Uttar Pradesh: A melting pot of history, culture and divinity!

Uttar Pradesh, the land where Gautam Buuddha discarded the worldly pleasures and attained Enlightenment, the land where the ancient most civilization dwells on the river bank of the Ganges, the land where the delicacy of the Shia Nawabs can still be seen and the land where Shahjahan’s love gets immortalized with Taj Mahal, is a state where the myriad colors of India get a vibrant touch. The state of Uttar Pradesh, situated in the Northern Province of India, shares its borders with as many as 7 Indian states and with the Democratic Republic of Nepal. The state has harbored a nice blend of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Islamic and European cultures that yields to visitors’ wishes to a large extent.

Lucknow: The capital city of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow depicts a vibrant fiesta of culture, traditions, music and performing arts before us. The city’s synonym of fane has been its Tehzeeb, its love for leisure, intellect, beauty, grace and gallantry. Bhul Bhlaiya, Bara Imambara, Hussainabad Imambara, Shahnajaf Imambara, Kaiserbagh Heritage Zone and La-Martiniere College are bejeweled examples of Indo-Islamic and European architectural style. The special Awadhi cuisines of Kebabs, Sheermal and Dum Pukht Biryani present a fine blend of philosophy and lifestyle that the people of the city practiced over centuries.

Dum Pukht Biryani

Agra: The city of Agra, situated 363 kilometers west of the state capital Lucknow has been enjoying a venerable position in tourists’ itineraries. Touring across the city is like a walk along the lanes of history; the city is dotted with numerous Mughal monuments like Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itmad-ud-Daulah’s tomb, Akbar’s Tomb and many more. Agra is synonymous with the Taj – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. While activities in Agra, for a large segment of visitors revolves around the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, it is also famous for its handicraft items and marble inlay works which are now attempted to be perpetuated through the establishment of Shilpgram near the eastern gate of the Taj. The city celebrates the Taj Mahotsav every winter which is a cultural extravaganza organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of India.

Taj Mahotsav

Varanasi: A name that merges history, culture and divinity into one, Varanasi is believed to be the dweller of the oldest living civilization on earth. It’s a magical town where a million temple bells tinkle together, creating a perfect tone for your rendezvous with spiritual core of India. Here you can discover the roots of one of the world’s greatest cultures and can sail down the Ganges for experiencing the splendors of the city. Along with spirituality, Varanasi has always been a great cultural center, notably in the field of learning of religion, philosophy, Yoga, Ayurveda and astrology. Luminaries apart, Varanasi abound in the art of silk weaving which is cherished as collector’s items across the world.

Varanasi

Like its destinations, the state’s inclination towards culture shows itself in the celebration of different festivals throughout the year. The most popular festivals celebrated in Uttar Pradesh include Navratri, Diwali, Chat, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Govardhan Puja, Muharram Christmas etc.

Uttar Pradesh has a well developed transportation system that makes it easily accessible to the national as well as international visitors alike. Moreover, if you are an urbane nomad who searches for adventurous journey experiences, Maharajas Express train route is the path meant for you. The train has 5 exclusive journeys on its platter, all of which covers the majestic city of Taj, Agra. The Indian Panorama itinerary of the train covers Agra, Varanasi and Lucknow within its journey period of 7 nights and 8 days. Experience, explore and excavate the rich heritage of Uttar Pradesh to delve into the history of human civilization.

Indian Panorama : An explorative journey to the soul of India

Situated in the southern part of Asia, India is called a traveler’s delight; and why not so, the country welcomes its guests with vibrant colors, mesmerizing traditions, breathtaking scenic views, beautiful monuments and above all heartwarming hospitality traditions. The country has left no stone unturned to lure global nomads. Speaking of the luxury travel means in India would probably be incomplete without a mentioning the Maharajas’ Express, the latest addition in the group of luxury tourist trains in India. At present, the train runs five different journeys that cover diverse regions of the country including historical cities, craggy wild lands, gods’ holy abodes, well known national parks, dazzling metro cities and tranquility surrounded countryside.

Among the five journeys of the Maharajas’ Express, the weeklong sojourn - Indian Panorama is the most preferred one as the itinerary serves adventure, spirituality, wilderness, lavishness and royalty all on the same platter. The journey begins and concludes at Delhi, the capital and the gateway to India. Let us have a quick look at the highlights of the 168 hours of pan-Indian sojourn:-

1. Jaipur, a feast for the eyes and for the tongue: On the second day of Indian Panorama tour, the train enters Jaipur, the Kingdom of the brave Rajputs. The city is the capital of Rajasthan and serves as one of the prime tourist destinations in India. Apart from visiting different palaces and forts, the Jaipur tour includes an exhibition elephant polo match, specially organized for the Maharajas’ Express guests. After this, enjoy a royal lunch at an exclusive venue in Jaipur. The lunch menu includes various Indian and continental delicacies along with some signature Rajasthani varieties.

2. Spine shivering moments at Ranthambore: Situated in the Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park is famous for sheltering the majestic Bengal Tigers. Amid the park, there is a century old citadel that still sings the saga of an era of royalty and chivalry. The surrounding area of the park has a green belt of vegetation and a number of water ponds. While a glimpse of the Bengal Tiger is solely a matter of luck, you can see several other wild dwellers including leopard, nilgai, wild boar, sambar, hyena, sloth bear and chital. It is also home to wide variety of trees, plants, birds and reptiles.

3. Romantic breakfast overlooking the Taj Mahal: Explore the mesmerizing beauty of the white marbled Taj Mahal under the dew drenched rays of the morning sun. Built by the fifth Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to immortalize his love for Empress Mumtaj Mahal, the marble mausoleum is recognized by UNESCO a World Heritage Site and has been laurelled as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This memorable drive to the Taj Mahal becomes a picture perfect memory with a refreshing breakfast at Taj Khema, overlooking the Taj Mahal.

4. Explore the beauty of Khajuraho Temples: Appreciated worldwide for its architectural brilliance and magnificent stone carvings, the Khajuraho Group of Temples is not just a tourist destination, but a history in itself. These temples were built around 1000 years ago by the Chandela rulers. The Maharaja’s Express gives its guests a chance to get closer to this glorious piece of medieval India and help them unravel the most amazing facets of the Khajuraho temples.

5. Plunge into the tranquility of Varanasi: In the last leg of the Indian Panorama journey, the Maharajas’ Express reaches Varanasi, the oldest living city on the face of earth. The city is dotted with innumerable temples. It is said that Varanasi is the land where experience and discovery reach the ultimate bliss. This holy city hosts millions of tourists along with pilgrims every year.

Varanasi Ghat

There’s no doubt that the Maharajas' Express itinerary have been crafted in the finest fashion, but its onboard facilities also need a special mention. It has luxurious sleeping cars, two royal restaurants, a safari bar and a lounge car. No less than a five star hotel on rails, the train turns your travel experience to a priceless memory worth to be treasured forever.