Palace on Wheels
 Palace on Wheels,is undoubtedly one of the best Train Tour Itineraries you can ever have in India. The tourists are offered a lifetime opportunity to get the deep insight of our rich past. The kings and palaces,of which we have heard tales,now comes with in our reach in reality. Touring around a large number of important kingly states will let you explore some of the unknown mysteries and sublimity of the past India. There is hardly any better chance than this to enrich your knowledge about your native country. Palace on Wheels is noted as one of the ten best luxurious train journeys in the world.
The Palace on wheels is a special tourist train reserved for conducting weekly tours to Rajasthan. It is convenient for the travelers as the train usually tour from September to April when Rajasthan faces a comparatively a comfortable climate. The visitors will board the train which leaves from Delhi, and journeys through Jaipur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Agra. The train has 14 air-conditioned coaches named after the former Rajput states. This train was used by the royal families in the past. The guests who will board the train will find that interiors, food and hospitality are all available in conformity with the past grandeur.
Once you venture on this tour you will indulge in true comfort and luxury as the train offers you restaurant, a library, a bar, lounges, carriages with attached luxurious bathrooms, personal attendants,etc. As it has been happening,most of the sight-seeing will be undertaken during the day. You have to gear up to taste some vibrant and restless days of your life. The tour itinerary of Palace on Wheels is
Duration: 8 Days/7 nights
Places Covered: New Delhi-Jaipur-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Udaipur-Bharatpur-Agra.
DAY 01 - Wednesday - Delhi
You are supposed to reach at the Delhi Cantonment Railway Station before 1600 hrs. The privileged passengers will report to the operator about their arrival. This is the time when you start on a remarkable journey of your life. As you arrive at the Railway Station, you will be given a ceremonial welcome. The first time you board the Palace On Wheels, you will be mesmerized to see the strange concoction of old and modern decors.
The train departs from Delhi Cantonment Railway Station at 1745 hrs. The visitors enjoy a wonderful traveling experience in this well equipped train. You will hardly find any other comfortable train than this. This is the beginning of the host of other facilities and fun you will get in the whole trip. Besides watching the surrounding beauty,you will enjoy a quality time inside the train. At around 1930 hours you will be served your dinner which consists of popular cuisines.
DAY 02 - Thursday - Delhi/Jaipur
After staying the whole night in train and relishing the night ride, you wake up to reach the Jaipur railway station. Jaipur, was once noted as one of the most well planned cities of the world. Your arrival in this Pink City at 02.00 hrs is followed by a warm welcome by caparisoned elephants and delicate melody of Shehnai. Leaving the Palace on Wheels, you move ahead to explore the city. You will undertake a ride in an air-conditioned coach which takes you to Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds. This a five storied building along the main street is truly splendid. You will simply marvel at this 18th century architecture. The main attraction of this palace is its semi-octagonal and delicate sandstone windows.
Your visit to Hawa Mahal is followed by a visit to Amber Fort which is eight km away. Here you will be able to ride on caparisoned elephants adding beauty to the ambiance. The tourists will Shop to their fullest and buy Jaipur's famous jewellery, handicrafts, carpets blue pottery and textiles. During your stay in the Fort you can check in to Rajasthali,the only Rajasthan Govt. Emporium which sells genuine handicrafts.
After watching two specimen of Palace on Wheels,you will be provided lunch at a Palace Hotel. Immediately after your lunch you will be taken to the City Palace, which was the breeding ground of all the royal bloods. Spending some time in this majestic palace, you will visit the famous Jantar Mantar. This largest observatory built by the Sawai Jai Singh II is worth watching. The Luxury coaches will take you back to Palace on Wheels around 6.30 pm. The train leaves Jaipur Railway Station at 19.30 hours. The travelers will not feel the schedule hectic as you are taken care of your due rest and relaxation. You will be served dinner on board.
DAY 03 - Friday - Jaisalmer
After leaving behind Jaipur,the Palace-On-Wheels arrives at the Jaisalmer Railway Station at 08.15 hrs. The Golden City of Jaisalmer is situated amidst the arid Thar Desert. This is one of the most favorite destinations in India. You can expect to have a wonderful Rajasthan Desert Tour .During your sightseeing excursion of Jaisalmer, you will witness some fabulous sights including a visit to the yellow sandstone fort known as Sonar Kella. The tourists will also get to see the exquisitely crafted havelis of Jaisalmer such as Nathmalji-ki-haveli, Patwon-ki-haveli and Salim Singh-ki-haveli. These architectures reveal the artistic excellence of the local artists.
You can take some time out to pay a visit to Rajasthali emporium to shop some fine pattu shawls, mirror work and embroidered articles, wooden boxes, trinkets, silver jewelery and curios. The guests will be enthralled to have the experience of camel safari adventure into the Thar Desert. If you plan to take the ride on palace on Wheels in the winter months then you can witness the Desert Festival, every January/February.
The tourists are taken to a camel safari adventure into the sand dunes of the Great Indian Desert of Thar after they have their sumptuous lunch. In the evening you will have a nice time enjoying the cultural programs at a city hotel. The dinner will be served you in the hotel. The train departs from the Jaisalmer Railway Station at 23.00 hrs and head towards Jodhpur. The visitors will again encounter the thrilling experience of traveling in train throughout the night.
DAY 04 - Saturday - Jodhpur
After traveling throughout the night,the Palace-On-Wheels arrives at the Jodhpur Railway Station at 07.00 hrs. As you visit the second largest city in Rajasthan, you will witness that the city is encompassed by a high wall with seven gates and several bastions. The city is defined by the imposing Meherangarh Fort. You start your sightseeing tour of Jodhpur as you enter this gigantic fort. Asa you take a stroll past the wonderful courtyards, palaces and other splendid buildings within the fort you will be gifted some surprises waiting for your eyes. The fort really offers a magnificent sight.
After taking lunch at a Palace hotel, the guests will be taken back to the Railway Station. Your short stay in Jodhpur will be perennially remembered by you. You will board the Palace-On-Wheels, which leaves Jodhpur at 15.30 hrs for Sawai Madhopur.
DAY 05 - Sunday - Sawai Madhopur/ Chittaurgarh
Spending the night in train the guests arrives at the Sawai Madhopur railway station at 04.00 hrs. Coming out from the Palace-On-Wheels, you will have breakfast at 0630 hrs. Following your breakfast you will move towards to visit the world renowned park at Ranthambhore at 0700 hrs. The Ranthambhore National Park offers a stunning scenery for the travelers. You will see wide expanse of greenery and collection of lakes and rivers that are enchanting. If you are lucky enough you can trace a tiger in the Park.
After paying an adventurous visit to the Park your stay in Sawai Madhopur comes to an end. The Palace on Wheels departs from the railway station at 1100hrs. The train departs for Chittaurgarh and you prepare yourself to have some more fun in the later part of the day. You will be served lunch on board at 1300 hrs. As it takes just more than 4 hrs you will arrive at Chittaurgarh at 1530 hrs. As you step in to this reputed town you will be flooded with many images of love and battles lost and won. The famous Chittaurgarh Fort offers a good sightseeing opportunity to the visitors. The guests will have to stay in the train during the night. The Palace on Wheels starts its journey to Udaipur.
DAY 06 - Monday - Udaipur
The guests will arrive to a new morning after spending the night in train. The city welcomes you to the lingering fragrance of the privileged past. You will proceed to visit the city which is well known for its grandly adorned palaces, temples and havelis. Udaipur, which is also known as the City of Lakes offer some beautiful natural sights to the tourists. You will encounter some beautiful lakes which allows you to spend some refreshing moments by their banks.
After witnessing some spectacular sights ,you will be guided to the old city, which shelters the remnants of city wall. The beautiful Lake Pichola is a great place to spend your leisure in its bathing ghats and island palaces. You will be taken for an interesting boat ride on Lake Pichola. This boat ride is distinctly mesmerizing which will let you wonder at the fantastic view towards Udaipur .
During your tour to this precious city you will have the privilege to visit the Jagmandir Island Palace, or walk along the lake shore and admire the spectacular evening sky just before the sunset. You will have the rare freedom to visit the magnificent city palace & Museums. In your Travel to Udaipur you will be given the scope to take a pedal boat to the garden island on romantic Lake Fateh Sagar. In the evening you will be taken to visit the excellently designed crystal gallery. Later in the evening you have to board Palace on Wheels which departs for Bharatpur. The dinner will be served in the train and the guests look forward to spend another enjoyable night traveling through various physical features.
DAY 07 - Tuesday - Bharatpur/Agra
You will be served your breakfast on board just before the Palace-On-Wheels arrives at Bharatpur at 06.30hrs. You will proceed to the Keoladeo Ghana National Park which is one of the famous bird sanctuary of the world. Those with an adventurous bent of mind and want to enjoy their Wildlife and Birdwatching Tour, then the place is ideal. As you move inside and deeper into the sanctuary, you will find that it is the natural habitat for Egrets, Siberian Cranes, migratory Water Fowl and other bird species. After tasting some unrestrained adventure it is time to see some architectural excellence.
Visitng Fatehpur Sikri is surely an important element in your Tour Itineraries India. This charming and well-preserved 16th-century city is a base of numerous splendors. After having seeing such magnificence in this city,you will venture towards Agra. The place has its undying attraction towards the visitors. Being a home to the grand and imperial Taj Mahal,Agra has become a fascinating place for the tourists. You will really cherish your visit to this one of the seven wonders of the world.
Visiting this place is almost like a pilgrimage for those who are the worshipers of beauty. Apart from this enigmatic and imposing structure, there are other notable sites in Agra which you will be taken to. The other attractions of Agra are also not less worth visiting. After spending half the day in Agra, you leave for Delhi Cantonment Railway Station in the evening. The week long adventure and excitement calls it an end as you prepare yourself to return to the starting base in Delhi. The finishing touch of the journey will be perennially present in your heart. This impeccable odyssey comes on the verge of end.
DAY 08 - Wednesday - Delhi
Traveling throughout the night by train you spend your last night in the royal Palace on Wheels. As the morning arrives you will find yourself at Delhi Cantonment Railway Station. As you return to Delhi you will be filled with a sense of satisfaction, but your heart will still crave for more. You board a train/flight for your onward journey to your home.
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