The Royal Express – Maharaja Express History
The Royal Express – Maharaja Express Luxury train traveling in India has come a long way since the introduction of Palace on Wheels train in 1982 for promotion of tourism in Rajasthan. The most recent and unarguably the most luxurious tourist train in India with finesse at par with the Orient Express of the West, Maharajas Express has redefined the art of elegant train traveling in India. A fascinating voyage across some of the finest destinations in India let you discover the true spirit of this incredible nation. One of the most expensive and luxurious luxury train rides in the world, the salons of the Maharaja Express train draws inspiration from the private saloons of the erstwhile Maharajas of India. Even before the inception of rail traveling in India, Maharajahs of India had a keen fascination with these moving wonders on wheels invented by James Watt.Many Maharajahs of India ruling various princely states took the initiative to build their own lines whereas many had their heir apparent built miles of narrow gauge lines where they could play with their personal toy trains. Even as Maharaja of Vadodara built his then son and the present Maharaja of Vadodara a fully functional toy train, Maharaja of Gwalior used to proudly flaunt his silver model train chugging along the center of his banqueting table to the dignitaries and officers of East India Company.
In the era of Raj, many Maharajahs had their own personal carriages draped in luxury used for occasions such as state visits, nuptial sojourn and hunting trips. Many had been built and designed in art deco style. Sylvan inlays, exquisite carvings and elegant tapestries along with exquisite mirror and jewel work exuded an unmistakable élan. All this and more spoke volumes about the splendor and pomp of the Maharajahs of erstwhile princely states of India.Current salons of the train are designed to recreate the same old panache of the personal carriages of Indian Maharajahs. Each of the cabins including the dining coupes is suffused with nostalgia of past grandeur. Quaint décor fused together with the contemporary amenities create an aura of sheer opulence and 5 Star pampering inside the cabins of Maharaja Express.The journeys of Maharajas Express have even been compared to that of legendary Orient Express of the West in refinement and luxury. From every modern amenity which money can buy to eco-friendly technologies and services, every aspect of an elegant train journey has been looked into with meticulous diligence.
A truly world class train journey is promised in each of the 5 itineraries offered by the train. With each destination as vivid as the confounding colors of India and tours encompassing palaces, fortresses, World Heritage Sites, cultural sightseeing and spirituality of India, the royal colors of India and its rich heritage sprinkled across vast geography do come alive in each of these pre-crafted journeys.
The Royal Express – Maharaja Express Cabins
The Maharajas Express has a total of 14 guest carriages which have got its names after various precious stones such as Moti (Pearl), Heera (diamond), Neelam (Blue Sapphire), Feeroza (Turquoise), Monga (Coral), Pukhraj (Sapphire) and so on. In these carriages are fitted luxury cabins that are segregated in four categories – Deluxe Cabin, Junior Suite, Suite and Presidential Suite. Out of these, the Presidential Suite, called Navratna spreads itself in an entire carriage is inclusive of two bedrooms, a separate living area, a dining room and a modern private bathroom with a bath tub. These cabins and suites have the capacity of accommodating 88 guests.
The tasteful and royal décor has taken its inspiration from the carriages of the erstwhile royalty of the country which is unmatched for. The cabins are adorned with rich tapestry, linen, upholstery, wall-to-wall carpeting, semi-precious stones and antiques. During your journey, enjoy the beautiful scenery whizzing by from the huge panoramic windows. While having a traditional royal décor, the spacious cabins offer every modern-day facility at par with the International standards. Every cabin is well-appointed with services and amenities like LCD TV, Direct Dial Telephone, choice of twin or king-size bed, Channel music, electronic safety deposit, private bathrooms with plus toiletries, DVD players and much more. Measuring 112 sq. ft., these spacious cabins come as twin sharing or double bedded cabins. Each can accommodate 2 passengers and there is a total of 20 deluxe cabins which include 15 twin and 5 double sharing cabins with a total passenger capacity of 40.
| Room Area: 9’5″ (L) x 7′-9″(W) | Bathroom: 7’9″ (L) x 4′-9″(W) | ||
| ROOM CATEGORY | TOTAL / CABIN/SUITE | PASSENGER CAPACITY | |
| TWIN | 15 | 30 | |
| DOUBLE | 5 | 10 | |
| TOTAL | 20 | 40 | |
The Royal Express – Maharaja Express Facilities
Travel as once did the Maharajas of India, with your own butlers and all the elegance of a bygone era – getting high on spirits in the exclusive Safari Bar served in imported hand cut crystal glasses, or over range of world cuisine and Indian delicacies served on fine Limoges plates and gold & silver plated cutlery in one of two exclusive restaurants. Yet unlike the day
s of maharajas, state of the art amenities such as Wi-Fi in rooms, plasma TVs with satellite channels, DVD players and individual climate control will ensure premium luxury that even the maharajas would envy.
Gracefully appointed Mayur Mahal (Peacock Restaurant) and Rang Mahal (Haveli Restaurant) serve an eclectic mix of delectable cuisines in a relaxing ambience. Each car can accommodate 42 persons at a time. These minimally furnished and quaintly decorated cabins have been designed keeping in mind the need for comfort and space of the guests.
Safari Bar is a well stocked bar with a variety of finest labels of wines and spirits from around the world in an enchantingly decadent setting of a royal safari. Reclaim yourself with choice from a menu having crème de la crème of wines and spirits along with innovative cocktails.
Rajah Club with en-suite bar is equipped with games tables and club arm-chairs to pamper and relax the guests in a laid back atmosphere. Rajah Club with en-suite bar is equipped with games tables and club arm-chairs to pamper and relax the guests in a laid back atmosphere.
There are 14 passenger cabins aboard the Maharajas’ Express; 5 deluxe cabins, 6 junior suites, 2 suites, and the majestic presidential suite. All the cabins come equipped with either twin beds or a double bed along with direct dial phones, LCD TVs, DVD players, internet, individual temperature control and electronic safe. An en-suite bathroom with shower is also available with the cabins.
The Royal Express – Maharaja Express Fare for 2016-17 & 2017-18
| Adult | Single Supplement | |
| Deluxe Cabins | USD 6,840.00 | USD 5,160.00 |
| Junior Suite | USD 9,890.00 | USD 8,910.00 |
| Suite | USD 13,800.00 | USD 13,800.00 |
| Presidential Suite | USD 23,700.00 | USD 23,700.00 |
Feeling proud after knowing the facts of Rayal train……want to stay in it.
the best train to visit all rajasthan….feeling royal
Royal Rajasthan