Train Tours in India
Indian Railways serving people of the
land and visitors from abroad. Erstwhile Indian Rajpootana's fancy with
luxury even involved the trains. Saloons of Royal families always used to be
expensive displays of comfort and luxury. With the end of the princely rule
in India, this could no longer be anyone's personal belonging.
But
the bits of what was left of those times were rejoined by the government
thereby conceptualizing the idea of providing the same age-old royal palaces
on rails. These tours provides guests a life time experience visiting
Palaces, Forts & Museums, Temples and Hills, mixing with the people of
the land during the day & resting in 'Royal Saloons" of the train
at night. A week or even four days on the train gives an idea of the varying
topography of the land - fertile plains to rugged hills and desert to
forest. "The Palace on Wheels", "The Royal Orient" and "The
Fairy Queen" cover interesting historic cities and quaint towns in
India.
It's a journey worthy of kings. No wonder
the experience is labelled the Palace on Wheels. The 14 coaches of the
Palace On Wheels are named after former Rajput states. The names are
romantic, mesmerizing... Kota, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner,
Alwar, Sirohi, Kishangarh, Bundi, Dungarpur, Bharatpur, Jhalawar and
Dholpur. It has been rated one of the ten best luxurious train journeys in
the world. Offered on board are a series of restuarants, a library, a bar,
lounges, individually designed saloons with en-suite bathrooms, personal
attendants and a lot more. Traditional royal welcome at every station you
visit - need to ask for more.
The older, fully air-conditioned "palace
on wheels" which had to be abandoned due to gauge conversion in
Rajasthan is currently being operated by Gujarat Tourism. Obviously, its
saloons, food and ambience reflect strong Gujarati flavour - another rich
culture in India. This weeklong, fully packaged train journey will transport
you to palaces and forts steeped in legends of heroism and chivalry. One can
feel the spirituality of an ancient Jain Temple city. Soak the feet in warm
waters of the Arabian sea and laze on the beach. Safari in jungles to see
the only lions outside Africa. Shop for exquisite handicrafts as old as
history.
A two-saloon train makes a short journey
from Delhi to Alwar. The Fairy Queen which finds mention in the "Guinness
Book of World Records" is the oldest running steam locomotive in the
world. For an idyllic weekend trip between Delhi and Alwar, the Fairy Queen
comes to the rescue of those bored with the same old blase ways of traveling
around the place. The Fairy Queen with the privileged ones abroad reaches
the picturesque town of Alwar in Rajasthan the same day, from where the
guests will be taken to Sariska Tiger Reserve for an overnight stay