| Coaches :: The legend travels on |
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You'll be delighted you chose to see Rajasthan by the Palace on Wheels. On board, you'll feel like an erstwhile monarch, traveling in regal splendour. Each Coach named after the erstwhile princely state has 4TWIN BEDDED chambers, thoughtfully decorated in ethnic Rajasthani decor. Channel Music, intercom, attached toilets, runningHOT & cold water shower and wall to wall carpeting are some of the facilities to make you feel at home. Each saloon has personal attendants or Khidmatgars, who are to your beck and call to extend a courteous helping hand, should you need anything. |  |
The 14 coaches are named after former Rajput states matching the aesthetics and interiors of the royal past. Each saloon has a mini pantry and a lounge to ensure availability of hot and cold beverage, and refreshments and a place to relax and get together.
  
(1) Palace on wheels passing through a valley (2) Dhola Maru a traditional painting in one of the coaches
(3) A traditional miniature painting
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| 1. ALWAR |
| Located strategically, Alwar is the gateway to Rajasthan from Delhi. With a turbulent history spanning back to the medieval era, Alwar has been an important place ofTRADE and commerce. Bestowed by nature with a unique habitat comprising forests and deep valleys, Alwar in home to several species of flora and fauna. The ceiling of the Alwar coach lounge has been done aesthetically in a delightful mix of cone work and oils in relief, depicting a hunting scene. The royal emblem and a miniature painting adorn the lounge. Subtle tones of pink enhance the romantic ambience of the lounge. |
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| 2. BHARATPUR |
| Maharaja Suraj Mal, the valiant Jat king, who was admired for his chivalry and courage, had his abode here. Once a fortified township, Bharatpur is now an ornithologist's paradise and well known for the Keoladeo Ghana bird sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to over 376 avian species. Echoing the vividity of nature's gift to Bharatpur the relief work on this coach depicts various species of birds on the tree of life. A replica of royal crest of Bharatpur adorns the valance of the blinds. The 'nature' theme is further endorsed by the white cedar inlay work depicting birds and painted peacocks, sitting on a haveli worked on a mirror. The color scheme, with its profusion of beige and aqua green, is a vivid reminder of lush green forests of Bharatpur and Ghana |
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| 3. BIKANER |
Bikaner came into being in 1486 A.D. when Rao Bika set out to carve a separate kingdom for himself. The colour scheme of the lounge has been motivated by the opulent coronation rooms in burning red andGOLD of the Anup Mahal and Padam Mahal of the Junagarh fort. The royal state crest is placed on the valance along with some handicrafts of Rajasthan. The ceiling is done up in relief work and an oil painting on canvas, depicting the legendary lovers Dhola & Maru on camelback. The artwork in the lounge is in the Mughal –influenced style of Bikaner School of Art.
| Coaches :: The legend travels on |
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Show above : (1) Fine wooden carving in the Jaisalmer coach (2) Banithani, a famous miniature painting of Rajasthan (3) A painting depicting the kings palace
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| 4. BUNDI |
| The quaint little state of Bundi lies cradled in the hills, east of Mewar. The palace complex of Bundi towers above the township. An imposing structure, it is approached by along paved ramp that ascends to the Hati Pol, and is depicted in water colour work in one of the bedrooms. The famous Ragmala also called Rag Ragini, paintings of Bundi have been highlighted through oil paintings on the canvas and are placed on the ceilings. The royal crest is highlighted on the valance. The famous Bundi school of painting is depicted in the framed and mounted art pieces and also serves as the basis of the colour scheme and overall décor, including a delightfully frescoed ceiling. |
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| 5. DHOLPUR |
| Dholpur is known for its locally quarried sandstone building palaces and for lattice work extenhsively used for balcony railings. The rails in the coach are made of teak ply and depict the fine craftsmanship originally done in stone. The Dholpur crest decorates the valance in zardozi work. |
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| 6. DUNGARGARH |
| Dungargarh meaning ‘Hill Town’ is wild and rugged and known for its architecture and the Bhil tribals. The ceiling is done up in a mixture of relief and mirror work in line with the ‘lep’ work done by the tribals on the wall of their houses. The royal state crest, in intricate zardozi work, appears on the valance of the blinds. |
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| 7. JAISALMER |
| Founded by Rao Jaisal in 1156 A.D, this remote desert city is famous for the Jaisalmer fort, epitomized by Satyajit Ray in the ‘Shonar Kella’ ( The Golden Fortress), an epic celluloid saga. The city is also famous for its havelies, cobbled streets, ancient Jain temples and a festive gaiety that reverberates across the shimmering sands of the Thar desert. The intricately latticed havelies with conspicuous facades served as the inspiration for the intricately carved jharokhas on the lounge ceiling. It is done on teak wood with a mirror backing. The famous Jawahar Niwas façade has been depicted in the state lounge cone, metal, copper and silver medium. The royal insignia adorns the valance of the blinds. The colour scheme reflects the beige of the desert sands. |
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| Coaches :: The legend travels on |
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Show above : (1) Fine wooden carving in the Jaisalmer coach (2) Banithani, a famous miniature painting of Rajasthan (3) A painting depicting the kings palace
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| 8. JAIPUR |
| Known the world over as the Pink City, Jaipur was founded by Maharaja Swai Jai Singh in 1727 A.D. The city was planned by the architect Vidhyadhar, under the instructions of the Maharaja. The king was an astronomer and a connoisseur of arts. And his taste is conspicuous in the beautiful city constructed by him. A fascinating land, Jaipur has innumerable palace , monuments & gardens that attracts hoards of visitors every year. Fairs and festivals reflect the exuberant charm of the people here. The cheerful nature of the local inhabitants is reflected in the vibrant colours and captivating music that enliven their spirits, even in this arid desert land. The ceiling of the state lounge has been created using the famed ‘Phad’ or foil work, depicting festivals like Teej, Gangaur, Holi, Diwali etc. The royal emblem of the state, in Zardozi work, graces the valance. The walls have been decorated with miniature paintings of the famous Jaipur style of painting. The ceilings have been painted frescoes, done in complementary colours , reflecting the state’s colour scheme of Blue andGOLD. |
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| 9. JHALAWAR |
| This powerful kingdom of the Jhalas, a clan of valiant Rajputs, was created in the year 1838 A.D. It is a charming land with immense natural beauty. Tales of valour and chivalry and numerous folklore abound in this region. Jhalawar also has some beautiful temples and some Buddhist caves. The ceiling has been worked out in a medium used by the local inhabitants of the Jhalawar to decorate their homes. A play of colous and a mirror work has used in the medium of plaster of paris to create a unique ambience. The royal insignia of the erstwhile state in zardozi work is seen on the valance along with handicrafts supporting the table tops of the state lounge. |
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| 10. JODHPUR |
| The capital of the Mewar kingdom lies on the tip of the Thar desert and was the seat of a formidable dynasty of the ruler sfrom the 15th centuary onwards. The Mehrangarh Fort which dominates the city of Jodhpur is fascinating with its cusped arcades and the Mughal influnced designs of the Moti Mahal recreated in mother-of-pearl work on the ceilings. The royal crest is highlighted on the valance along with the miniature paintings in the lounge which is typical of the Jodhpur School of Art. |
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| Coaches :: The legend travels on |
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Show above : (1) Relief work in the Udaipur coach (2) Color glass mosaic depicting a peacock (3) Oil paintings on the ceilings of Kota coach
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| 11. KISHANGARH |
| The Bani Thani paintings of the state with their exaggerated features like eyes and long fingers, are well-known .One of these famous paintings is recreated on the ceiling in acrylic, painted with enamel and foil. The crest appears in zardozi work on the blinds of the windows with an artwork of the Kishangarh school of Art highlighted on the wall of the state lounge. |
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| 12. KOTA |
Once a prosperous Rajput state, Kota is picturesquely located beside the Chambal river, surrounded by verdant forests and picnic gardens. The City Palace is a grand structure. The entry to the place is through the Hati Pol, which is brightly painted with figures of elephants. Kota is well known for the Kota school of design. These elements have served
as the basis for designing the décor of this coach. The distinctive features of the Kota school of art can be seen in the oil paintings titled “ Raja aur Praja” ( The Monarch and his subjects ) on the ceiling. I5t depicts Raja Ram Singh II (1826-66) of Kota amidst a royal procession. |
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| 13. SIROHI |
| This erstwhile state has earned an enviable reputation the world over for itsGOLD fort, near Pratapgarh. Especially the coloured glass work within it is remarkable. The style of work has a typically Indo-European flavour as European influence is quite conspicuous. The rooms highlighted this style through the framed works of art done in the same style. The ambiance and colour scheme has also been designed in keeping with this school of Art. The gold foil and glass work also has semi-precious stones embedded in it, and has been done in a mix media created from co0ne and paint embossed particle boards. The royal insignia has been placed prominently. Mounted miniatures done in Sirohi schhol style lend a unique character to décor. |
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| 14. UDAIPUR |
| Lazing on the edge of lake Pichhola, Udaipur was the capital of Sisodia Rajputs after they moved from Chittaur. The City Palace in Udaipur is a complex of reception halls, residential suites and internal courts from which the state lounge and bedrooms take their colour schemes- dominant blue and white. The most fascinating of the inner courts is the Peacock Court where Peacocks have been modeled in high relief and faced with coloured glass mosaic. The lounge décor is influenced by the ‘Mor Chowk’ or the Peacock Court. The medium used is a combination of the relief work and Patra or oxidized white metal work. The royal crest of the state, in alluring zardozi work, is set on the valance of the blinds. |
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:: Twin-bedded Saloon ::
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The coaches are named after former Rajput states matching the aesthetics and interiors of the royal past. Each saloon has a mini pantry and a lounge to ensure availability ofHOT and cold beverage, and refreshments and a place to relax and get together.
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:: Maharani Restaurant ::
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:: Maharaja Restaurant ::
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The train has two lavish restaurants "The Maharaja" and "The Maharani" with a Rajasthani ambience serving palate tickling Continental, Chinese, India and Rajasthani cuisines.
The restaurants offer seating arranged in groups of twos and fours near the windows. Chefs in the attached pantry prepare Continental and Indian specialties, with an emphasis on the cuisine of Rajasthan.
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:: Kitchen ::
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:: The Bar ::
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The Palace on Wheels boasts of a wellSTOCKED bar offering the choicest of sprits of Indian and international brands.
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:: Sitting lounge ::
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:: Room Service ::
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Individual Facilities
ACCOMMODATION
14 fully air-conditioned deluxe saloons, each a combination of 4TWIN BEDDED chambers with channel music, intercom, attached toilets, running HOT and cold water, wall to wall
carpeting and other amenities.
LUGGAGE COLLECTION
Your luggage is picked up and taken to your respective saloons without your worrying about it.
ARRIVAL KIT
Each guest is provided with an arrival kit consisting of stationery items, brochures, cards etc.
Anything additional can be asked for, from the attendant, always available at your service.
ATTENDANT ‘KHIDMATGAR’
An attendant or ‘Khidmatgar’ is always at your service, to take care of all your travel needs.
MEALS
An exotic array of dishes to choose from the Continental, Chinese, Indian and Rajasthani cuisines is available on the Palace on Wheels.
MINERAL WATER
We make sure, the greatest gift of nature bestowed on us i.e. Water is made available to you in its purest form. Mineral water is made available to you all through the journey.
NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES
The leading dailies and newspapers greet you every morning over a simmering hot cup of tea or beverage of your choice.
Also available for you is a large collection of magazines.
SECURITY
Adequate safety arrangements are made for you as well as your personal belongings in the train itself.
TOILETRIES
All essential toiletries like soaps, shampoos, moisturizers etc. are provided in the train.
Common Facilities
BAR
A wellSTOCKED bar serves wine, liquor and spirits of the Indian and international make, to keep you in ‘High Spirits’.
INDOOR GAMES
Chess, Playing Cards, Chinese Checkers, Carom Board, Crossword Puzzles are available.
LOUNGE
A lounge for relaxing, interacting, making friends, getting together and indulging in games.
MAIL BOX
A mail box is provided on board, for posting your mail.
MEDICAL AID
Your health, obviously tops the char of our priority list. First aid is available on the train whereas a doctor can be arranged on call at the very next station.
RESTAURANTS
Two lavish and beautifully done restaurants; “The Maharaja” and “The Maharani” serve mouth watering Continental, Chinese, Indian and Rajasthani cuisines that would definitely make way to your heart through your stomach.
SHOPPING
Certain handicrafts and other special items of Rajasthani origin can be bought from state Govt. owned Emporia while you visit the places covered by the Palace on Wheels.
SMOKING
The Palace on Wheels is a no-smoking train. However if you wish to smoke, please contact your captain for guidance.
ATM/and Satellite Phone
The ATM and Satellite Phone facility shall soon be available or the guests on board the train. |
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