Palace on Wheels

Last updated

Palace on Wheels
Palace on Wheels logo.gif
Logo of the Palace on Wheels
Entered service26 January 1982;42 years ago (1982-01-26)
Operators Indian Railways
Lines served New Delhi - Jaipur - Jodhpur Udaipur - Bharatpur - Agra - New Delhi
Palace on Wheels at Jaipur railway station. Palace on Wheels Jaipur.jpg
Palace on Wheels at Jaipur railway station.

The Palace on Wheels is India's first luxury tourist train launched by the Indian Railways in joint collaboration with Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) to promote tourism in Rajasthan. [1] [2] The train was launched in 1982. [3] [4] The train has been renamed as Heritage Palace on Wheels. [5] [6]

Contents

The train service was renovated and relaunched in August 2009 with a new decor, itinerary and cuisine. [7]

History

The concept of the Palace on Wheels was derived from the royal background of the coaches, which were originally meant to be the personal railway coaches of the erstwhile rulers of the princely states of Rajputana, Baroda, the Nizam of Hyderabad and mainly the Governor-General of India. [8]

Due to changes in the rail gauges over the years, after the launch of the first train in 1982, the second train was built in 1991 and the third train was built in 1995. [9]

The train halted operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. [1] [9] It resumed operations in 2022 and was flagged off by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at Gandhinagar Railway Station on 8 October 2022. [10] [11] The Chief Minister announced that modern furnishings and additional amenities have been added to the train and the government has accorded an industry status to the sector while setting aside ₹1,000 crore in the 2022-23 budget to promote tourism. [12] Before the stop in operations due to the pandemic, the train ran continuously from 1982 to 2020. [13]

A petition was filed by Worldwide Rail Journeys Pvt Ltd. to allow 18 foreign passengers to travel on the train while operations were halted due to the pandemic since they had deposited an amount of ₹15 lakh towards their booking. The Delhi High Court gave a judgement to allow these foreigners to board the train. [14]

Facilities

The train has 14 coaches with 41 cabins and can accommodate 82 tourists. [15] Each coach is named after former Rajput states and matches the aesthetics and interiors of the royal past: Alwar, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Bundi, Dholpur, Dungargarh, Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Jhalawar, Jodhpur, Kishangarh, Kota, Sirohi and Udaipur. [16] Each coach has three cabins (named chambers or saloons by the company) with luxury amenities and Wi-Fi internet. [17] [18] The train has two restaurants, The Mahārāja and The Mahārāni, with a Rajasthani ambience serving continental and Chinese cuisine, one bar-cum-lounge, 14 saloons and a spa. [18]

It has on-board postal, banking and laundry services. [19]

The Palace on Wheels at a halt in Agra The Palace on Wheels on agra rly stn.jpg
The Palace on Wheels at a halt in Agra

Route

The train runs from September through April and has a 7 nights & 8 days itinerary. [20] It departs from New Delhi (Day 1), and covers Jaipur (Day 2), Sawai Madhopur and Chittaurgarh (Day 3), Udaipur (Day 4), Jaisalmer (Day 5), Jodhpur (Day 6), Bharatpur and Agra (Day 7), return to New Delhi (Day 8). [21] [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajasthan</span> State in Northwestern India

Rajasthan is a state in northwestern India. It covers 342,239 square kilometres (132,139 sq mi) or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern side, where it comprises most of the wide and inhospitable Thar Desert and shares a border with the Pakistani provinces of Punjab to the northwest and Sindh to the west, along the Sutlej-Indus River valley. It is bordered by five other Indian states: Punjab to the north; Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the northeast; Madhya Pradesh to the southeast; and Gujarat to the southwest. Its geographical location is 23°.3' to 30°.12' North latitude and 69°.30' to 78°.17' East longitude, with the Tropic of Cancer passing through its southernmost tip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaisalmer</span> City in Rajasthan, India

Jaisalmer, nicknamed "The Golden city", is a city in the Indian state of Rajasthan, located 575 kilometres (357 mi) west of the state capital Jaipur. It is the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer District. Before Indian independence, the town served as the capital of the Jaisalmer State, ruled by the Bhati Rajputs. Jaisalmer stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone and is crowned by the ancient Jaisalmer Fort. This fort contains a royal palace and several ornate Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples of both the fort and of the town below are built of finely sculptured yellow sandstone. The town lies in the heart of the Thar Desert and has a population, including the residents of the fort, of about 78,000. Jaisalmer ranked 9th on Booking.com's Top 10 The Most Welcoming cities in the world. It is the only Indian city on the list.

<i>Deccan Odyssey</i> Luxury train in India

The Deccan Odyssey is an Indian luxury train modeled on the Palace on Wheels luxury train and put into service to boost tourism on the Maharashtra route of the Indian Railways. The train, owned by travel company Cox & Kings since 2014, takes visitors on a variety of seven night, eight day trips across Maharashtra.

<i>Fairy Queen</i> (locomotive) 1855-built steam locomotive in India

The Fairy Queen, also known as the East Indian Railway No. 22, is a steam locomotive which was built in 1855. It was restored by Loco Works Perambur, Chennai in 1997, and housed at the Rewari Railway Heritage Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Rajasthan</span>

Rajasthan is a mineral-rich state and has a diversified economy having agriculture, mining and tourism as its main engines of growth. The state mines produce gold, silver, sandstone, limestone, marble, rock phosphate, copper and lignite. It is the second-largest producer of cement and contributes one tenth of the salt produced in India.

<i>Golden Chariot</i> Luxury tourist train

The Golden Chariot is a luxury tourist train that connects the important tourist spots in the Indian states of Karnataka, Goa, Kerala & Tamil Nadu as well as Puducherry, depending on the selected itinerary. The train is operated by the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation and The Maple Group handles the hospitality services on the train.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Rajasthan</span> Overview of Rajasthans culture

The culture of Rajasthan includes many artistic traditions that reflect the ancient Indian way of life. Rajasthan is also called the "Land of Kings". It has many tourist attractions and facilities for tourists. This historical state of India attracts tourists and vacationers with its rich culture, tradition, heritage and monuments. It also has some wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.

National Highway 11 or NH 11 is a National Highway in India that links Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) and Rewari (Haryana). This 848 km-long highway passes through Myajlar, Pithala, Jaisalmer, Pokaran, Ramdevara, Phalodi, Bap, Diyatra Gajner, Bikaner, Sri Dungargarh, Rajaldesar, Ratangarh, Rolsabsar, Fatehpur, Tajsar, Mandawa, Jhunjhunu, Bagar, Chirawa, Singhana, Pacheri, Narnaul, Ateli and Rewari.

The Royal Orient is an Indian luxury tourism train that runs between Gujarat and Rajasthan, covering important tourist locations in the two states.

<i>Royal Rajasthan on Wheels</i>

The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is a luxury tourist train operated by Indian Railways in association with the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC). It is modelled on the Palace on Wheels, and follows a similar route through Rajasthan. The train was launched in January 2009 following the success of the Palace on Wheels, another luxury train that travels through Rajasthan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Rajasthan</span> Overview of tourism in Rajasthan, India

Rajasthan is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, for both domestic and international tourists. Rajasthan attracts tourists for its historical forts, palaces, art and culture with its slogan "Padharo Mhare Desh " The capital city, Jaipur, also known as Pink City, is a very popular tourist destination and is a part of the Golden Triangle. The Walled City of Jaipur is only the second Indian city to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, after Ahmedabad.

Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) is an agency of the Government of Rajasthan set up on 1 April 1979 to develop tourism in the Indian state. It manages many restaurants, cafeterias, hotels and bars. The Corporation also organizes package tours, fairs, festivals, entertainment, shopping and transport services. In collaboration with Indian Railways it runs the luxury tourist train Palace on Wheels. RTDC has hotels/motels at all major tourist places in Rajasthan.

<i>Maharajas Express</i> Luxury tourist train

The Maharajas' Express is a luxury tourist train owned and operated by The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). It serves four routes across North-West and Central India, mainly centered on Rajasthan between the months of October and April.

Jaipur Junction is a railway station in Jaipur, the largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. It serves the Capital City of Rajasthan. This station serves as the headquarters of the Jaipur Railway Division and the North Western Railway zone of the Indian Railways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luxury rail trains in India</span> List of Luxury trains in India

Indian Railways (IR), Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and different state governments provide a variety of luxury rail travel in India. These are:

The Mahaparinirvan Express is a tourist train which was launched by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on 28 March 2007, to attract Buddhist pilgrims. The train takes passengers on an eight-day, seven-night spiritual tour which visits Buddhist sites across North India and Nepal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawai Madhopur Junction railway station</span> Railway station in Rajasthan, India

Sawai Madhopur Junction railway station is a major railway station on New Delhi–Mumbai main line and Jaipur–Mumbai rail line of the West Central Railway zone network. It is very well connected to Hazrat Nizamuddin, Mumbai Central, Jaipur Junction, Bharatpur, Mathura, Kanpur Central, Delhi, Bikaner, Chittaurgarh, Kota Junction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worldwide Rail Journeys</span>

Worldwide Rail Journeys Private Limited is a luxury train journey provider based in India with registered offices in India, UK and Tokyo, Japan.

The Raj Palace in Jaipur Rajasthan, India is more than two and a half centuries old palace converted into a grand heritage hotel.

References

  1. 1 2 "India's luxurious train, Palace on Wheels, probably won't run this year due to COVID-19". The Times of India . Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "NPalace on wheels - Exclusive Indian train was originally used by royalty". Times of India. 13 October 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012.
  3. ↑ Pena, R (17 November 2022). "Here's An Inside Look At India's First Luxury Train". Yahoo News . Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  4. ↑ Rajesh, Monisha (5 February 2023). "Four of the best luxury sleeper trains in India". National Geographic. Retrieved 23 August 2023. Launched in 1982, the Palace on Wheels is the original luxury train
  5. ↑ Heritage Palace on Wheels just completed its first voyage from Delhi to Jaipur (31 December 2017). "Heritage Palace on Wheels just completed its first voyage from Delhi to Jaipur". India Today . Retrieved 3 June 2023. voyage of Heritage Palace on Wheels (HPOW) reached Jaipur
  6. ↑ Singh, Rachna (14 June 2017). "Heritage Palace on Wheels for Shekhawati soon". The Times of India . Retrieved 3 June 2023. Renamed the Heritage Palace on Wheels
  7. ↑ "New-look Palace on Wheels set to chug off on Aug 5". The Times of India . 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011.
  8. ↑ "From the luxurious Palace on Wheels to the spiritual Mahaparinirvan Express: 8 extraordinary train journeys you must experience with the Indian Railways". IBNLive. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Luxury train 'Palace on Wheels' back on track after two-year Covid hiatus". The Economic Times . 8 October 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Palace on Wheels Is Operational Again; Luxury Travel Enthusiasts Take Note". News18 . 11 October 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "Luxury Train 'Palace On Wheels' Back On Track After Two Years". NDTV.com. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  12. ↑ Agnihotri, Akanksha (9 October 2022). "Rajasthan's luxury train 'Palace on Wheels' resumes operation after two years". Hindustan Times .
  13. ↑ "Luxury train 'Palace on Wheels' begins commercial operations after two years". Hindustan Times . 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  14. ↑ "Pandemic CANCELLED "Palace on Wheels" tour in 2019, These passengers NOW get HC permits to board train". Zee News . Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  15. ↑ Poonam, Binayak (17 April 2024). "The cost to ride on India's luxury trains may surprise you". CNBC. Retrieved 29 May 2024. Its 14-coach train, each named after former princely states of Rajasthan, have 41 cabins,
  16. ↑ Have a look at the coaches (four pages)
  17. ↑ "Watch Dish TV on Palace on Wheels". DNA.
  18. 1 2 "feature of world famous royal train palace on wheels". www.bhaskar.com. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  19. ↑ Hulse’s, Jerry (26 May 1991). "It's called The Palace On Wheels. A..." Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 14 June 2023. On-board postal, banking, laundry services.
  20. ↑ Law, Abhishek (19 December 2022). "India's luxury train operations hit by Covid, occupancy levels still low". www.thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  21. ↑ Train Route
  22. ↑ Nag, Devanjana (6 September 2018). "Experience Indian Heritage with luxurious Palace on Wheels train journey; check fares, schedule, other details". Financial Express . Retrieved 24 May 2023.

Palace On Wheels Official Site - Website of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (RTDC), a Government Of Rajasthan Undertaking

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.