Get ready for an 8-day luxury tour on Maharajas’ Express offered by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). The sojourn is titled as ‘The Indian Splendour’ and can be availed at a starting price of $5,980. The trip covers nine Indian cities. This offer is available for both Indians as well as foreigners.
On the 8-day tour, the passengers will be visiting Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Balasinor, and Mumbai. The voyages will commence from October 2022 and will run till April 2023.
Passengers will receive a grand welcome at the Safdarjung Railway Station before the journey begins. The onboard restaurants – Mayur Mahal and Rang Mahal will be serving sumptuous dinner to the passengers on the first day of the trip.
The train will reach Agra on day 2 and guests will soak-in the beauty of the iconic Taj Mahal. Post this, they can satiate their hunger with a Champagne breakfast atop Taj Khema. The journey will resume towards Sawai Madhopur and passengers will reach there on day 3.
An adventurous game drive at Ranthambore National Park is arranged on the same day for the guests. This is followed by boarding the train to reach Jaipur. Upon arrival, the travelers can head towards City Palace/ Jal Mahal Palace.
On Day 4, guests will be exploring Bikaner and later will proceed to visit Junagarh Fort. The train will enter Jodhpur on day 5, where passengers can pamper themselves by availing Spa facilities at a 5-star hotel. An outing to the Umaid Bhawan Palace and Jaswant Thada is also on the list.
Upon arrival in Udaipur on day 6, travelers will head towards Lake Pichola for a boat ride. This is followed by a visit to the City Palace and Crystal Gallery.
Halt of day 7 will be at Sevalia Railway Station where guests will disembark the train to explore the Dinosaur Fossil Park and Garden Palace, Balasinor. The train will reach Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai on last day which will mark the end of the luxury tour.
Know more about Indian Splendor Luxury Train Journey.
Indian Railways decided to reduce the tariff after confronting a sharp decline in revenue from luxury train services last year. The facility is given so that the services could become more affordable. The decision was taken at the Railway Board’s policy review meeting.
There is a steep drop upto 50% in the haulage prices for royal trains like Maharaja Express, Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, Golden Chariot and Royal Orient.
The revenue from Royal Rajasthan and Palace on Wheel this year, dropped by at least 63 and 24 per cent respectively which led to reduce in the haulage charges.
Apart from reduced tariffs, IRCTC has also decided to start the facility of the luxury salons, a legacy of the British railway tradition, for private individuals as well. Honorable President of India, its Prime Minster and high-ranking railway officials usually used these saloons.
There are currently 336 saloon cars owned and operated by the Railways. Private persons can now book these two-bedroom carriages featuring onboard attached, private lounge, kitchen and bathroom.
Also Read: Most Luxurious Train in the World
