Palace On Wheels: A luxury train of India

Palace On Wheels: A luxury train of India

Luxury trains

The Palace on Wheels, a train modeled on the lines of the beautiful palaces of the erstwhile Maharajas of India, is rated as one of the top ten luxury train journeys in the world. It offers a heart-rending trip to the splendid forts and palaces of Rajasthan. It has been rates among the most prestigious trains of the world. This beautiful train offers an opportunity to peep into the cultural, architectural, natural and traditional richness of India. Memorable ride on this train only during the months from September to April.

Itinerary of the train: The itineraries planned for this train is in such a way that during the night you travel and daytime you enjoy visiting numerous tourist destinations. The Palace on Wheels has 14 fully air-conditioned deluxe saloons, each having 4 cabins attached with bath and shower. These saloons are well connected with channel music, intercom and interesting games for children. There are 52 rooms on the train and they are allocated to Single, Double and Triple occupancies. The Palace on Wheels also has two restaurants cum kitchen cars named as Maharaja and Maharani offering you Indian, Rajasthani, Continental and Chinese cuisines. The other services on request include laundry services, barbershop and beauty parlors. An attendant or ‘Khidmatgar’ is always there at your service to cater all your travel needs. The royal treatment received onboard the Palace on Wheels are worth a trail.
The itinerary of Palace on Wheels includes 7Nights/8Days of a royal journey on this luxurious train. The train leaves Delhi on every Wednesday from Delhi cant. Railway station.

These are the following destinations which are covered by the Palace on Wheels:-

Day 1 - New Delhi
Tour Begins: 09.30 hrs.

Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar, India Gate, Lotus Temple, Traditional Welcome.

Day 2 - Jaipur “pink city”
Arrival 02.00 hrs. Departure 19.30 hrs

Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar.

Day 3 - Sawai Madhopur & Chittaurgarh
Arrival 05.30 hrs. (Sawai Madhopur) and 16.00 hrs (Chittorgarh)

Ranthambore Fort Jain Temple, Ranthambore National Park, Tower of Victory, Chittorgarh Fort, Lake Palace, Jag Mandir, City Palace, Lake Pichola.

Day 4 – Udaipur
Arrival 08.00 hrs. Departure 15.30 hrs

“City of Lakes”

Day 5 - Jaisalmer "The Golden City”
Arrival 09.15 hrs. Departure 23.45 hrs

Bada Bagh Panorama in the afternoon, Desert Safari, Jaisalmer Fort.

Day 6 - Jodhpur “Sun City”
Arrival 07.00 hrs.

Palace Gardens, Umaid Bhawan Palace, Meherangarh Fort, Osiyan Temple

Day 7 - Bharatpur and agra
Arrival 05.00hrs. Departure 08.45 hrs

Keoladeo (Bharatpur) National Park, Fatehpur Sikri

Taj Mahal
Arrival 10.30 hrs Departure 23.00 hrs

Day 8 - New Delhi

Arrive at Delhi cant. Railway station at 06.00 hrs. Breakfast on board and keep those unforgettable memories.

Tariff of Palace on Wheels (Per person, Per night)

Single Occupancy : US $500.00 (Lean Season Aug, 09), US $670.00 (Sep, 09 to Apr, 10)
Double Occupancy : US $375.00 (Lean Season Aug, 09), US $500.00 (Sep, 09 to Apr, 10)
Triple Occupancy : US $340.00 (Lean Season Aug, 09), US $450.00 (Sep, 09 to Apr, 10)

Terms & Conditions

1). There will be a 10% surcharge added on the tariff for during the Christmas and New Year.

2). The fare would be half for 5 to 12 years of age.

3). Some taxes would be applicable like Commercial tax US $15.00 and Service Tax @ 3.09% per person extra.

4). The cost of travel and accommodation, conducted sightseeing tours in deluxe coaches, entrance fee at monuments and palaces and cultural entertainment, and catering (Morning tea, breakfast, lunch, evening tea and dinner) will be included in the tariff. But it does not include liquor, laundry, video cameras and other items.

5). The above tariff and itinerary can be changed or revised without prior notice.

6). For more information, we can visit http://www.palaceonwheels.net/new/home.htm


Some other luxury trains in India.

o PALACE ON WHEELS
o THE FAIRY QUEEN
o THE DECCAN ODYSSEY
o HERITAGE ON WHEELS
o MAHAPARINIVAN SPECIALTRAIN
o GOLDEN CHARIOT

Best shopping places in Delhi

Delhi is a well known veritable paradise for shoppers, who can buy objects ranging from the simplest of Indian handicrafts to international designer labels and often within the same shopping area. There are wares here to suite all pockets and bargaining is the order of the day. Delhi has many shopping areas for everything in every locality and it also has long been the most important trading centre in Northern India. For visitors to Delhi, shopping is high on the list of “thing to do” . One will find in city a wide choice of items-such as silks, textiles, carpets, jewellary, readymade, handicrafts, hand printed cotton, leather and silver ware. Hauz Khas Village, Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk are world’s famous shopping sides in Delhi.

Chandni Chowk, Delhi

More than three centuries old this bazzar is famous for every type of shopping. Despite the pressures of traffic and population, its historic landmarks survive to tell the story of the last three centuries. Many of the shops here are more than 100 years old. Leading off Chandni Chowk are Dariba, the jewelry and silver wear market, Chabri Bazar, paper market antique and brass wear, the books and cloth market, Khari Baoli, the spice market, Kinari Bazar, for trimmings and tinsel. These bazzars offer the visitor a glimpse of life in Old Delhi. More...

Museums in Delhi

Delhi has some of the finest museums in the country. Some of them are:-

Air Force Museum :-
Indian Air Force Museum is Located near Palam airport and it contents air craft’s, bullets, guns, uniforms and photographs of Indian Air Force. It provides an opportunity to have a complete insight into Indian aerial history. It also houses a War Memorial, which pays rich tribute to the pilots and airmen of Indian Air Force who made supreme sacrifice for the honor of the nation.

Timings :- 10 AM to 5 PM
Closed :- Monday, Tuesday & All National Holidays

National Museum :-
A rich collection of artistic treasures of India and Central Asia is displayed at National Museum, located at the junction of Rajpath and Janpath. It was built in 1960 and has an extra ordinary collection representing the entire span of Indian civilization from pre-historic times. Its galleries also includes artifacts from the Maurya, Gandhara, Gupta and other periods, copies of murals, Central Asian antiquities, textiles and decorative art, and anthropological and a handicrafts gallery.

Timings :- 10 AM to 5 PM
Closed :- Monday & All National Holidays

Indira Gandhi Smriti :-
Once the residence of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, 1 Safdarjung road today converted into museum “Indira Smriti”. Here once can get a glimpse of the life of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. It has the memorabilia of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi. The room, where has been she lives and the spot where she was assassinated at 31st October, 1984 are now exhibited. Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s speeches played through megaphones hidden in the bushes and bloodstains on the pathway are a solemn reminder of this great leader.

Timings :- 9:30 AM to 5 PM
Closed :- Monday & All National Holidays

Many more...

Kite Festival (Ahmedabad)

Kite Festival seems to be the very life of the city of Ahmedabad. Yes, at the time of maker sankranti (January 14) festival throughout Ahmedabad kite flying competitions are held. The history of kite flying can well be traced to medieval times and evan today it is a very popular entertainment not only among the children but also among the elders. This festival is celebrated in Gujarat with kite flying, merry making and feasting. Throughout the day, young and old indulge in the joys of kite flying. This unique festival fills and skies with kites of different colors, shades and shapes. With its increasing popularity International Kite Festival is celebrated every year at different venues (Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, etc.). In this festival not only people of different regions of India but also from Japan, Thailand, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada and USA participate. With the increasing popularity and creativity in the game.
It is no longer confined to flimsy paper and bamboo creation of children. Now-a-days 'kite experts' produce kites in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Some of the kites have 300 to 600 tailed pieces. Kites are usually made of nylon sailcloth. The frames and tubing are of fiberglass or carbon graphite. Ahmedabad, the city of kites, has an International Kite Museum where kites of various sizes, colors and shape from all over the world are collected and displayed. On the kite flying day competitions are also held in three basic events.
1) Kite flying,
2) Kite cutting,
3) Kite exhibition.

Kite festival accompanies lots of festivities as well. At Ahmedabad various contemporary Indian handicrafts are displayed at the stalls. Exciting range of Gujarati food is also prepared. The specialty of Gujarat undhiyu and tal and papadi can also be had on this day. Cultural programmes of famous Gujarati folk dances like garba, are organized. Turkals or illuminated kites are flown at night, lighting up the skies.
Interestingly kite flying is a popular sport all over the world. The Malaysian Government actively encourages it and contests are held regularly. In Thailand a unique kite flying custom is prevalent. There are male kites flown only by men and 'female' kites flown likewise by women. "A battle of sexes rages in the sky". In Japan they fly a kite weighing approx. 2500 kg made of 3000 pieces of paper. It takes almost 200 people to get it aloft and soaring.

Delhi and Areas of Interests

Delhi, The capital of India possesses the most central and geographical position due to close up situation from all important parts and cities of the country. The city is situated on the western bank of the Yamuna and the other side is protected by the ridge. Thus it holds an unrivaled strategic location in the country. Delhi had beenthe capital since long of several rulers due to its central and strategic situation. All the rules preferred it to be the capital and so also the British in 1911 decided to make Delhi the capital
instead of Calcutta which was formerly the capital. Delhi is the most important railway center being the headquarter of the Northern Zone of Indian railway and is excellently served by all other zones. Delhi enjoys the benefit of one modern airport of Palam which connect it with important centers of the World as well as of India.

Due to be the capital, Delhi has become an international political center. All the embassies and High Commission offices are located in New Delhi.
It has a population of about 80 lacs according to 1981 census. Delhi is situated in latitude 18.36 North and 77.13 East. With the formation of Municipal Corporation with effect from 7th April, 1958.
Delhi is under the unified civic administration having jurisdiction over the statutory corporation dealing with, electricity, water, transport sanitation, education, taxation, etc. Covering both rural and urban areas of
approx. 586 sq. miles leaving Delhi Cantonment and New Delhi an area of 10 sq. miles only.

The climate of Delhi is healthy, having three major seasons- winter, summer and rainy. The winter season lasts from Oct. to March. The summer season from April to June and the rainy season from July and September.

What to See in Delhi

Red-Fort, Near Chandni Chowk, Delhi.

The massive Red Fort, formerly Royal Palace, was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in ten year's time from 1639 to 1648 A.D. Read more....

Ellora & Ajanta

Ajanta & Ellora

Ajanta & Ellora
About 100 kilometers north from Aurangabad in Maharashtra is another sickle shaped hill. Hewn into temples and monasteries, this is Ellora.
Unlike Ajanta, Elloras shrines are not exclusively Buddhist. Here are temples of the Hindu and Jain faiths as well, chiseled into perfection between the 4th and 9th centuries A.D.
There are 34 of them, all hewn out of the sloping side of a low hill. The Buddhist shrines are relatively simple and austere. The Hindus Temple carved between the 7th and the 9th centuries are marvelously elaborate. We see in these an attempt to surpass earlier Buddhist achievements in architecture and sculpture.
The Kailasa is approximately twice the area of the Parthenon and one and a half times as much in height. Lavishly carved and sculptured with epic themes, no nobler monument exists of India’s genius, daring and skill.
The thirty rock-hewn caved at Ajanta, cut into the scarp of a cliff, are either chaityas (chapels) or viharas (monasteries). Most of these are constructed so that a flood of natural light pours into them at given times of day. Both the façade and the inside of the chambers faithfully reproduce the structural patterns known to those ancient builders.
On the walls are paintings, many still glowing with their original colors. On the outer walls are brilliantly executed sculptures. Here, ancient Indian are attained the zenith of its development and revealed a dynamic rhythm of life.
The Buddhist theme of Ajanta paintings depicts the pulsating world of many centuries ago. It recounts the life of Lord Buddha and tales of his previous earthly experiences. You see in them the elegant timber-built interiors of spacious places, halls peopled by bejeweled princes, and princesses’ retinues of attendants, mendicants and market places, celestial musicians and frapped foreign emissaries on unknown mission. War horses in colorful trappings, monkeys, peacocks and elephants and a host of other images dominate the world of these unknown artists. Read more....

City of The Taj

The world famous city of Agra, priding itself on the star attraction of the Taj-and unequaled memorial to conjugal love-stands on the sacred river Jamuna. Nearly 200 kilometers south of the capital city of Delhi, the historic city lends itself to easy access by rail and plane. An extra-fast and luxurious train named after the Taj-The Taj Express-barely takes 3 hours to cover the distance each way. A tourist, leaving New Delhi by this train in the morning, can come back to his base by 10 P.M. as the Express steams in after a round trip. The entire day can be spent in the company of the historic buildings, forts, mosques, mausoleums and the most eye-catching dream in Mable, The Taj.

Want to see:

The Taj Mahal
There it stands a monument to the love between a beautiful queen and a great Mughal emperor. Before she died Mumtaz Mahal made Shahjahan promise that he would build tomb that would remind the world of their great love. It took him twenty two years to create this jewel upon which men from the world over have gazed in wonder for three hundred years.
So much has been said about the Taj that any more words would be an anti-climax. Suffice to say that the Taj is a sensation to be felt. It is not a mere building but a love immortalized in marble. The Taj is peerless in beauty. Read more...