20, 27
December 2013
4, 11, 18, 25
January 2014
1, 8, 15, 22, 29
February 2014
5, 12, 19, 26
March 2014
5, 12, 19, 26
April 2014
2, 9, 16, 23,30
Tariff
Tariff on Request.
Book Now
To serve you in the best possible manner and to give you the best deal on the luxury train trip aboard Palace on Wheels, we would need you to fill up the form given below. This will enable us to provide you the most authentic information and give you the best deal that suits your travel requirements.
