Palace On Wheels
Showcasing the ambience of Palace, offers most luxurious stay on board.
The passenger coaches which were originally meant to be the per sonal railway coaches of the erstwhile rulers of princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India. These coaches were not being used by the Indian Railways after independence in normal passenger trains on account of very rich and traditional interiors.
The name "Palace-on-Wheels" (POW) was derived from its royal background of the coaches & first introduced in 1982. A new meter gauge air conditioned Palace-on-Wheels was introduced in 1990 & had 13 Saloons, 2 Restaurant cum Kitchen car, one Bar cum Lounge and 4 Service Cars. In order to further increase the amenities on the train and due to over all gauge conversion in the state, a new broad gauge Palace-on-Wheels has been constructed. & has been running since 1995. It's 14 Saloons are inter-connected, the interior matching the aesthetics of the royal states. The cabins of each saloon name attached with showers. The train also has a well appointed lounge, library, bar & dining cars.
In the past 20 years of operations, the Palace-on-Wheels has been rated as one of the best ten luxurious rail journeys in the world.
Saloons name:: The names of the saloons are based on the princely states of Rajasthan - Alwar, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Bundi, Dholpur, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jhalawar, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, Kota, Sirohi, and Udaipur.
The decor of each saloon has highlighted the cultural ethos of the state, represented through the use of furniture, handicrafts, paintings and furnishings.The ceiling in the lounge is of particular interest. Each coupe is different but the overall ambience of the decor of the saloons has been taken care of to provide continuity.
Each saloon has cream yellow color on its exterior walls and bear the Coat of Arms (logo) of the erstwhile princely states, along with the name.
Interior Layout: Each saloon has 4 coupes (sleeping rooms) with attached toilet. In every saloon, there is one saloon captain valet and one attendant to look after the personal needs of its tourists. Each saloon has a mini pantry properly equipped to provide ready tea/coffee and snacks.
Palace on Wheels - Destinations covered
The Palace on Wheels, the most famous and luxurious train of India starts its wonderful journey from Delhi Cant. Railway Station. And from here starts your fascinating tour that covers some of the very famous tourist destinations of India.
Delhi: The Capital city of India, Delhi is one of the well known historical cities of the world. Famous attractions here include Qutab Minar, Red Fort and Jama Masjid, Purana Qila, the Lotus temple and the India Gate.
Jaipur: Jaipur is famous as 'Pink city'. The city is known for its colorful culture, handicrafts and tourist spots. Famous tourist spots here include the Hawa Mahal, the City Palace, Amber Fort and Jantar Mantar (a famous observatory).
Jaisalmer: Known as 'the jewel of the desert 'Jaisalmer is situated near the Thar Desert. It's a famous with tourists for exotic camel safari it offers to them.
Jodhpur: The second largest city of Rajasthan, Jodhpur is famous for its strong Mehrangarh Fort.
Ranthambore National Park: Ranthambore National Park is a famous tiger reserve of India.
Chittorgarh: Chittorgarh is known as the city of bravery and romance. The famous tourist spots here include Chittorgarh Fort and Padmini's Palace among many others.
Udaipur: Udaipur is famous as the city of lakes. It is also regarded as the ' Venice of the East'. Famous tourist spots here are Lake Palace, boating in lake Pichola, Shilpgram- a craft village- and Royal Gardens.
Bharatpur: Bharatpur is world famous for its Wildlife Bird Sanctuary and Keoladeo Ghana National Park.
Agra: Agra is famous for ' The Taj Mahal' one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The other famous monuments here is Agra Fort or Red Fort and Buland Darwaza of Fatehpur Sikri situated close to Agra.
Here your memorable journey reaches its final destination and you are set to return back to Delhi.
Palace on Wheels Schedule
Palace on Wheels is a weekly departure from September through April each year. It departs from Delhi on every Wednesday for status and current tariffs kindly let us know we will provide you the entire information as per your requirement.
itinerary-
DAY 01 . WEDNESDAY
Reporting Time: 16.00 hrs. Departure 18.30 hrs
New Delhi : This is the place from where the odyssey across Rajasthan gets initiated at the Delhi Cantonment where the guests are received in a warm and gratifying manner with all the added paraphernalia before the Palace on Wheels begins its royal journey, across a thrilling and mesmerizing Rajasthan.
DAY 02 - THURSDAY
Arrival: 02.00 hrs. Departure 19.30 hrs
Jaipur
Jaipur regales the tourists with decorated elephants and lilting strains of the Shehnai on their arrival in Jaipur. Lunch at Rambagh Palace will leave you satiated. Then travel destinations of the order of Hawa Mahal, Nahargarh fort, Amber fort are given a look in as the travel tour progresses.
An air-conditioned coach will move the travelers to Hawa Mahal which is a gigantic five-storied building adorned with subtly decorated and delicate honey combed windows, made out of Rajasthani sandstone. A travel tour to Amber Fort, where rides atop decorated elephants add to the pomp and pageantry of the outing, gets completed with a shopping spree for Jaipur's famed jewellery, handicrafts, carpets, and textiles. Ajmeri Gate is home to Rajasthali - a stately Rajasthan Govt. shop dishing out authentic handicrafts at stable and affordable prices.
A travel tour to City Palace awaits the tourist after consuming a satiating lunch with the royal gharana of Jaipur. The travel juggernaut then rolls on to the majestic Jantar Mantar, the largest and one of the finest observatories built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II. Around 6.30 p.m the bus will ferry the tourists to the train where a sumptuous dinner is ready to be served.
DAY 03. FRIDAY
Arrival: 08.15 hrs. Departure 23.00 hrs
Jaisalmer
The great and humbling Thar Desert is home to Jaisalmer, whose foundation stone was laid by Rawal Jaisal, in the year 1156 A.D. The yellow sandstone fort is a grand vision, which remains steadfast gallantly over the city. The supremely latticed havelis with their bombastic facades and The Nathmalji-ki-haveli, Patwon-ki-haveli and Salim Singh-ki-haveli are brilliant specimens of the local architecture which is all laid out in all its panache and glory.
Shopping can ensue at Rajasthali-the grandly Rajasthan Government shop, which harbors beautiful pattu shawls, snazzy mirror work and embroidered articles, well laid out wooden boxes, numerous trinkets, silver jewellery and innumerable curios. Lunch can be had on time and what follows is a thrilling camel safari on the enchanting "Sam" sand dunes before having dinner and savoring the cultural evening at a hotel in Jaisalmer. The train then heads for Jodhpur at dark.
DAY 04 SATURDAY
Arrival: 07.00 hrs. Departure 15.30 hrs
Jodhpur
The Palace on Wheels reaches the capital of Marwar, Jodhpur blocked by a high and imposing wall with seven gates to act as entry points. This beatific and historic city of Rajasthan, founded by Rao Jodha, in the year1459 A.D., is popular for its imposing and much visited Mehrangarh Fort. The grand palaces within the legendary Mehrangarh fort- Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Phool Mahal, and Daulat Khana are an imposing array of architectural finesse. Jaswant Thada, a cluster of royal cenotaphs hewn out of marble, is one place, which is the chief draw among the tourists in Rajasthan, North India.
Lunch follows a throw back to the stately Palace On Wheels. Jodhpur offers a golden opportunity to shop for handicraft articles of the order of the famed and comical breeches, embroidered shoes, metal curios, silverware, beautiful paintings and harlequin tie and dye clotheslines.
DAY 05. SUNDAY
Arrival: 04.00 hrs. Departure 10.30 hrs
Sawai Madhopur
Rusticity and wild charm rules the roost as the graceful and traditional Palace on Wheels reaches Sawai Madhopur, a city founded by Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh I. Ranthambhor National Park, is a wildlife sanctuary which is thought to be the country's ideal site for animal wealth photography and catching tigers on the move and drinking from the surrounding water holes. The park, with an expanse of 392 sq. kilometers boasts of approximately 300 species of birds. Tiger, hyena, ratel, jackal and fox are some of the animals found here. Sawai Madhopur is an ideal gateway for exquisite shopping opportunities of the order of its ethnic ornaments and costumes. After returning to the Palace on Wheels, the next travel destination happens to be Chittor, where a tourist is in unison with the bright sylvan surroundings being witnessed from the royal carrier.
DAY 05. SUNDAY
Arrival: 16.00 hrs.
Chittaurgarh
Lunch follows a jaunt in Chittaurgarh with vignettes of love and courage, wounds of skirmishes lost and won becoming the hallmark of Chittaurgarh Fort. Moving legends of honor and pride get imbedded in you as one moves towards Udaipur.
DAY 06 . MONDAY
Arrival: 20.00 hrs. from Chittaurgarh
Udaipur
The Luxury Coach will take the tourist to Udaipur, the next morning. It became a part of the map in Rajasthan at the behest of Maharana Udai Singh of Mewar. Udaipur is home to two beautiful marble palaces - the Jag Niwas (Lake Palace) and the Jag Mandir, which emanate from the surface of Lake Pichola. Lunch follows at the famed Lake Palace Hotel, with a visit to the City Palace being next on the list. The luxury coach will ferry the tourists back to the Palace On Wheels at Chittaurgarh, thus culminating a day full of sightseeing and fun.
DAY 07. TUESDAY
Arrival: 06.30 hrs. Departure 11.45 hrs
Bharatpur
Bharatpur, the capital of Maharaja Suraj Mal is the next destination of the luxury train. Once breakfast is had, one can pay a visit to renowned bird sanctuary, popularly known as the Keoladeo Ghana National Park, which harbors a healthy stock of Siberian Cranes, migratory water Fowl and the rest of the assortment in the Bharatpur collection.
DAY 07. TUESDAY
Arrival: 14.30 hrs. Departure 23.00 hrs
Agra
The luxury train reaches Fatehpur Sikri, which was built by the Mughals out of red sandstone. Here, a mosque built by Emperor Akbar, dedicated to Sheikh Salim Chishti, is located which continues to attract a throng of devotees. After lunch has been eaten, one can witness the mesmerizing and impressive Taj Mahal, the Eighth Wonder of the World. Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan who dedicated the beautiful monument to the immortal love for his queen Mumtaz Mahal.
Agra is known for its impressive marble work of the order of the Pietra Dura patterning in Taj Mahal, and the pursuits producing leather goods and jewellery also need to be explored.
Dinner is had on board the train, and the last leg of the journey begins for Delhi Cantt at 6.00 A.M, the morning after and then a tourist can swim in a sea of nostalgia and sweet remembrances for a long time to come.
DAY 08. WEDNESDAY
Arrive : 0600 HRS
Delhi:
Delhi Cantt. Station welcomes a tourist just through a long journey with the details of a colorful Rajasthan reverberating through the mind of the traveler.
|
Spain