India Holidays
The Palace on Wheels: India’s Maharajah Train
8 DAYS:DELHI -JAIPUR -CHITTORGARH-UDAIPUR-SAWAI-MADHOPUR (RANTHAMBHOR)
-JAISALMER -JODHPUR-BHARATPUR-AGRA (TAJ MAHAL)-DELHI
Welcome aboard the 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 are complimented by the delectable cuisine and personalised service.
Every saloon has its own personal "Khidmatgar" or Royal Attendant, attired in ethnic
Rajasthani costume. Fully air-conditioned, the 14 deluxe saloons are equipped with
excellent facilities like CD players, channel music and intercom. Each saloon is
a combination of 4 twin bedded chambers with attached toilets, running cold &
hot water and shower facilities.
Day 1, Wednesday: Delhi: (Board the "Palace on Wheels")
PM: Transfer to Delhi Cantt. railway station. Colourfully attired men
and women garland you and accord a ceremonial welcome at the Delhi Cantonment Railway
Station from where the journey starts. For the next seven days, live in regal splendour
as the train winds its way across the heart of Rajasthan.
Day 2, Thursday: Jaipur
Jaipur is our first stop. An A.C. luxury coach takes you to the Amber
Fort. High above the city, the towers and domes of the Fort are reminiscent of scenes
from some fairy tale. We shall ascend to the fort atop gaily decorated elephants,
as did the Maharajah’s of old. Within the fort walls lie an assortment of buildings
famous for their intricate mirror inlays - the Hall of Mirrors and other palaces
with latticed windows and beautifully sculpted arches and pillars. PM: This afternoon
we will tour Jaipur city, visiting the Maharaja’s City Palace. The City Palace is
still the residence of the Jaipur family, and its museum displays a fabulous collection
of paintings, carpets, jewelry and arms.We will also visit the Jantar Mantar (the
Royal Observatory), and the Hawa Mahal, or “Palace of the Winds”. This is
a multi-storied, intricately latticed facade of pink sandstone, designed for the
pleasures of the ladies of the royal court. From here they could look out upon the
quaint bazaars that still thrive around the palace, without exposing themselves
to the prying stares of the commoners. Later, we shall explore the same colorful
bazaars on foot. Here we may have memorable encounters with the descendents
of those "commoners", many of whom still live in their ancestral “havelis” along
the main market-street. The sheer variety of the items that is sold off the street
is fascinating, ranging from the mundane to the exotic, and even the simply baffling.
After dinner and a programme of local music and dance at Nahargarh Fort, the luxury
coach takes you back to the Palace on Wheels.
Day 3, Friday : Chittaurgarh & Udaipur: Next morning, the
day starts with a visit to Chittaurgarh. The ascent to this awesome hill fort is
by a torturous winding road defended by seven fortified gateways. Each turn of the
road bears a legend of the sacrifice of a brave soldier. Particularly touching are
the cenotaphs of two teenaged Rajput chieftains Jaimal and Patta who led the fortress’
defence against the might of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. An outstanding feature of
the fort is the Vijaysthambha (Tower of Victory). Profusely carved with images of
gods and godesses, this nine-storied architectural masterpiece is visible from the
plains below for miles around.
The fort is perched on a 600 ft high hill, covering 700 acres. It was
constructed by Maurya rulers in the 7th 
century. In the fort, a palace
was built for Queen Padmini whose beauty was responsible for the battle between
Allauddin Khilji and Rana Ratan Singh. Rani Padmini was a celebrated beauty and
according to a legend, it was here that Rana Ratan Singh showed a glimpse of her
to Allauddin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi. The palace overlooks a pool in which the
‘Zanana Mahal’ is situated, where Padmini stood when her reflection was shown to
Allauddin Khilji in a mirror placed in the main hall. Chittaurgarh was sacked
in 1303 by Alauddin Khilji, who laid siege upon the fort for the sake of Padmini.
The brave and idealistic Rajputs would rather die than give up Padmini, and when
defeat became a foregone conclusion, Padmini with all the other Rajput ladies in
Chittorgarh, immolated themselves in a cave within the fort precincts. Her husband
led the handful of remaining men to a glorious death at the hands of the Pathans.
Chittorgarh is inseparable from Padmini's story and has inspired poets and novelists
down the ages. Later this morning we drive to Udaipur. Serene in the shadow of dark
green hills, the three lakes at Udaipur are shimmering jewels from which
rise fairytale white palaces. Udaipur was founded in 1568 by Maharana Udai Singh
II. The city is full of palaces, temples and havelis ranging from the modest to
the extravagant. It is also proud of its heritage as a centre for the performing
arts, paintings and crafts. The "Surya Vanshi" Maharanas of Udaipur are Sun worshippers
and trace their geneology to the Hindu god Rama. They have a history full
of tales of valor and courage and romance. We also will visit "Sahelion Ki Bari"
- the Garden of the Maids, an enchanting garden created for the pleasure of the
ladies of the royal court. In the evening, we will take a sunset cruise around Lake
Pichola, and visit the island of Jag Mandir. The palace on this island was built
as a retreat for the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal.The two
most enchanting spots are Jag Nivas and Jag Mandir, the marble palaces that seem
to float in the middle of Lake Pichola. After lunch the coach takes you to the City
Palace followed by visit to Sahelion ki Bari or the Garden of the Maids of Honour
famous for its spectacular lawns, fountains and shady walks. After evening tea,
the luxury coach returns to the Palace on Wheels at Chittaurgarh.
Day 4, Saturday : Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambhor Wildlife Reserve):
Sawai Madhopur is the entry point to the well known Ranthambore Wildlife Reserve,
one of the original areas under India's famous Project Tiger. Breakfast is followed
by a visit to the Reserve, considered to be one of the best in the country for observing
and photographing the activities of the tiger. The Reserve sprawls over an estimated
area of 250 sq. miles. Steep crags embrace a network of lakes and rivers, and atop
one of these hills, is the impressive Ranthambore Fort, built in the 10th century.
The terrain fluctuates between impregnable forests and open bushland. The forest
is the typically dry deciduous type, with dhak, being the most prominent
tree. Old crumbling walls, ruined pavilions, wells, and other ancient structures
stand witness to the region’s glorious past. The entire forest is peppered with
the battlements and spillovers of the Ranthambore fort - tigers are said to frequent
these ruins, too. Apart from tigers, the reserve has its share of panthers, who
are to be found on the outskirts due to the inevitable conflicts with the tiger
population. The other permanent residents of the park include marsh crocodiles,
hyenas, jungle cats and sloth bears. Sambar deer are found in abundance all over
the area, the prime target of all the predators. Chital, Nilgai, and Chinkara deer
are the other inhabitants of the region. The avian population comprises of black
storks, quails, Bonelli’s eagles, spur fowls, crested serpent eagles and painted
storks.
Return to Palace on Wheels and depart for the desert city of Jaisalmer.
Lunch and dinner are served on board.
Day 5, Sunday: Jaisalmer
The massive battlements of the living fort of Jaiselmer
rise ethereally out of the vastness of the Thar desert. This fascinating fort
was built in 1156 in the heart of the Thar desert. Within the towered battlements
of this citadel there is a mass of curiously carved buildings, with fantastic
facades and elaborate balconies. Most of the palaces are crowned by
a metal umbrella mounted on a stone shaft. The Jain temples within
the fort are decorated with deities and elaborate dancing figures in mythological
settings. Attached to this place of worship is a library containing some of
the most ancient manuscripts in India. One of these is written on palm-leaf, in
black ink, with colored wooden covers.Founded by Rawal Jaisal in 1156, this desert
city is a fine blend of sights and experiences.Visit the intricately latticed havelis
with their conspicuous facades. The superb craftsmanship of the stone carver is
illustrated in Nathmalji-ki-haveli, Patwon-ki-haveli and Salim Singh-ki-haveli.
After a sumptuous lunch, experience the exhilaration of a camel ride on the golden
Sam sand dunes. Jaisalmer’s exotic bazaars offer fine mirror work and embroidered
articles, wooden boxes, trinkets, silver jewelry and curios.
After lunch a camel ride on the golden Sam sand dunes to get a feel
of desert life, followed by evening tea. The Palace on Wheels departs for
Jodhpur at night.
Day 6, Monday: Jodhpur
Next morning, the Palace on Wheels arrives in Jodhpur. This ancient
capital of the state of Marwar is surrounded by a stone wall almost 6 miles
in circumference, which separates it from the sands that stretch out on all
sides. Upon a rocky eminence stands a massive impregnable fortress, within which
lie a number of palaces, barracks, temples and other buildings.
Delicately latticed windows and pierced monuments worked in sandstone are a dominant
motif within the rugged fort. On the walls of one of the gates of entry are the
palms of widows who, ages ago, immolated themselves upon the pyres of their departed
husbands. After lunch depart to the Palace on Wheels. Tea and dinner
are served on board.
Day 7, Tuesday: Bharatpur and Agra
Arrive early morning in Bharatpur. Visit Keoladeo Ghana National
Park - a birds’ paradise. Excursions in the sanctuary on bicycles by cycle-rickshaws
and by boat. 30 miles west of Agra this is of the most spectacular bird sanctuaries
in India. Over 350 species of birds find a refuge in the shallow lakes and woodland
which makes up the park. A third of them are migrants, many of whom spend their
winters in Bharatpur, before returning to their breeding grounds as far away as
Siberia and Central Asia. Later, visit Fatehpur Sikri, built in red sandstone.
Fatehpur Sikri is a perfectly preserved ghost town, built between 1570 and
1585. The original capital of the Mughal empire was situated here, but was later
abandoned due to lack of an adequate water supply. The deserted city boasts several
elegant palaces and mosques. PM: We spend the afternoon and early evening
at the Taj Mahal, the magnificent monument to an emperor’s love for his queen.
At Agra, the Mogul Emperor Shah Jehan presented the world it’s most magnificent
monument to conjugal Love. A colossal, perfectly proportioned mass of marble, the
Taj Mahal is literally a jewel. It was fashioned over 17years by 20,000 craftsmen
& laborers. From a distance, it seems to float, like a fantastic mirage,
upon the banks of the River Yamuna. Later, we visit the Agra Fort, "a splendid
fusion of military might and lavish ornamentation". Dinner on board the Palace on
Wheels. Departure for Delhi.
Day 8, Wednesday: Delhi
Arrival Delhi at 0530 Hrs. Breakfast on board. Met upon arrival and
transfer to your hotel.
The Palace on Wheels starts from Delhi every Wednesday from
September to April.
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