The Palace on Wheels
8 Days / 7 Nights
India's Most Iconic Luxury Train
Fixed Weekly Departures
The Palace on Wheels is the most comfortable way to see Rajasthan — fourteen carriages of hand-crafted teak and brass, each named after a former Rajput or erstwhile state, moving through the desert at a pace that allows the landscape to accumulate rather than blur.
The train was inaugurated in 1982 with the specific brief of recreating the private rail travel that the maharajas and the British Raj conducted in their own saloon carriages across a railway network that was, for several decades, the pride of the empire. The recreation is convincing: the carriages are genuinely beautiful, the service is attentive, and the combination of sleeping in a wood-panelled carriage that smells of brass polish and teak oil while the Rajasthan desert moves past the window is an experience that hotels cannot replicate.
The itinerary covers Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur (for Ranthambore), Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur (for Keoladeo), and Agra in seven nights and eight days — a pace that would feel rushed in a road journey but on the train feels appropriately cinematic, each morning bringing a new city into the frame of the carriage window while the previous one is already receding into distance and memory.
Check in and board the Palace on Wheels at Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station in the early evening, with a traditional welcome ceremony before the train departs overnight toward Jaipur. Dinner is served onboard as the journey begins.
A full day in Jaipur covering Amber Fort, the City Palace, and Jantar Mantar observatory, with time built in for the Pink City's bazaars. The train departs in the evening for Sawai Madhopur, gateway to Ranthambore.
A morning safari into Ranthambore National Park, one of India's best-known tiger reserves, on a shared canter jeep. Sightings aren't guaranteed — this is wild India, not a zoo — but the park's deciduous forest and ancient fort ruins make for a memorable few hours regardless. The train continues to Chittorgarh in the afternoon.
A morning stop at Chittorgarh Fort, one of the largest forts in India and a site heavy with Rajput history, before the train continues to Udaipur. The afternoon includes a boat ride on Lake Pichola past the City Palace and the Lake Palace floating on the water.
Arrive in Jaisalmer, deep in the Thar Desert, for a day exploring the honey-colored sandstone fort and the carved havelis of the old merchant city. A camel ride is included before the train departs for Jodhpur overnight.
A day in Jodhpur, centered on the imposing Mehrangarh Fort towering over the old city's distinctive blue-washed houses. The train departs in the evening toward Bharatpur.
A morning rickshaw ride through Keoladeo National Park, a UNESCO-listed wetland sanctuary that hosts hundreds of bird species, particularly in winter. The train then continues to Agra for the journey's emotional high point: the Taj Mahal, ideally timed for late-afternoon light.
Breakfast onboard as the train makes its way back to Delhi, concluding the journey at Safdarjung Railway Station. Onward flights or extensions can be arranged separately.
| Cabin Type | Occupancy | Price (7N/8D, Lean Season) |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Cabin | Double Occupancy (per person) | From $6,048 |
| Deluxe Cabin | Single Occupancy | From $9,296 |
| Super Deluxe | Per Cabin | From $16,450 |
| Suite | Per Cabin | From $18,403 |
| Presidential Suite | Per Cabin | From $22,561 |
Pricing reflects the Palace on Wheels' published lean-season fares (September and April); peak season (October to March) runs roughly 10-13% higher across all categories. Fares are per person on double occupancy for Deluxe cabins, and per cabin (typically housing two guests) for Super Deluxe, Suite, and Presidential categories. GST applies on top of the published fare, and a 10% surcharge applies to Christmas and New Year departures. Suite and Presidential Suite guests receive exclusive car and English-speaking guide service for sightseeing rather than shared group transport. Fares are revised periodically by the operator and confirmed at the time of booking.
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