Palace on Wheels is a pioneer luxury train that offers signature 8-day and 7-night itinerary. The train offers sublime luxurious accommodation inside with a long list of amenities including an onboard bar, restaurants, spa treatments, designated butlers, tour guides, and more. The train covers eminent and emblematic attractions of Rajasthan and Agra. India is an exotic land with a mix of pre-colonization culture and a modernistic lifestyle. And, Palace on Wheels takes you as close as possible to the culture, cuisine, lifestyle, traditions, spirituality, fashion, and hospitality of royal India.
Before you head towards booking Palace on Wheels train tickets, here are fifteen things that would enchant you even before you set foot on one of the Palace on Wheels itineraries.
Palace on Wheels is not just a train with luxurious cabins for staying. The train cabins were refurbished royal cabins used by the kings of yesteryear India. The cabins have grand windows, entertainment options, en-suite private bathrooms, and more. Outside your cabin, the train has a spa car with certified professionals offering signature treatments, a modernistic business car for conducting your work-related affairs, dining cars with exquisite meals prepared inside the train, a library, an observation car, a lounge, a bar, and more.
India Palace on Wheels train has 14 coaches, each one named after an ancient princely state. In the past, a group of princely states of unique culture and diverse lifestyles was brought together to form the modern-day Rajasthan. Palace on Wheels recreated the uniqueness of those cultures using décor. Each coach is exclusively decorated with elements to express the cultural beauty of each princely state it is named after.
For instance, the Alwar coach has cone work and an oil-based relief on the ceiling expressing hunting. It is one of the primary art styles of this princely state. The pink color indicates the romantic ambiance of Alwar architecture. The miniature paintings express the hunting and royal lifestyle of ancient Alwar culture.
The Bharatpur coach has a unique aqua green theme denoting that the region is rich with bird species and wilderness. The coach is decorated with pictures of unique birds for the same reason. The décor is primarily made with white cedar decorated with inlay work, expressing the lush green forests and native culture.
The cuisine is an integral part of any vacation. You get to explore a part of the indigenous culture when you try the local food made using unique cooking skills. Palace on Wheels offers unique Rajasthani cuisines, international cuisines, and other Indian dishes for a variety. The chef procures signature ingredients fresh at certain destinations to prepare unique dishes. The gourmet dining experience portrays the style of royal dining of royal families in the palaces. You will be on the train for eight days and you will be receiving eight different menus; a new set of delicacies to try every day.
Read Also:- 15 Essential Facts About the Palace on Wheels
Palace on Wheels is essentially a group tour for 86 like-minded people. The train can hold as many as 86 guests and crew during each journey. You can stick to your cabins, and enjoy your meals and other amenities with just your family or friends. On the other hand, if you prefer socializing, there are games in the lounge room, bar, celebrations, and more.
Palace on Wheels is a strict non-smoking train, even in the privacy of your cabins. However, if you prefer to light one up and relax, you can request the designated smoking room. After all, it is your holiday and it should be in the way you desire.
Your primary responsibility is to be at the New Delhi railway station a couple of hours before the departure time. From that point on, every element of your vacation, like sightseeing, transportation arrangements, guide, meal, water, entrance tickets, and others will be handled by the tour manager and his crew for the next eight days.
More than eight destinations in eight days might sound too many and you might feel like you would be spending the entire week just traveling. On the contrary, the train journeys are usually during the night, when you relax, except for a couple of travels. Every day, you wake up in a different destination and the crew will be ready to take you for sightseeing and exploration. At night, you will get back to the train and the train will start moving towards the next city.
It is not easy to sleep or explore on a moving train. Thus, Palace on Wheels keeps its optimal speed well below the average speed of normal trains. This allows the chefs to prepare your meals on board, allows you to explore the amenities, enjoy sceneries through the windows, and sleep soundly.
Any cultural destination is famous for its handicrafts, souvenirs, and unique articles. Thus, explorers and vacationers always try to take a part of India with them as gifts and memorabilia. That’s why Palace on Wheels has a souvenir shop on board, and it includes shopping activities in Jaipur, Agra, and other destinations.
It is the same train and itinerary every week, but you can experience India uniquely every time you choose the Palace on Wheels holiday. You can customize your meals based on your needs like vegan options, lactose-free, kosher, and more. You can ditch the sightseeing itinerary and cover each city on your own. You can also stay back on the train for a day to enjoy the facilities. Some even charter the whole train for corporate affairs or weddings.
Palace on Wheels fare reflects its status as the first luxury train in the country. However, more than just being the first, Palace on Wheels has achieved several recognitions and awards, including Conde Nast survey’s Best Luxury Train in the World, 2018’s PATWA Award for Tourist Train of the Year, 2009’s Best in Asia award, PATA Gold Award, and more.
The luxury experience and your official royal vacation start even before you get on the train. The Palace on Wheels crew conducts a musical welcome red-carpet activity with traditional music performances, crew in traditional attire, and more. The tourists are welcomed into the train with a flower garland and a welcome kit.
The Palace on Wheels itinerary is crafted to make it enjoyable for all age groups. You can bring your kids on board and have a safe and comfortable experience. On the other hand, the train offers wheelchair assistance, medical help, and others.
India speaks a lot of different languages and it is an element of cultural pride for Indians. During your Palace on Wheels trip, it is not a major concern. All the tourist-contact staff on the train are versed in the local language and English. This includes your butler, waiter, tour manager, and more. During the city exploration tours, you will be traveling with an English-speaking guide, making your exploration easier and exciting.
The bar has shelves of top brands of international and local booze, spirits, and beer. However, if you are a teetotaler and still wish to enjoy your holiday with your friends, you can order non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. The bartender can offer your specialty drinks or whip up a signature cocktail for you.
Beyond these, there are several other interesting elements of Palace on Wheels, every morning, you can wake up to the sweet aroma of coffee delivered to your cabins along with magazines and newspapers. You can also alter your holiday budget by choosing specific months and styles of accommodation. Beyond this, there are offers from time to time to make the deal sweeter. It is not possible to explain every element of surprise and elegance that Palace on Wheels Ticket brings to your holiday. The best way to experience it is by embarking on one. How about booking for the next Palace on Wheels itinerary? From September to April, there is always an itinerary starting every Wednesday.