Discovering India The Royal Way – Board One of The Luxury Trains in India

2008-01-29T21:35:00.000-08:00

I never thought in my life that luxury could be thus! Transported into a different world of ‘all’s so bright and beautiful’, the work-a-day world slipped out of consciousness! Traveling in any of the luxury trains in India is really cool – far from all the of the toxic world of jealousy and bloodshed. It might sound clichéd once more, but it was almost Utopian.

Palace on Wheels happened to be my first heritage train experience and it was awesome! After having a tour of the Lotus Temple, India Gate, Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, I found that there was queen of wheels waiting to deliver!

Never thought any of the luxury trains in India would have traditionally outfitted staff to welcome their guests! The combination of mahogany and gold in the decor all over the rooms was perfect to bring in the Rajput royalty alive. The dinner with authentic Rajasthani Thali was quite a mouthful.

It was into midnight when we touched the well planned city of Jaipur. Appreciating the various palaces and temples and indulging in some shopping binge of art work and handiwork made my day. Rambling through the wonderful cities of Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur and last but not the least, Agra with the smell the Mughal royalty in the air. Though your tour ends here you will take home the most haunting experience of the past, the royalty and the ‘all’s bright and beautiful’ syndrome – game for a sweet change of times?

A Luxury Ride - Palace on Wheels

2008-01-17T01:51:00.000-08:00

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The rich colors of the exotic Orient and the vibrant colors of the riches of an Oriental royalty beckon you on a journey backwards in time through the ochre expanse of the Thar Desert as and when you set your feet on the Palace on Wheels- the most prestigious among the luxury trains in India.

With fourteen deluxe coaches- all of them speaking out loud and clear about the traditions of luxury and interior designing introduced by the Rajput kings, this train is a true palace on wheel. The train has two dining cars, a bar and lounge, and fourteen deluxe saloons, with facilities like wall to wall carpeting, intercom, channel music and much more, sure to make you feel anywhere (seventh heaven included) but on an Indian train.

The royal ambience has more to do with the names of the restaurants- Maharaja and Maharani and the fourteen coaches which are named after former Rajput states; the exquisitely carved teakwood furniture has been especially designed for the train and a generous sprinkling of silks, satins and velvets for tapestry, and soft furnishing surrounds you just like the silver screen kings and queens.

The Palace on Wheels starts from Delhi travels over Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Agra, and back to Delhi. Spanning over seven days, a journey on the Palace on Wheels is sheer extravaganza that needs however, to be booked 8 to 10 months ahead of schedule in order to be enjoyed at the right time.

So welcome aboard your highness……the chandeliers have been lighted and the glasses filled for your eyes and lips only!!!!