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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