Rajasthan Trains

Rajasthan, the western most state of India, is known for its vibrant and colorful customs, traditions, cultural and architectural heritage and extremely exotic desert landscapes।

Trains of Rajasthan - here we do not just imply the usual trains that are so useful for our day to day purposes, rather, we mean something special. The special trains that are run by Rajasthan Government specifically from tourism point of view. These trains beckon tourists from far and wide promising them a gala time of their life. With evocative names, these trains offer an opulence that is otherwise experienced only in dreams.

The interior decor, every inch reminding of the royal past, along with soft music playing in the background is just mesmerising. There are televisions, library, dining hall to cater to every sort of need of the passengers. Nights are spent in the luxurious environs of the train while days are meant for sightseeing. The sightseeing itinerary is designed in a way to show the passengers the best of the state. Luxury coaches are also provided to take passengers round the halting city.

Talking about the destinations covered by these trains, it is heartening to note that not only famous big cities are covered, rather there is a genuine effort to expose the passengers to every aspect of the state of Rajasthan। The various trains offer an opportunity to the passengers to explore the big & small, the civilised & wild and the modern and traditional world of Rajasthan. The number of days for which these trains take passengers on a trip also varies from 2 to 8 days. This means that even if tourists to Rajasthan do not have much time in hand, they can atleast enjoy some magical moments on board these trains.

Palace On Wheels Luxury Train
The Palace on Wheels Luxury Train runs from January to April and from September to December every year। The Palace on Wheels does not run during the hottest summer months।
History
Welcome aboard the new broad gauge Palace On Wheels and get carried away into the opulent world of maharajas, magnificent palaces and imposing forts. The elegant interiors of this luxury train along with delectable cuisine and personalized service, all exude an exclusive charm. Every saloon has its own personal 'Khidmatgar' or attendant attired in ethnic Rajasthani costume who ensures your journey is comfortable and enjoyable. Fully air-conditioned, the 14 deluxe saloons are equipped with excellent amenities like channel music and intercom which enhance the pleasure of traveling. Each saloon is a combination of 4 twin bedded chambers with attached toilets running cold & hot water and shower facilities.

Colorfully attired men and women garland the guests and accord a ceremonial welcome at the Delhi Cantonment Railway Station from where the journey starts. For the next seven days, the guests live in regal splendor as the train winds its way to the Pink City of Jaipur, historical Chittorgarh and Lake City Udaipur, fascinating Sawai Madhopur, magical desert cities Jaisalmer and Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Agra, the charming city of the Taj Mahal. The journey of a lifetime begins as the Palace on Wheels pulls gently out of Delhi into the fascinating world of Rajasthan.

The very mention of Rajasthan evokes of Maharajas, palace, forts, deserts, camels and people in brightly colored attire. It is through such a landscape that the Palace on Wheels, one of ten most luxurious trains of the world, winds its way on its week - long journey. The fourteen deluxe saloons, equipped with all modern - day amenities is tastefully decorated and offers a once - in - lifetime experience of living in royal splendor.

The Palace On Wheels

About the Palace on Wheels Train
Know about the train, before you board the train. Book your trip You can book your trip by reserving your seats in Palace - on - Wheels.

Cultural Programmes
At every halt your evening is planned with cultural programmes, be it Ghoomar, Phnihari, Gorbandh, Geir, Kaalbelia, Chung, Agni Nritya or puppet shows. You will surely be enchanted by the famous folk songs moomal, Baramasa and Gorbandh.

Destination
Details about all the cities you will traveling with Palace on Wheels.

Detailed Itinerary
Details itinerary about the time, places you will visit, and time it will take to reach there.

Facilities on Board
Facilities available on the train.

History
Learn about the History of Palace on Wheels.

Image
Your virtual tour to the Palace 0n Wheels.

Schedule
Details about the schedule departure and dates from Delhi Cantt.

Tariff
Details about the tariff and information on reservations, cancellations, and more.

Your Comments
You can use the form to send suggestions, comments, and questions about Palace - on Wheels।
The Fairy Queen Train
Enjoy your two day trip through the golden beauty of the Rajasthan। Fairy Queen, the world's oldest locomotive train is a wonder itself and takes you to the wilderness of the Sariska Wild Life Sanctuary.

Historical
In the year 1855, when the Fairy Queen was constructed in Leeds, England, nobody probably expected it to attract so much of tourists' attention as it does today. At that point of time, it was sent to Calcutta (it reached here in 1895) where it was fondly named the Fairy Queen and given the number 22 by its then possessor, the East India Company. After spending more than a decade pulling mail trains between Howrah - Raniganj and assisting in the construction work in Bihar, it was placed on a pedestal outside the Howrah Railway station. For the next 34 years it attracted the attention of whoever came to the Howrah station.

Between 1943 to 1997, the Fairy Queen satiated the curiosity of students of the Railway Zonal Training School at Chandausi and visitors of newly constructed Rail Transport Museum at Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. In between, in 1972, it also earned itself the heritage status from the government of India

However, more fame was still in store and it was in the year 1997 that the Fairy Queen got it. The phenomenal success of the Palace on Wheels inspired the tourism department to bring out this heritage train from the confines of the Railway Museum and convert it into a tourists' train.

Accordingly, the Fairy Queen cruised for its first journey in the month of July the very same year.

Your Journey
The journey of the Fairy Queen is short, luxurious and exciting। It runs on weekend, between October to February, starting from Delhi Cantt at 0900 hrs in the morning and reaching Alwar the same day at 1500 hrs. From Alwar station, an air conditioned coach ferries you to the Hotel Sariska Palace. The night is spent at the hotel where cultural programme and a theme dinner is organised for you.

The Royal Orient Train
Heritage on Wheels another luxury train in Rajasthan by RTDC and Indian Railways, takes you to the lesser known area of Shekhawati Region - Bikaner - Nawalgarh - Ramgarh - Mandawa including Gajner and Tal Chhapar sanctuaries।
The Heritage on Wheels, the second luxury train of Rajasthan was designed and developed by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and Indian Railways, after the global success of the Palace on Wheels. The Heritage on Wheels was originally running like the Palace on Wheels in Gujarat and was known as the Royal Oriental Express. This train was later brought in Rajasthan and converted to the Heritage on Wheels.

The Heritage on Wheels, a luxury tourist train runs on meter gauge to the unexplored regions of Bikaner and Shekhawati in Rajasthan. Shekhawati has such a large concentration of high quality frescoes as no other region in India. Today, Shekhawati is commonly known as 'open-air art gallery of Rajasthan'. Shekhawati is simply beautiful. Bikaner, the royal fortified city lies in the north of the desert state, and dotted with many sand dunes. Bikaner is circumscribed by a seven km long wall with five gates. The magnificent forts and palaces created with delicacy in reddish-pink, sandstone, bear testimony to its historical and architectural legacy.

Deccan Odyssey Train
The luxury train Deccan Odyssey or the Palace on Wheels of Maharashtra is one of the best way to explore and experience the rich culture of the land of Marathas - Maharashtra।

If Rajasthan has Palace on Wheels to recreate the magic of the bygone royal Rajputana era, Maharashtra is not in anyway going to be left behind. The legacy of the mighty Marathas still lingers strong in the state and the newly launched (started running in 2003) Deccan Odyssey attempts to introduce you to this heritage. During the eight days and seven nights sojourn, the famous and the hidden treasures of the deccan landscape surface impressively one by one and make you feel elated at having undertaken a journey in this luxury train.

Moreover, the treatment accorded to you in the train is what many people yearn for throughout their life. Infact, MTDC, that runs the train has the Taj Group of Hotels handling all its operations. Isn't that enough to infuse in you a confidence that everything inside is going to be special?

Unlimited Luxury Inside
The first sight of the Deccan Odyssey is arresting. You almost stop to gaze in admiration at this midnight blue and gold train with 21 carriages.

Dholpur Tourism

Dholpur Tourism
Dholpur is an interesting town to visit, especially because it is far from the usual tourist track and thus, quite 'undiscovered'. But Dholpur is well known in another way – for its excellent sandstone

HAVING often passed by little-known Dholpur midway between Agra and Gwalior, I decided to visit this place. One of the tourism booklets of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, Delightful Destinations covers Alwar, Sariska, Bharatpur, Deeg and Dholpur. Having seen the other destinations, I decided to visit Dholpur.

We set off on a bright sunny morning from New Delhi. Driving through crowded Faridabad, we are soon on a wide metalled road. At Hodal (90 km from Delhi), we briefly halt at Haryana Tourism motel Dabchick for coffee and move ahead.

Having missed a direction board for a bypass to Dholpur, we drive past Agra and are on way to Etawah when we realise we are on the wrong track. We have to go back about 18 km to Agra and after winding our way through the city we hit the road to Dholpur.


An hour later we are in Dholpur city, having driven past the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) motel right on the highway, a few minutes earlier. From Delhi to Dholpur, we had covered 240 km.

The first spot to be visited on our itinerary is the Van Vihar, a good 19 km uphill drive from Dholpur. Driving past the Sainik School, the buildings of which have been donated by the royal family of Dholpur, we enter the wildlife sanctuary through a dilapidated gate. The road is full of potholes and we drive in low gear. A lone watchman at the old Forest Rest House informs us that the royalty often used to visit the spot in the past. However, family feuds in recent years have kept them away from the place. The rest house was constructed by the rulers of Dholpur, who subsequently handed it over to the Forest Department. The serenity here is, indeed, inviting. We spend some time clicking photographs from the other side of a lake adjoining the building.

Covering an area of about 60 sq. km, the Van Vihar was notified as a wildlife sanctuary by the Rajasthan Government way back in 1955. The sanctuary serves as the abode for sambhars, wild bears, hyenas, leopards, chitals and blue bulls.

Not far from Van Vihar is the Ram Sagar wildlife sanctuary. It is so named because of the Ramsagar lake which is believed to be inhabited by crocodiles and a variety of species of fishes and snakes. We skip the place as we were running short of time. Time permitting, one should visit the sanctuary to have a glimpse of the migratory ducks and geese and other water birds like gray and purple herons, ringed plovers, ibis, white-breasted water hens, cormorants and darters.

Next on our itinerary is the Talab Shahi as the road from the Van Vihar leads straight to that place. The 13 km stretch is dotted with villages, one of which had all walls painted in blue reminding use of the pink buildings of Jaipur. We cover the last 5 km in less than five minutes, what with the well-maintained metalled road as if to herald the approach to a royal abode.

The Talab Shahi, so known because of the palace built alongside the lake, attracts a large number of migratory birds like pintail, common teal, shoveler, tufted duck, gadwall and red-crested pochard. We drive around the palace to enter from the gate facing the lake. Confronted by a constable of the 6th Battalion of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary, we reveal our identity and the purpose of our visit. The policemen’s presence deters villagers from encroaching into the palace and marring the beauty of the majestic building. They are, indeed, doing a good deed by helping the government preserve this palace built by Shahjahan in 1617 as a hunting lodge.

Driving back to Dholpur, we reach the town after covering 29 km and head for the Dholpur palace in the heart of the town. The palace is closed and we go around taking photographs. The Maharani of Dholpur, we are told, comes to the town now and then .


A word about the history of Dholpur. Named as Dhawalpuri after Dhawal Deo, once the ruler of the city, its name came to be distorted with passage of time and got its present name Dholpur.

Ruled by a Chauhan family in 846 A.D., Dholpur has had a very turbulent history because of its strategic location. Though the rulers of Dholpur fought bravely and put up stiff resistance against the invading forces, they were, on occasions, forced to eat humble pie. Sikander Lodi’s invasion in 1501 was followed by another attack by Babar in 1526. The town was later shifted to the north during Humayun’s rule to avoid erosion by river Chambal flowing alongside.

And now to return to our trip, from the palace precincts, we head for Muchkund, an ancient sacred place. On the way, we briefly halt at the clock tower, the municipal corporation building and the library. We come across men with ferocious mustaches and guns slung across their shoulders. Tyagi explains that these are all dacoits who surrendered. Even sarpanches move about with guns for their own security.



A large tank encircled by a temple all around gives a picturesque view of Muchkund, so named after Raja Muchkund, the 24th king of the Suryavanshi clan. Legend has it that Raja Muchkund while asleep at this spot was rudely woken up by Kaal Yaman who was pursuing Lord Krishna. Blessed as Raja Muchkand was with supernatural powers, the moment he woke up, Kaal Yaman was reduced to ashes.

On my enquiry about the Sherghar Fort, which I had learnt was close to the highway to Chambal, we are advised to avoid it. The aura of mystery around this fort arouses my curiosity but on the advise of my wife, we decide to skip it. On way to Chambal, just a few kilometres from Dholpur, we spot the fort in ruins amidst the ravines. A red flag fluttering atop the fort spells something ominous and we drive past after briefly halting and taking a few shots of the decrepit fort.

A unique feature of Dholpur is that even though this town is in Rajasthan, it is surrounded by the Chambal ravines of Madhya Pradesh on the south and east while to the north and west it is encircled by Agra.