Maharajas’ Express – a luxury offering from IRCTC
Operated Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation, Maharajas’ Express is considered the finest in the world of luxury travel.
Maharajas’ Express train is enviable in many aspects – most spacious cabins, water filtration plants in each coach, live TV, environmentally friendly toilets, Wi-Fi internet connectivity, CCTV cameras in public areas to ensure security, individual climate control in each cabin.
An experience of a life-time, a journey on Maharajas’ Express brings one closer to bygone era of imperial India.
So while the chefs trained in world cuisine tickle the taste buds with their gourmet delights from the state-of-the- art kitchen, the barmen, servers and valets pamper guests and take care of all their needs during the journey.
The train has two fine dining restaurants: The Mayur Mahal with a peacock theme and the Rang Mahal with its hand painted ceiling.
Savouring the culinary delights sitting in either of the two restaurants, one can have a glimpse of the picturesque hinterland from the large panoramic windows specially created for the train.
This, coupled with piped music, makes dining a memorable experience. The menus are a mix of traditional Indian and continental dishes, to suit different tastes and all guests can dine at a same time on board.
For book lovers, the train has a collection of titles on Indian art, culture, history. Guests can relax in the Safari Bar or the Rajah Club, and choose from a selection of choicest on-the-house wines and liquors.
The train offers four categories of accommodation – all with en suite facilities.
There are 14 guest carriages featuring 43 cabins in total, which include 20 Deluxe Cabins, 18 Junior Suites, 4 Suites and one truly classical Presidential Suite.
The latter is ideal for families, with two bedrooms (one double and one twin) as well as separate sitting and dining areas.
The master bedroom offers a full size bath tub. Each coach has a valet to take care of the guests.
All cabins have direct dialing telephones to make international calls, spacious wardrobes with electronic lock safes, TVs and DVD players.
To take care of medical emergencies, there is an in-house paramedic available round the clock.
The incredible journeys on offer let one to explore India’s diversity, discovering timeless traditions and exotic locales, such as a visit to one of the largest dinosaur fossil park at Balasinor, the erotic temples of Khajuraho, and a regal meal at the shimmering lake city of Udaipur with the opportunity to meet royal families - all of these in true blue majesty.
The range of various tour itineraries also includes splendid gala events and a range of activities such as elephant polo at Jaipur, cocktail and barbeque sundowner on the sand dunes of Bikaner, wild life safari at Ranthambhore, champagne breakfast overlooking the immortal beauty of the Taj Mahal, boat ride at the holy city of Ganges and much more….
Luxury train travel in India has come a long way since the introduction of the Palace on Wheels in 1982 for promotion of tourism in Rajasthan.
The most recent and unarguably the most luxurious tourist train in India with finesse at par with the Orient Express of the West, Maharajas’ Express has redefined the art of elegant travel in India.
Radiating sheer opulence, Maharajas’ Express offers a fascinating voyage across some of the finest destinations in India manifesting the true spirit and kaleidoscope of the country.
One of the most expensive and luxurious luxury train rides in the world, the salons of the Maharaja Express train draws inspiration from the private saloons of the erstwhile Maharajas of India.
Even before the inception of rail travel in India, Maharajahs of India had a keen fascination with these moving wonders on wheels invented by James Watt.
In the era of Raj, many Maharajahs had their own personal carriages draped in luxury used for occasions such as state visits, nuptial sojourns and hunting trips. Many had been built and designed in art deco style.
Sylvan inlays, exquisite carvings and elegant tapestries along with exquisite mirror and jewel work exuded an unmistakable élan. All this and more spoke volumes about the splendor and pomp of the Maharajahs of erstwhile princely states of India.
For setting new standards of comfort and style, becoming arguably the most luxurious train in the world and ushering in a new era of travel and hospitality, Maharajas’ Express was recognised by the World Travel Awards as the World’s Leading Luxury Train in 2013.
More Information
For more information head over to the official website.