Palace on Wheels

Discover India aboard India’s Luxury Train

Considered India’s most vibrant state despite its harsh living conditions, Rajasthan is a vast wonderland laced with legends of Rajput warrior princes. Its heritage, culture, wildlife and sand dunes make it one of India’s most popular tourist destinations. One of the most special ways to uncover the jewels of this vibrant state is experiencing it aboard India’s most revered luxury train, the Palace on Wheels.

Palace on Wheels offers a week-long luxury train tour across royal destinations in Rajasthan along with a halt at Agra to visit Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri. It has been voted as the 4th best luxury train in the world. The train recreates the opulence and elegance of a bygone era offering a peek into the heritage of the erstwhile Rajputanas.

Duration : 8 Days
Route : Delhi → Jaipur → Sawai Madhopur → Chittorgarh → Udaipur → Jaisalmer → Jodhpur → Bharatpur → Agra → Delhi

Itinerary

The Palace on Wheels traverses through alluring landscapes of Rajasthan, a vast and wonder-laced state with treasures more magnificent than those of fables. The itinerary includes a halt in Agra for a sightseeing tour of the spectacular Taj Mahal.

Day 1 Delhi

Assemble 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

You will arrive at the first destination, Jaipur, in the wee hours of the morning. Post breakfast onboard the train, you will be taken around Jaipur city and to the most significant locations housed here including the City Palace Complex, and the Hawa Mahal.

Post lunch visit the Amer Fort (lunch to be served inside the fort) and the local markets of Jaipur. 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 and post-dinner set off for the next location – Sawai Madhopur.

Day 3 Sawai Madhopur – Chittorgarh

It will be exceptionally adventurous for you as on this day you will get a chance to meet the wild animals of the Ranthambore National Park! The greenery, the flora, and the fauna will contribute towards sketching in your mind, unforgettable pictures like never before. Capture images of tigers in their most natural habitat and later enjoy a sumptuous breakfast in the jungle lodge and later return to the Palace on Wheels to continue your sojourn to the next destination in line, Chittorgarh.

Post lunch aboard the luxury train, you will go on a sojourn to explore the beauty of the erstwhile fortress town of Chittorgarh. Evening tea and a spectacular light and sound show also waits to entertain you in the fort environs. Take delight in a lavish dinner experience and return to the train for overnight stay.

Day 4 Udaipur

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 one of the most romantic cities in the country.

Visit the city attractions like Jag Mandir, Jag Niwas – Lake Palace, and the Jagdish temple etc. Savor a sumptuous lunch in a heritage hotel and visit the City Palace complex. Before embarking on your sojourn to Jaisalmer, do make sure that you visit the splendid Crystal Gallery and take a boat ride on the lake Pichola. Dinner and overnight stay onboard the train.

Day 5 Jaisalmer

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 on the sand dunes of Jaisalmer. Return to the train for overnight stay and travel down to Jodhpur.

Day 6 Jodhpur

The train will chug its way through, to the next destination in line, Jodhpur. Jodhpur is famous for housing a number of majestic monuments in its bosom including Mehrangarh fort, Jaswant Thada, and Umaid Bhawan Palace.

Lunch will be organized for you in a palace hotel to make your sojourn, all the more regal. Later, embark on shopping tours across the markets of Jodhpur city to pick up handicraft items such as embroidered shoes, silverware and tie and dye fabrics.

Dinner and overnight stay aboard the train.

Day 7 Bharatpur/Agra

The train arrives at Bharatpur by 05:00 hours. Bharatpur is mostly noted 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 home to the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Epitomizing the love of Emperor Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is visited by all guests visiting India. After you have traveled around the Agra monuments and the markets (mostly visited for its marble souvenirs, jewelry and leather goods), take delight in a specially organized light and sound show before you halt for dinner in a city hotel.

Later, you will embark the luxury train to move back to Delhi, to conclude the trip. Overnight stay aboard the Palace on Wheels train.

Day 8 Delhi(Return)

Early morning on the 8th day of the journey, the train will land you in the Safdarjung Railway Station, marking the end of the Palace on wheels trip.[/wptabcontent]

About the Train

The train with its quaint decor, 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 up to 88 guests in their tastefully appointed interiors. Restaurant, bar and lounge are available to add to the experience of a unique rail journey in India.

Cabins : While the original train was composed of the personal carriages of the erswhile 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. The Palace on wheels cabins also feature a host of other highlights such as:

• 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 (Maharaja & Maharani) with elegant decor and each serving succulent cuisines. 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 in house bar with its authentic ambiance and selection of alcoholic and non- alcoholic beverages is the best place to unwind in the evenings.

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:

• Luggage Collection
• Welcome Kit on Arrival
• Personal Attendant or Khidmatgar
• Mineral Water
• News Paper/Magazine Toiletories