Maharajas’ Express – An Odyssey In Opulence

Ravi Valluri

Rajasthan is a prodigious state steeped in history. The state reverberates with valour, majestic forts, lakes and sanctuaries. The Thar Desert is abundant with minerals and the Indira Gandhi canal triggered a green revolution in the desert state.

Aeons ago, this was the region where the Indus Valley Civilization flourished. Later the state came to be known for the gallantry and hardihood of incredible Rajputs like Prithviraj Chauhan and Maharana Rana Pratap. This state is known for the twin Pokhran blasts which put India on the nuclear map. It is also popular for the Sufi movement of Khawaja Garib Nawaz at Ajmer and the

Bhakti movement spawned by Meera Bai at Merta. Ancient and medieval Indians were known for cultural conquests. Thus in Thailand one comes across several edifices of Lord Brahma, but in India the only one place where Lord Brahma is worshipped is at Pushkar in Rajasthan.

Deftly tying together the more historically significant cities is the Maharajas' Express, a luxury tourist train owned and operated by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). The opulent train plies on seven circuits traversing more than a dozen destinations across the axis of North-West- Central and South–Western India. However, the centrifugal attraction is the vibrant and colourful arid state of Rajasthan. Keeping in mind the climate in most parts of the country, the trips are sandwiched between the ebbing summers in October and the late springs of April.

The estimable train Maharajas’ Express was voted as “The World's Leading Luxury Train” five times in a succession from 2012 to 2017, at the World Travel Awards. No mean achievement which skewers the misgivings of the Cassandra’s of doubt about tourism marketing prowess of Indians. It is noteworthy to mention that the Maharajas’ Express is the most extortionate and high-priced luxury train operating in the world. For its pre-eminent service Maharajas' Express was the first runner-up in the Specialist Train Operators Category at Conde Nast Travellers’ Reader Choice Travel Award in the year 2011.

This estimable train service commenced operations in March 2010. A joint venture of the IRCTC Limited and Cox and Kings India Limited was to establish a company called Royale Indian Rail Tours Ltd (RIRTL), to oversee the functioning and management of the Maharajas’ Express.

This joint venture was however terminated in 2011 and currently the train is manoeuvred exclusively by IRCTC. The Maharajas' Express provides a plethora of solutions under a single umbrella of ostentation - pneumatic suspension, live television, Wi-Fi, attached

bathroom, dining cars, bar, lounge and a premium souvenir shop. Larger cabins are endowed with roll-top baths and spacious sitting rooms. The train comprises of twenty-three carriages which include accommodation, dining, bar, lounge, generator and store cars. Accommodation has been provided in all the guest carriages with a capacity to haul eighty-eight passengers in plush luxury.

The train gloats of a lounge called the Rajah Club which has a private bar, two dining cars and a dedicated bar car. There is a delectable on-board souvenir boutique which offers tat for the pilgrims of this opulent odyssey. The train is also equipped with a water filtration plant. This luxurious train crows of twenty deluxe cabins, junior suites, four suites and a Presidential suite offering breathtaking 5-star accommodation. Both the suites and the Presidential suite have a bathtub in the toilet, in addition to the bath cubicle.

LCD televisions, eco-friendly toilets, direct dial phones, DVD player, internet, individual climate control and electronic safes are available in each guest cabin. It is worthwhile to mention that there are five carriages in the category of Deluxe Cabins, a total of 20 cabins accommodating forty passengers (twelve twin bed cabins and eight double bed cabins). There are eighteen cabins in the Junior Suites category that accommodate thirty-six passengers. Additionally, there are four Suites available, which are endowed with large separate sitting and sleeping areas. The Presidential Suite is constructed on an entire rail carriage, incorporating a separate sitting-cum-dining room, a master bedroom and bathroom with shower and bathtub, a twin bedroom and bathroom with shower. The Maharajas' Express Presidential Suite is the first such a rail carriage of its kind in the world meant for commercial usage.

The superabundant train has two dining cars which have been designed to provide for expansive dining service, each with a seating capacity of 42 guests at a time so that all the guests dine together. The train has a state-of-the-art kitchen car designed to provide a range of cuisines in the restaurants Rang Mahal and Mayur Mahal. The restaurant menu includes traditional Indian cuisine along with Continental, Chinese and other International fare.

A dedicated bar carriage, the Rajah Club, offers the choicest of wines, liqueurs, spirits and beers along with snacks and starters. The lounge cum bar called the Safari Bar is equipped with a multilingual library and board games and offers a casual lounge experience. The tariff includes drinks on board!

The Itinerary

For those on the wanderlust odyssey this is a six night and a seven day package. The travelers commence their journey from Mumbai and head straight to Udaipur (city of lakes). Named after Maharana Uday Singh, guests are taken to Lake Pichola and the city palace. The next pit stop is Jodhpur, fabled for colour blue and the imposing Mehrangarh Fort. The following day is spent at

Bikaner known for Lalgarh Palace, Junnagarh Fort and a beautiful lake at Gajner. It is said that the Nizam of Hyderabad had sent his fleet of camels and horses to the Raja of Bikaner who helped him in fighting the Moghuls in a battle as a token of appreciation. Bikaner is known for the largest camel breeding farm in the country.

The safari continues to Jaipur where the visitors see the majestic Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, the city Palace and the Jantar Mantar, an ancient observatory and a UNESCO world heritage site constructed by Sawai Jai Singh the second in the year 1734, reinforcing the fact that Indians were well versed in sciences and not merely a land of snake charmers and the rope tricks.

Ranthambore Fort, constructed by the Chauhan dynasty and unconquered till the 13th century before Delhi Sultanat conquered it, is safely ensconced in the national park which habitats tigers is the next tourist attraction. The formidable fort and the park have been enlisted as World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.

From Ranthanmbore, the splendorous train chugs to Fatehpur Sikri. The lofty fort houses the famous Dargah of Salim Chisti. The Sufi saint blessed Akbar and thereafter Salim/ Jehangir was born. The fort is testimony of pluralistic architecture of India- Hindu, Persian, Islamic, Jain and Buddhist.

Next on the platter is the fabled city of Agra, synonymous with the iconic Taj Mahal and the talismanic Agra Fort. The journey culminates at Delhi after crisscrossing several important places in Rajasthan and memories are etched in the cranny corners of the traveler.

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