Rajasthan: The Reminder of Romance and Royalty

Rajasthan, a state situated in the western province of India has captured the imagination of people, rulers and invaders from time to time. At present, Rajasthan serves as one of the prime tourist destinations where millions of foreign as well as national tourists flock every year to explore its rich treasure trove of destinations, monuments, cultures, traditions, cuisines and festivals. Once known as the Rajputana or the land of brave Rajputs, Rajasthan is still a varicolored state that has retained its bygone era regality in a beautiful manner.

Jaisalmer, the camel city

The state was ruled for over 1000 years by the Rajputs, a warrior clan who are believed to be the descendants of the Suryavanshis and the Chandravanshis. The Rajputs built massive forts, palaces and established various cities in different parts of the state. This scattering of majestic buildings draws a vivid picture of the royalty that the people of medieval era used to bask. The forts portray a picture of great defensive quality of the Rajput warriors, while the palaces and gardens speak of the clan’s inclination towards art and architecture.

Rajasthan displays a riot of colors where brilliant red, vibrant orange, sublime pink, shocking yellow, emerald green, turquoise blue and several others find a just expression. One can experience this celebration of color everywhere be it the densely crowded market streets, the silently whispering jungles, the battle scattered forts, the exotic palaces or even the middle of the desert.

For those who are travel addicts, Rajasthan is no less than a fantasy world; cities after cities, the state gives life to the ancient folklores of kings, knights and of their dreamy kingdoms. While in Rajasthan one gets a chance to explore the gigantic forts and palaces of Jaipur and Jodhpur, the lake bestowed cities of Udaipur and Pushkar, the painted town of Sekhawati, the golden forts and sand dunes of Bikaner and Jaisalmer, and the thrilling national parks of Bharatpur and Ranthambore.

Though Rajasthan is well connected to different parts of the country, the best way to travel across this land of Rajput warrior is a journey aboard a luxury train. A total of four luxury tourist trains run through Rajasthan among which Palace on Wheels and Maharaja Express luxury train tours are the most celebrated ones. In fact, it was Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) who first introduced the concept of luxury train travelling in India in the year 1982 with Palace on Wheels. The carriages of both the luxury trains are decorated like palace rooms and houses technologically advanced and modern amenities. These trains offer a host of journeys from which the travelers can chose their preferred one.

There are myriad factors that attract global tourists to Rajasthan and one of the most prominent among them is certainly the people of the state who treat the tourists as their privileged guests.

Maharajas’ Express: A World of Grace, Luxury and Royalty

Travelling is always a matter of personal choice and this choice varies from person to person. While some love to spend the holidays amid tranquility of nature, others may favor the idea of experiencing something adventurous during vacations. Whatever the idea may be, everyone wants to have a different experience during the holidays. India offers a host of tourist destinations with a slew of breathtaking attractions, which mount up to every expectation of the travelers; thus planning a holiday in India can be a wise decision. Travelling across some of the most dramatic vistas of India aboard Maharajas’ Express luxury tourist train can be the best way to spend the holiday; the train offers seven star hospitality within the limited space of the carriages. From the cabins to its interior décor and from on -board facilities to off-train excursions, every aspect of the train is precisely monitored so that travelers can experience the royal extravaganza of the medieval India with a pinch of adventure and enthusiasm.

The Maharajas’ Express is the most recently introduced luxury train in India owned and managed by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC). For its impeccable service measures and avant-garde facilities, the train is considered as the most preferred and costliest train journey in Asia. Let us have a look at some of the features of the train that make it stand tall amid the crowd of luxury trains in India-

Cabins- Maharajas’ Express cabins are the fine embodiments of comfort, luxury and royalty, bringing the legendary traversing tradition of the yore back to life. This half mile long train houses 43 guest cabins which are broadly cataloged into four categories - Deluxe Cabin, Junior Suite, Suite and Presidential Suite. All these guest cabins are well equipped with modern amenities like channel music, Wi-Fi connectivity, individual air conditioning, electronic safe, live television, direct dial phone and en-suite bathrooms with showers. The twin/double beds and writing desks are brilliantly placed inside every cabin without disturbing the spaciousness of the cabins.

Maharajas Express Cabins

Décor- The décor of Maharajas’ Express is one of the most unique selling points that make the train so special. Panoramic windows, silk curtains, beautifully woven carpets, artificial light fixtures and stained glass works adorn each corner of the train. While most of the train furniture is made up of wood, one can also find the use of cane and leather in the furniture, especially those in Rajah Club and Safari Bar of the train.

Mayur Mahal Décor

Facilities- The train has two multi-cuisine restaurants – Rang Mahal and Mayur Mahal. The restaurants serve Indian, Oriental, Continental and Chinese cuisines along with some signature Rajasthani dishes. Each restaurant car can accommodate a total of 43 guests at a time. The restaurant staff gives special emphasis on maintaining a high level of hygiene so that guests can enjoy a healthy vacation in India. The Maharajas’ Express also houses Safari Bar and Rajah Club. The former one is an on board spirit zone that serves a variety of beverages from around the world. The Rajah Club is a lounge bar equipped with game tables and club arm chairs, allowing the guests to relax and unwind in style. For those who want to take back some memories of India in the form of mementos, they can head towards the on board boutique of the train. From here the guests can buy various decorative items, jewelries and fashion accessories.

Rajah Club

Along with the aforementioned features, the five specially designed itineraries make the Maharajas’ Express all the more exclusive. All the journeys are unique in terms of budget, duration and destinations covered. The beautifully adorned Maharaja Express cabins make sure that the guests are offered utmost comfort and luxury. While there are various options available to explore India, a journey on board Maharajas’ Express is certainly ‘an experience extraordinaire’.

Maharajas’ Express: A Smarter Way to Explore India

In this fast paced world, things are getting customized and hi-tech. This has also brought a great change in the travel scenario around the world. Travelers now seek for smarter holidaying options that can save their time as well as make them experience something adventurous, thrilling and unforgettable. If you are one of those travelers, you should opt for a journey aboard Maharajas’ Express, the leading luxury train in India. The train is a modern day traveler’s delight courtesy its décor, amenities, facilities, services and itineraries. The train offers 5 different journeys– Treasures of India, Gems of India, Indian Panorama, Indian Splendour and Heritage of India.

Short yet Captivating- If you are a travel enthusiast and have a limited period of time to spend, Treasures of India and Gems of India are the two best options that you can chose from the list. Both the two journeys cover the famed ‘Golden Triangle Circuit of India’ along with a jungle safari through Ranthambore National Park within a span of 3 nights and 4 days. While the journey period is short, there is no dearth of excitement and adventure they offer. The highlights of both the itineraries include visit to mesmerizing Taj Mahal, jungle safari in Ranthambore National Park, a royal lunch and an elephant ride at Amber Fort.

Amber Fort

Travel through Deccan Plateau- Discover the contrasting fresco of Indian subcontinent with Heritage of India itinerary of Maharajas’ Express. During the weeklong journey from the commercial center Mumbai to the country capital Delhi, the travelers get a chance to explore the beautiful cave paintings at Ajanta, the blazing lake city of Udaipur, the forts and palaces of Jodhpur and Jaipur, the thrilling territory of Ranthambore National Park and the century old love sagas of the Taj Mahal. From the beginning to the end, the entire journey is packed with surprises that can hardly be offered by any other journey.

Taj Mahal

Explore Ancient India- An unforgettable escapade to a world where different places unfold many mysteries of the past, Indian Panorama by Maharajas’ Express is a journey that can hardly be ignored while it comes to experiencing India. Indian Panorama includes destinations such as Jaipur, Ranthambore, Agra, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Varanasi, Lucknow and Delhi, each of which bears testimony to a particular time of the Indian history. While Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh display the unique example of temple art in India, the city of Varanasi – known to be one of the oldest cities in the world offers an escape into the sacred world blessed with the free flowing Ganges River.

Ganges Aarti at Varanasi Ghat

History with a Pinch of Adventure- A beautiful amalgamation of history and adventure, Indian Splendour is one of the most preferred tour itineraries of Maharajas’ Express. Rajasthan’s forts, palaces and wildlife sanctuary; Agra’s Tal Mahal; Gujarat’s dinosaur fossil park and Maharashtra’s throbbing capital Mumbai are covered by Indian Slpendour. The entire journey is scheduled in a manner that travelers get enough time to explore different destinations with ease and in an unhurried way.

Ranthambore National Park

Indian Railways Maharajas Express is not just a luxury train; it’s a redefined form of smart travelling where the travelers get to experience royalty, luxury, history and adventure, all at once. A smart travel option for today’s travelers, the train is worth every penny that travelers pay for the journeys.

Maharajas’ Express Journeys: A mix bag of adventure, spirituality and luxury experiences!

A golden feather in the group of already impressive luxury trains in India, Maharajas’ Express allows the travelers to explore such areas in the Indian subcontinent (precisely of north-central India) which might have escaped their list of holiday destinations. For the urbane nomads who want their holiday to be full of fun, frolic and lavishness, a train ride on board this Indian luxury tourist train would probably be the finest of the options available. For every fussy traveler, India has something to offer and so are the Maharajas’ Express journeys. All its 5 itineraries are fashioned in a manner that serves the diverse holiday needs of the travelers whether they are honeymooners, leisure travelers, adventure seekers or business travelers. All the journeys cover the famed Golden Triangle circuit comprising of Delhi Jaipur and Agra, and the thrilling Sawai Madhopur where Ranthambore National Park is situated.

Luxury & Leisure- If you are aiming at making your holiday luxurious and at the same time full of leisure Maharajas’ Express train journey is the best bet for you. Whether it is the neo-baroque décor of the train or the compassionate hospitality of the crew members, every single endeavor is directed towards making the traversing experience all the more magical, luxurious and rejuvenating for the travelers. Adding to this are the beautifully adorned personal cabins, dining restaurants serving sense tempting foods, spirit zone with a collection of choicest variety of beverages and a lounge car to get engaged in lively conversation with the fellow-travelers.

The Lavish Restaurant at Maharajas' Express 

Adventure- It is the accumulation of different experiences that make a holiday memorable and postcard perfect. Each of the Maharajas’ Express journeys encompasses a jungle safari in Ranthambore National Park, famous as one of the best tiger reserves in Asia. Apart from tigers, the wildlife sanctuary also offers safe shelters to various species of flora and fauna, some of which are endangered ones. Witnessing the habitants of the jungle in their natural setting from a close quarter not only excites the travelers, certainly makes the shivers down to their spine.

Ranthambore National Park

Romance- While the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan sparks romanticism in every heart, Taj Mahal in Agra is standing as a testimony of eternal love; both the cities have their own way of tickling the guests with their beauty and majesty. Agra is a common destination in all the itineraries, while Udaipur is included in two weeklong journeys - Heritage of India and Indian Splendour. Udaipur is all surrounded by azure lakes amid which beautiful palaces look like floating wonderlands. Thus, if your imaginative picture of Venice suddenly comes to life in Udaipur, don’t get surprised. Next to the romantic platter is Taj Mahal in Agra which certainly needs no introduction. At dawn when the Taj Mahal gets slowly lit by the sun rays, the kind of magical aura it reflects is beyond the reach of words.

Epitome of Love & Passion - Taj Mahal

Cultural Insight- India’s cultural extravaganza would probably lead the list of USPs that attracts tourists from around the world every year to this country. This train allows the travelers to bask the cultural vibrancy of different state while crisscrosses through them. Whether it is the royalty of Rajasthan, the ancient caves of Maharashtra or sights & sounds of Madhya Pradesh, each state of the country draws a different fresco before us.

Cultural Insight of Rajasthan

Spirituality- ‘Indian Panorama’ journey aboard this train ends with a soul pleasing note as the train reaches the ‘City of Light’ Varanasi in the final leg of the journey. The 4000 year old hymns sung by the devout when blend with the mild breeze of the river Ganges, a celestial aura fills the entire environment. Varanasi is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimages and it is believed that a holy bath in the river Ganges in Varanasi washes out all the sins of lifetime.

Evening Aarti at Ganges, Varanasi 

If you wish to be a part of an adventurous yet spiritual and luxurious yet traditional expedition, come aboard Maharajas’ Express. Travelling on this train is no less than transporting yourself from the real world to a world that is yet to be discovered. Maharajas Express Booking is now hassle free and quick, thanks to the online facility available, wherein you can just go to any of the PSA’s (preferred sales agent) sites and post a query to get a timely response. So, what are you waiting for? An experience of a lifetime awaits you!