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 The
Palace on Wheels takes you to a vibrating journey
to the royal land of sand dunes and regal palaces. Visit
the majestic expanse where Royal Rajputs lived in a
grand style. Explore this imperial land on the Palace
on Wheels, the luxurious train that carries with it
an intrinsic ambience that goes perfectly well with
the majestic charm and beauty spread so lavishly here
and there in Rajasthan.
The
Palace on wheels is rated as one of the top ten luxury
train journeys in the world. It offers you a heart-rending
trip to the splendid forts and palaces of Rajasthan
in just seven days. Also discover the royal history
of Taj Mahal in Agra. The journey to the hinterland
of the desert starts every Wednesday evening at 1800
hrs from Delhi and ends on the following Wednesday early
in the morning at 0730 hrs.
The
Royal Background of the Palace on Wheels
On rolling back wheels of time, we find the rulers of
princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of
Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India travelled
by these luxurious coaches. After independence, these
coaches were parked and remained in this state for a
quarter of a century until in 1981-82, when the Rajasthan
Tourism Development Corporation and Indian Railways
launched a special heritage tourist train for providing
a unique memorable experience to the tourists visiting
Rajasthan.
The
name Palace on Wheels was derived from it's royal background
of the coaches. Gradually, State government and railway
department brought many infrastructural changes in the
coaches while keeping the same aesthetics of the interiors
alive, matching the interiors of the royal state. The
train was replaced by the air-conditioned broad gauges
new train, which had 14 saloons, 2 restaurant cum kitchen
cars, one Bar cum Lounge and 4 service Cars. The cabins
of each saloon are attached with bath and shower. The
train also has a well-appointed lounge, library and
bar.
Its
all about Luxury and comfort
That's true! On the Palace on Wheels your journey is
full of exuberance and luxurious feeling. A perfect
chance to relive the era when kings and queens ruled,
when royalty spelt magic. When charm and mysticism was
in air. The train is completely self- sufficient and
is fully air-conditioned, comprising of 14 deluxe saloons.
Especially facilitated for you with all modern amenities
of everyday life, you would find the royal past haunting
you in the historical coaches. The two dining cars are
decked up in true Rajasthani style and each saloon has
personal attendants, khidmatgars, for your service.
Step aboard for a journey into the past on a luxury
train.
Royal
Services on Board
Apart from 14 saloons, each having 4 cabins attached
with bath and shower, the Palace on Wheels has two restaurants
cum kitchen cars offering traditional Indian, Continental
and Chinese cuisine with the Chef's special variety
of the day. Its well stocked bar serves Indian liquor
and variety of scotch, wine and cocktails. It has piped
music in every saloon, and interesting games for children.
Apart
from this, the other services on request include laundry
services, and Doctor on call at each station, barber
shop & beauty parlour. The lounge also has a souvenirs
shop 'The Bazaar' where souvenirs and gift items are
sold bearing the insignia of the POW.
The
names of the saloons given are based on the princely
states of Rajasthan- Jaipur, Jodhpur, Alwar, Bundi,
Kota, Jhalawar, Dungarpur, Dholpur, Bharatpur, Jaisalmer,
Sirohi, Bikaner, Udaipur and Kishangarh.
The
Lavish Interiors
Sit in these beautiful carriages and look around. You
will find that each saloon highlights the cultural ethos
of the state, represented through the use of furniture,
handicrafts, painting and furnishings. The ceiling in
the lounge is of particular interest. Each saloon is
different but the overall ambience of the décor
of the saloons has been taken care of to provide continuity
and harmony.
Each
saloon has cream yellow colour on its exterior walls
and bears the Coat of Arms (logo) of the erstwhile princely
states.
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