🚆 The Palace on
Wheels – India’s Royal Train Experience
🏰 A Royal Legacy on Rails
The Palace on Wheels (POW) is
more than a train—it's a moving palace, offering a taste of India’s
royal past in unmatched luxury. Launched in 1982, this prestigious train
was originally designed to recreate the lavish lifestyle once enjoyed by the maharajas
of Rajasthan, the Nizams of Hyderabad, and British Viceroys. Its carriages
are modeled after the original coaches of royal families, refurbished with
modern comforts while preserving regal aesthetics.
It was India’s first luxury tourist
train and has since earned global recognition, being voted among the Top
10 Luxury Trains in the World by Condé Nast and CNN Travel.
(Official
Palace on Wheels site – https://www.palaceonwheelsindia.com)
(IRCTC Tourism Luxury Trains – https://www.irctctourism.com/luxurytrains)
Journey Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Route: Delhi → Jaipur → Ranthambore → Chittorgarh → Udaipur → Jaisalmer → Jodhpur → Bharatpur → Agra → Delhi
Ideal For: Luxury Travelers, Couples, Heritage Lovers, Foreign Tourists
🎟️ How to Book the Palace on Wheels
Booking can be done
through:
- Official Website
[https://www.palaceonwheelsindia.com]
- IRCTC Luxury
Trains Portal [https://www.irctctourism.com/luxurytrains]
- Travel Partners:
Thomas Cook [https://www.thomascook.in] | SOTC [https://www.sotc.in]
🛌 Onboard Facilities
- Royal cabins
with ensuite bathrooms
- Two restaurants:
Maharaja & Maharani
- Bar Lounge, Spa,
Butler Service
- Ayurvedic
massage, Reading lounge
- Limited Wi-Fi,
Medical and Security
💞 Special Couple Benefits
- Romantic décor,
candlelight dinner on request
- Special turndown
gifts, couple massages
- Anniversary or
birthday celebration
- Professional
photo shoot at heritage sites
🎖️ Why the Palace on Wheels is World-Famous
- 🌍 Globally Acclaimed: Listed
among the world’s top luxury trains (by Condé Nast and CNN Travel)
(https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-most-luxurious-train-journeys/index.html) - 🛤️ Royal Routes: Covers
Rajasthan’s key tourist gems and Agra (Taj Mahal)
- 👑 Regal Ambiance: Each coach
is inspired by a princely state
- 🧳 Seamless Travel: No hotel
hopping, packing, or commuting
- 👫 Couple-Friendly: Special
photo sessions, candlelight dinners, and couple spa access
- 🏆 Award-Winning Hospitality:
24/7 butler service and multilingual guides
🛏️ Services & Facilities Onboard
🛌 Accommodation
- 14 themed deluxe
coaches
- 2 luxury suites
per coach with private bathrooms
- Cabins with
Wi-Fi (limited), air-conditioning, and classic décor
🍽️ Dining
- Two restaurants:
Maharaja & Maharani
- Serves Indian,
Continental, Rajasthani, Mughlai, and vegetarian/Jain options
🍸 Lounge & Bar
- Lounge bar
offering global spirits and Indian cocktails
- Quiet reading
area and board games
💆 Wellness
- Spa car with
Ayurveda, Thai, and Swedish massage options
- Reflexology and
grooming treatments available
🛎️ Other Features
- Personal valet
(Khidmatgar)
- Medical
assistance and security
- Gift and
souvenir boutique
- Guided tours
with translators in English, French, Spanish, etc.
📌 Technical Details & Operation
- Run by Rajasthan
Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) and Indian Railways
(https://rtdc.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in) - Departs every
Wednesday from Delhi Safdarjung Station
- Operational from
September to April (non-operational in monsoon season)
🗺️ Day-Wise Itinerary With Highlights
📍 Day 1: Departure from Delhi
(Safdarjung Station)
Theme: Royal Welcome &
Onboarding
- 🎉 Traditional Rajasthani Welcome
with garlands & tilak
- 🧳 Check-in at Safdarjung
Railway Station
- 🛏️ Cabin allocation with personalized
butler assistance
- 🍹 Welcome drink and snacks
served onboard
- 🗺️ Orientation about train
facilities and itinerary
- 🍽️ Royal dinner in
Maharaja/Maharani restaurant
- 🎶 Live instrumental music in
lounge
- 💼 Luggage placed in cabin by
staff
- 🔒 Safety & security briefing
- 📸 Photo opportunities at
train platform
- 🚆 Train departs at night for
Jaipur
- 💤 Rest onboard in luxury
cabins
🔗 Delhi Tourism [https://www.delhitourism.gov.in]
📍 Day 2: Jaipur – The
Pink City
Theme: Royal Heritage
& Fort Exploration
- 🐘 Amber Fort visit via
elephant or jeep ride
- 🕌 Sightseeing: City Palace,
Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal
- 🛍️ Shopping at Johari Bazaar
(jewelry, textiles)
- 🍛 Traditional Rajasthani lunch
at a heritage hotel
- 🏰 Walking tour inside palace
courtyards
- 📸 Photo session with folk
dancers
- 🎭 Cultural puppet show and
folk dance
- 🧿 Local crafts demonstration
- 🚶 Guided heritage walk in
Pink City
- 🍽️ Dinner onboard with themed
cuisine
- 💤 Train departs at night for
Ranthambore
🔗 Jaipur Tourism
[https://www.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/jaipur.html]
📍 Day 3: Ranthambore
& Chittorgarh
Morning:
Ranthambore – Wildlife Safari
- 🚙 Early morning jungle safari
in Ranthambore National Park
- 🐅 Chance to spot tigers,
leopards, antelopes
- 📸 Photography session with
expert naturalist
- ☕ Breakfast at
jungle lodge
- 📖 Briefing about Ranthambore's
history & ecosystem
- 🚆 Return to train and freshen up
🔗 Ranthambore
[https://www.rajasthanwildlife.in/ranthambore.html]
Evening:
Chittorgarh – Fort and Legends
- 🏰 Explore Chittorgarh Fort,
India’s largest fort
- 🌇 Light & Sound Show at
Victory Tower
- 👑 Storytelling of Rani
Padmini’s valor
- 📸 Sunset photography from
fort walls
- 🍽️ Dinner onboard while train
departs
🔗 Chittorgarh
[https://www.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/chittorgarh.html]
📍 Day 4: Udaipur –
City of Lakes
Theme: Royal Romance &
Architecture
- ⛵ Boat ride on
Lake Pichola
- 🏛️ Visit City Palace with
museum tour
- 🖼️ Crystal Gallery and Durbar
Hall viewing
- 🍽️ Lunch at a lakeside heritage
hotel
- 🛍️ Shopping for paintings, marble
artefacts
- 💃 Cultural dance performance
at Bagore ki Haveli
- 🚶 Heritage walking tour by
the lakeside
- 📸 Couple photoshoot with
city backdrop
- 🍷 Evening tea with lake view
- 🎁 Receive souvenir kit
onboard
- 💤 Train departs at night for
Jaisalmer
🔗 Udaipur
[https://www.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/udaipur.html]
📍 Day 5: Jaisalmer –
Golden City
Theme: Desert Majesty
& Sunset Magic
- 🏰 Visit Jaisalmer Fort &
Jain temples
- 🏚️ Walk through havelis like
Patwon ki Haveli
- 🛍️ Buy camel leather goods,
puppets, crafts
- 🐪 Camel safari at Sam Sand
Dunes
- 🌅 Sunset photography in Thar
Desert
- 💃 Folk dance & music show
around bonfire
- 🍖 Barbecue dinner in desert
- 🎨 Henna art or turban tying
- 📸 Couple shoot in traditional
dress
- 🌌 Stargazing from desert camp
- 🚆 Overnight onboard to Jodhpur
🔗 Jaisalmer [https://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/destinations/jaisalmer]
📍 Day 6: Jodhpur –
Blue City
Theme: Fort Power &
Heritage Elegance
- 🏰 Mehrangarh Fort tour with
museum & cannon deck
- 👑 Visit Jaswant Thada, the
marble cenotaph
- 🛍️ Shop at Sardar Market:
spices, fabrics, antiques
- 🍽️ Lunch at Umaid Bhawan Palace
hotel
- 📸 Photo ops on blue-washed
streets
- 💡 Insights on Marwar dynasty
by local guide
- 🎁 Handmade souvenirs from
local co-op
- ☕ Afternoon
tea onboard
- 📷 Couple portraits at fort
ramparts
- 🍽️ Dinner on train, depart to
Bharatpur
🔗 Jodhpur
[https://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/destinations/jodhpur]
📍 Day 7: Bharatpur
& Agra
Morning:
Bharatpur – Birding Paradise
- 🚲 Cycle rickshaw ride inside
Keoladeo Ghana Park
- 🐦 Spot over 370 bird species
- 📸 Photography with binoculars
- ☕ Light
breakfast in nature lodge
🔗 Keoladeo Sanctuary
[https://www.rajasthanwildlife.in/keoladeo.html]
Afternoon:
Agra – The Mughal Marvel
- 🏰 Explore Agra Fort
- 🍛 Lunch with Taj Mahal view
- 🕌 Sunset visit to Taj Mahal
- 💞 Romantic moment for couples at
Taj
- 🛍️ Buy marble inlay &
pashmina shawls
- 🍽️ Farewell dinner onboard
- 🚆 Train departs to Delhi
🔗 Taj Mahal [https://www.tajmahal.gov.in]
📍 Day 8: Return to
Delhi
Theme: Journey Wrap-up
- 🍽️ Breakfast onboard
- 🧳 Luggage assistance for
departure
- 🎁 Souvenir distribution
- 📝 Feedback collection
- 📸 Final group photo on platform
- 👋 Farewell by train staff
- 🚖 Transfer assistance for
airport/hotel
Adv
⚠️ Disclaimer: This blog is
independently curated and intended for informational purposes only. Please
verify exact prices and services on the official website [https://www.palaceonwheelsindia.com].
#PalaceOnWheels
#LuxuryTrainIndia #RomanticTrainJourney #RajasthanTourism #CoupleTravelIndia
#IRCTCLuxuryTrains #TajMahalTrain #HeritageTourIndia #IndiaLuxuryExperience
palace
on wheels india, luxury train travel india, couple train journey, romantic
train rajasthan, taj mahal train, heritage train tourism india
***
