India’s iconic luxury train, the Palace on Wheels, voted one of the top ten most luxurious trains in the world, set off on its first journey of the season last week following a major refurbishment costing 10 million rupees (around US$155,000).
This glorious train spends the winter months zigzagging across Rajasthan, aiming to recapture the ambience of royal journeys in bygone days – but thankfully, with air-conditioning and ensuite bathrooms. As with most other trains, and river cruise vessels come to think of it, space on board is limited so rooms are small and the bathrooms even more so don’t expect otherwise. All bedrooms on the Palace on Wheels are the same size.
The Palace on Wheels consists of 23 coaches including 2 restaurant cars, the Maharaja and Maharini, a spa, lounge bar, 4 service cars and 14 sleeper cars or saloons, each with four twin or double-bedded rooms with their own bathroom, as well as a lounge and a pantry. Altogether there are up to 104 pampered passengers on board. The 14 saloon cars are named after Rajasthani states, the unique decoration of each inspired by the individual heritage of that state, so there are royal crests, artworks, frescoes, inlay work and paintings rendolent of each ancient state. Opulent décor with vivid silks and elegant furniture, turbaned attendants clad in traditional robes and lavish meals are the order of the day, combined with a full programme of sightseeing and marvellous landscapes all included, from medieval forts to desert, lakes, temples, nature reserves and palaces.
The journey lasts a week from Delhi to Jaipur, on to Sawai Madhopur for Ranthambore which is a National Park famous for its tigers, Chittorgarh to enjoy a son et lumiere display at the Fort, romantic Udaipur, Jaisalmer where you can ride a camel across the sand dunes, Jodhpur, Bharatpur to visit a bird reserve, and finally, to Agra and the magnificent Taj Mahal.
Prices for the September 2013- March 2014 season start at US$ 500 per person per night and include all meals and sightseeing tours. The train leaves Delhi every Wednesday for a memorable, historic journey through India’s most dramatic region.
If however this is a little beyond your budget, ReadyClickAndGo can arrange a private guide, car and driver to take you around Rajasthan seeing all this and much more besides, at a fraction of the cost and at a pace to suit you. Email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com to tell us what you would like to see and do in India and we will design an itinerary to suit you.
About the author: Tara
The travel professional with years of experience in the travel industry – in guiding, reservations, operations, contracting, customer service and product development – and have travelled extensively in Asia and Eastern Europe not just on holiday but also for work, inspecting hotels, visiting attractions and seeing exactly what each destination has to offer. The only way I could do this properly was with my own guide, car and driver and this inspired me to create my own range of customised private day tours for other people to be able to explore in-depth and learn to love their destination as much as I do.
Website: www.readyclickandgo.com
Website: http://www.readyclickandgo.com
