Maharajas' Express
 | This article may contain excessive or inappropriate references to self-published sources. (January 2014) |
| Maharajas' Express | |
|---|---|
| File:Maharaja-express-logo.png Logo of the Maharajas' Express | |
| Family name | Luxury Trains |
| Entered service | March 2010 |
| Operator(s) | Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation |
| This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (August 2018) |
The Maharajas' Express is a luxury tourist train owned and operated by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). It serves four routes across North-West and Central India, mainly centered on Rajasthan between the months of October and April.[1]
The Maharajas' Express was voted "The World's Leading Luxury Train" Seven times in a row at The World Travel Awards in 2012 through 2018.[2] Maharajas' Express also received recognition from the Conde Nast Travelers Reader Choice Travel Award.
History
The luxury train service was started in March 2010. The IRCTC and Cox and Kings India Ltd.[3] entered a joint venture, setting up Royale Indian Rail Tours Ltd. (RIRTL) to oversee the functioning and management of the Maharajas' Express. This arrangement was terminated on 12 August 2011, and the train was then operated exclusively by IRCTC.[4]
Carriages
The train comprises 23 carriages which include accommodation, dining, bar, lounge, generator and store cars. Accommodation is available in 14 guest carriages with total passenger capacity of 84. The train also has a lounge called the Rajah Club with a private bar, two dining cars and a dedicated bar car. The train is also equipped with a water filtration plant.[5] An on-board souvenir boutique offers tat for passengers.
Guest cabins
23 carriages with 14 individual cabins provide seating and sleeping capacity for 84 guests. There are 20 Deluxe Cabins, 18 Junior Suites, 4 Suites and a Presidential Suite. All suites have a full bath.[5] The guest cabins are comparable to ones on cruise ships.[5]
There are five carriages in the category of Deluxe Cabins, a total of 20 cabins accommodating 40 passengers. There are a total of 18 cabins in the category of Junior Suites, accommodating 36 passengers. Additionally, there are also four Suites. A Presidential suite occupies 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,[6] similar to the private railroad cars that were used in the United States.
Dining and bar coaches
The train has two dining cars—named Rang Mahal and Mayur Mahal—designed for full fine dining service, served by a state-of-the-art kitchen car. Mayur Mahal (the Peacock restaurant) has peacock feather theme in its décor.[6] The Rajah Club is a dedicated bar carriage. The Safari lounge and bar has a multilingual library.
Routes
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The Heritage of India
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The Indian Panorama
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Treasures of India
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The Indian Splendour
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IRCTC introduced five new itineraries in 2012,[7][5] of which two are short-term Golden Triangle (Delhi, Jaipur and Agra) tours and the other three are week-long pan-Indian voyages:
| Name | Duration | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage of India | 6 Nights/7 Days | Mumbai – Ajanta – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Bikaner – Jaipur – Ranthambore – Agra - New Delhi |
| Treasures of India | 3 nights/4 days | Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Delhi |
| Indian Panorama | 6 Nights/7 Days | Delhi – Jaipur – Jodhpur - Ranthambore – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Gwalior – Orchha – Khajuraho – Varanasi – Lucknow – Delhi |
| The Indian Splendour | 6 Nights/7 Days | Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Bikaner – Jodhpur – Udaipur – Balasinor – Mumbai |
In popular media
- ITV correspondent Sir Trevor McDonald travel India by the Maharajas' Express in a 2019 documentary.
- Featured in Episode 3 of Season 2 of the Discovery Channel Canada series Mighty Trains.
Gallery
A view of Maharajas' Express
Interior of Maharajas' Express
Luxury Beds in the Maharajas' Express
Foreign tourists at The Maharajas' Express
Dining at Maharajas' Express
Decks of The Maharajas' Express (night view)
The Maharajas' Express halted on A Railway station of Rajasthan
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See also
References
- ^ "Maharajas' Express Introduction".
- ^ "World's Leading Luxury Train Award".
- ^ Ghosh, Dwaipayan (5 October 2009). "For Rs 1 lakh a day, travel like a maharaja". The Times of India. India. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ "Cox & Kings Lose Franchise To Maharaja Express". The Weekly Times. India. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Great Rail Journeys". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ a b "Rail Technology". Railway Technology.
- ^ "5 Journeys of Maharajas' Express". Worldwide Rail Journeys.
External links
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- Luxury trains in India
- Transport in Udaipur
- Rail transport in Rajasthan
- 2010 establishments in India