Maharaja’s Express Trains

 

Maharaja’s Express Trains

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing the lawn, climb that goddam mountain,” writes the noted American novelist, Jack Kerouac.

  I reckon we all engage in travelling. The exercise is nothing short of a wanderlust odyssey. We discover and explore new places, savour resplendent and robust historical sites; get connected with the past, absorb breathtaking sites or just revel and luxuriate on a cruise or in an opulent train.

  These moments provide a quintessential slice of inspiration which is perfect to handle any situation that we may encounter as the mind metamorphoses to become lithesome and is able to take alacritous decisions after a rejuvenating travel experience.

  A few decades ago India provided an old fashioned and very-much-tried and tested tourism package which attracted foreigners and some propertied Indians to the orbit of the Delhi-Agra-Jaipur triad. 

This was at a time when profit and luxury were still feculent words. Reagonomics, Thatcherism, globalisation, the fall of the Berlin Wall and virtual collapse of Communism fuelled the imagination of a fossilised bureaucracy, which turned visionary overnight. Then the Indian panorama altered the tourism ecosystem with the railways introducing ingenuous, luxury train services like Palace on Wheels, Fairy Queen and Royal Orient Express in the post-globalised world (in collaboration with State Tourism Departments and private players). Indians began to relish the word ‘profit’. As the planned economy gave way to market forces, there were innumerable choices available to the consumer.

The pioneers skilfully tweaked various packages.

In that series were launched the Maharajas’ Express which chugged on several routes over different parts of the country. The Maharajas' Express is a luxury tourist train owned and operated by the IRCTC. Deftly tying together the more historically significant cities, the opulent train plies on seven circuits traversing more than a dozen destinations across the axis of North-West- Central and South–Western India.

Keeping in mind the climate in several parts of the country, the trips have been 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 prophets of doom  prophesised  about the 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.  

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 a Presidential suite offering breathtaking 5-star accommodation. 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); all suitable to haul passengers in plush luxury.

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!

 

Maharajas’ Express-The Indian Panorama

   The Indian Panorama covers the capital Delhi, resplendent Jaipur, breathtaking Ranthambore, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, statuesque Orchha, awe-inspiring Khajuraho and the distinguished and sublime ancient city of Varanasi.

        The day is a salubrious Sunday when the esteemed guests board the Maharajas' Express at Delhi. Well-ensconced in the comfort of the opulent train, the sovereign train heads towards Jaipur once the guests partake of a sumptuous brunch aboard. Dinner is scheduled at an exclusive venue at the Pink City of Jaipur and then the guests retire for the night on the ritzy train.

The following day after savouring a hearty breakfast onboard, the tourists disembark for a visit to the lordly Amber Fort. Lunch is subsequently organized for the guests onboard and the tourists spend the night on board as the train chugs to Ranthmbore.

The fabled and imposing Ranthambore fort was built in 944 AD by the Rajput king Sapaldaksha of the Chauhan dynasty. The princely guests are treated to the vagaries of the verdant wildlife sanctuary, where man encounters menacing tigers, leopards and crocodiles in the marshy terrain. Thereafter the luxury express train heads towards Fatehpur Sikri. This red sandstone fort was founded by Akbar the Great in 1569, and is celebrated for its “Buland Darwaza”, the palace of Jodha Bai and the tomb of Sufi saint Salim Chisti. This is the place from where Akbar proclaimed the secular religion of “Din-e-Illahi”.

On the fourth day as the train reaches Agra, the occupants de-board for an early morning visit to the Taj Mahal. The beauty of the Taj, followed by breakfast at an exclusive venue is indeed a magical start to the day. This is followed by lunch onboard. In the afternoon travellers visit the splendid Agra Fort.

This particular itinerary conjures Mandrake like magic as it weaves Mughal, Rajputana and Bundelkhandi history into a single tapestry. Orchha and Khajuraho are known for their unalloyed and pristine history and architecture. The early morning visit to the Orchha Fort and the Raja Ram temple (the only place in India, perhaps the globe, where Lord Ram is also accorded the status of a king) leave the tourists in a trance. Come afternoon and the plushy tourists visit the incredible Khajuraho temples, the landscape dotted with the exalted Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Lakshmana Temple, the Chaturbhuj Temple and Devi Jagdamba Temple distinctively carved in the nagara style of architecture. The entire spectrum has been accorded the status of being a UNESCO World Heritage.

The tourists pine for more as the grandiose train chugs its way to the ancient town of Varanasi. The day is spent paying obeisance at the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple and visting Sarnath where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. In the evening is the mandatory visit to the ghats of Varanasi where the tourists witness the memorable aarti at the Assi Ghat.

This marks the end of a wondrous journey cherished by the tourists, their memory banks brimful with magical moments. 

Maharajas’ Express-The Southern Jewels   

 

For a few moments take a break and imagine a gargantuan wedge plunging into the Indian Ocean. South India is the subcontinent's steamy heartland – a lush contrast to the peaks and plains up north.

Incredible Heritage

Wherever a person traverses southern India, one uncovers iconic relics of the several civilisations which have inhabited this land over two millennia. The spectacular rock-cut shrines carved out by Buddhists, Hindus and Jains at Ajanta and Ellora; the palaces, tombs, forts and mosques of Muslim dynasties in the Deccan plateau.

Further Tamil Nadu's inspired Pallava sculptures and the towering Chola temples; the preternatural ruins of the Vijayanagara capital at Hampi…and several diverse places more than perhaps an individual needs to remain immortal to appreciate the grandeur. Southern India is a melting pot and a treasure trove with few parallels.

Luscious Landscapes

Several thousands of kilometres long, with cascading coastline dotting the landscape of fertile plains, glinting backwaters and rolling hills in South India. This is a constantly changing landscape which is glisteningly green by the double-barrelled monsoon.

The palm-strung strands and inland waterways of the west provide a gateway to the spice gardens, emerald tea plantations, tropical forests and cool hill-station retreats in the Western Ghats.

The drier Deccan 'plateau' is far from flat, crisscrossed by several craggy ranges and often spattered with dramatic, fort-topped outcrops. Across the region, protected wild forests provide shelter to a world of wildlife, ranging from elephants and tigers to monkeys, deer and sloth bears.

Amazing Culinary Delights

South India's glorious culinary variety offers a melange of dining options to the connoisseur and the gluttonous. Some of India's most famous and traditional staples originate from this part of the country- the large papery dosas (savoury crêpes) and fluffy idlis (fermented rice cakes) are the backbone of South Indian cooking. Goa's spicy, Portuguese-influenced cuisine is a fiery inventive fusion at its most splendiferous.

Kerala's coconut-infused seafood is the stuff of legends; and, everywhere one travels, the humble South Indian kaapi (filter coffee) makes one tick.

The Itinerary

The places covered by this opulent train makes a dramatic beginning with the historical city of Thiruvananthapuram (the capital city of God’s Own Country, Kerala) before calling it a day at the financial capital of India, Mumbai.

After a visit to the famous Kollam beach and Anantha Padmanabha Swami Temple the wondrous journey begins by embarking upon Maharajas' Express as the sun sets in the Arabian Sea.

The excursionist savours delicious dinner onboard while continuing the sojourn to Mahabalipuram which is famous for its pristine beaches and the Shore Temple as it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal.

This is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating back to the 8th century AD. At the time of its construction this area was a busy port during the reign of Narasimhavarman II of the Pallava dynasty.

The propertied train then drops anchor at Chettinad/Karaikudi in interior Tamil Nadu. Following a sumptuous breakfast on board, the sightseers take a trip to the statuesque Chettinad Mansions and the celebrated Athangudi Tile Factory.

The sovereign mansions cast an indelible impression on the minds of the globetrotter, leaving them spellbound. As a unique measure the tripper is part of a cooking demo at the Chettinad Heritage Hotel besides indulgence in other fun activities.

After travelling through backwaters of Kerala, Mahabalipuram and Chettinad the holiday maker, is a witness to the train scorching the tracks to Mysuru.

Upon arrival at Mysuru, the voyagers feast on a delectable gourmet breakfast. Thereafter, they visit the resplendent Mysuru Palace. The day then proceeds with a wholesome lunch at an exclusive get away.

Thereafter the trippers appreciate the majesty of Ranganatha Swamy Temple and the armoury of Tipu Sultan who waged a forlorn battle against the French invaders. Dinner is served onboard.

Overnight the portentous train chugs its way to Hampi, the wondrous UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hampi was the capital of Vijayanagara Empire and known for rulers like Krishnadevaraya and Harihara and Bukka.

The journeyers spend the day at Anegundi village, which is legendary for its historical, cultural and religious significance.

The melting pot, sylvan beaches of Goa welcome the pilgrims of this odyssey the next morning. After a tingling breakfast the backpackers pay obeisance at the churches of North Goa. This is followed by a delightful walk through of the Old Panjim Houses.

The more adventurous are provided an option to swim in the gushing waves of the beaches of Goa. This is followed by a visit to the Goa Chitra Museum. After dinner on board, the grandiose train moves to Ratnagiri.

Once at Ratnagiri, the trippers are served a wholesome breakfast on board which is followed with a trip to Ratnadurg Fort ruins, the Government Aquarium (which houses the fossil of a gargantuan whale) and a visit to Thibaw Palace (which has Burmese connections).

The out-of-house visitors are left awestruck by the majesty of South India and conclude their journey at Mumbai.

 

Maharajas’ Express –Treasures of India

  This particular package focuses on the sublime and exotic Taj, the robust and brawny Ranthambore Fort and the Pink City of Jaipur before returning to Lutyens’ Delhi. 

The Itinerary

  The expedition chugs to Agra. Guests travelling by this superabundant train are taken to Agra Fort (incidentally this monument is the centrepiece in the Sherlock Holmes mystery ‘The Sign of the Four’). The majestic fort and grand palaces are UNESCO Heritage Sites. Agra was the capital of the Mughals till 1638 before the potentate moved to Delhi. The visitors are then escorted to the Taj Mahal, the ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of River Yamuna. The breathtaking structure was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal. The historical site houses the tomb of Shah Jahan too.

  On the second day, after a sumptuous breakfast at an elite destination, the train navigates its way to Sawai Madhopur. The guests are treated to a ritzy lunch and head for a wildlife safari at the Ranthambore National Park, near the bijou town of Sawai Madhopur. The park served as hunting grounds of the maharajahs of Jaipur until the time of India’s independence and was built by the Chauhan dynasty.

  On its last leg, this striking journey drops anchor at Jaipur.  Guests marvel at the grandeur of the Amber Fort, the Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar. Taste buds are tickled through a delectable lunch onboard. The entire day is spent taking in the sights of the Pink City at a relaxed pace. 

  Finally the plenteous train begins its journey back to New Delhi. The sojourn ends on a gastronomic high as guests are served a seven course dinner aboard the train. The final treat is a swanky breakfast on the fourth day of the trip as they chug into Delhi and bask in some priceless treasures of India.

  “A person does not grow from the ground like a vine or a tree; one is not part of a plot of land. Mankind has legs so it can wander,” succinctly writes the American author Roman Payne.

 

Maharajas’ Express- Indian Splendour

 

The Indian Splendour is a spellbinding and engrossing peregrination covering an extensive list of worthy tourist spots. The tour commences from Lutyens’ Delhi and terminates at the financial capital of India, Mumbai. This opulent wanderlust spans variegated places, luxuriating through Agra’s Taj Mahal, the majestic fort and wildlife sanctuary at  Ranthambore, the Pink City of  Jaipur, the robust alcazars of Bikaner and Jodhpur in the depths of Rajasthan, followed by the lake city of  Udaipur and finishing with a flourish in Mumbai.

The Itinerary

Come Sunday and the guests board the luxurious Maharajas' Express at Delhi. The train chugs its way to Agra, to visit the splendid Agra Fort. The Mughal Emperor Akbar began its construction in 1565 and his son Jehangir and grandson Shah Jahan added structures to the edifice.

On Monday the ritzy tourists are awe struck by the alluring Taj Mahal. Both the Agra Fort and Taj Mahal have been deified as World Heritage sites by the UNESCO. After exploring the white-marble structure that epitomises pristine love, the tourists are escorted to an exclusive venue for breakfast.

Once they hop on to the train again, it proceeds to Sawai Madhopur. After lunch at one of the lavish restaurants onboard, they detrain for a safari in the Ranthambore National Park and visit the brawny forts built by the Chauhan dynasty in 13^th century (UNESCO World Heritage sites in their own right). After a sumptuous dinner on board, the train proceeds to Jaipur.

On the third day this lavish train drops anchor at Jaipur. The travellers feast on breakfast aboard the train and then disembark to visit the robust Amber Fort of Jaipur. In the evening, they are shepherded to an exclusive venue for dinner.

The train at night scorches the tracks to Bikaner, where after a leisurely breakfast onboard, tourists proceed to visit the Junagarh Fort. This fort was constructed under the supervision of Karan Chand in 1594 for the King Raja Rai Singh, the 6^th ruler of the dynasty. This is an exceptional fort in Rajasthan protected as it is by a moat and not constructed on a hill top. The entire city of Bikaner is built around the fort complex. Later on the princely family moved to Lalgarh. After an exhausting day the silk-stocking guests are treated to an exclusive bar-be-cue planned for evening on the golden sand dunes.

On the fifth day the well-heeled travellers drop anchor at Jodhpur. The morning is free and begins with leisurely pursuits on the train. After a delightful lunch, guests disembark and are treated to the amazing sights of the gargantuan Mehrangarh Fort. 

The night after Jodhpur is spent travelling in ornate carriages and breakfast is on board the next morning. The day begins at Udaipur, the city named after Rana Udai Singh of the Mewar dynasty and father of the valorous Rana Pratap who never accepted Mughal suzerainty. Rana Pratap is a legendary Rana, whose heroic feats on the esteemed horse Chetak made him an icon in the memory banks of Rajputana. He acquired an exalted status for the arduous Battle of Haldighati against the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

 After a boat ride on Lake Pichola and a visit to the City Palace the plush tourists entrain for the last leg of the journey to Mumbai, famous for Bollywood, Juhu Beach, Marine Drive, the Elephanta caves and so much more, creating indelible memories etched in their minds.

“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living,” writes author Miriam Beard.

 

 Maharajas’ Express-Southern Sojourn  

 

South India symbolises classical Indian heritage. The landscape is dotted with wondrous and breathtaking temples, churches, mosques and synagogues reflecting how strongly its pluralistic religious and spiritual thought is interwoven and interlaced in the lives of the denizens. The swinging coconut palm trees, the sun kissed beaches, the mesmerizing backwaters, the prodigious and colourful festivals, varied and delightful cuisine, attract millions of travellers south of Vindhyas every year. 
       The art and architecture leave the spellbound onlookers awestruck. Reflecting exotic and prepossessing beauty and grace, the places of worship of variegated faiths, the grandeur of the monuments and palaces of South India are singular their pull. South India is a place to experience the rich culture and heritage of India.

The Itinerary

The trip commences from Mumbai, the financial capital of India and traverses through Ratnagiri on the Konkan coast and drops anchor at the exotic beaches of Goa, and weaves its way through the historical ruins of Hampi in Karnataka and traditional Mysuru and finally criss-crosses through Kerala.

Travelling overnight from Mumbai, the train reaches Ratnagiri where tourists reconnoitre this port town in Maharashtra. Overlooking the Arabian Sea is the majestic Ratnadurg Fort which houses the legendary Bhagwati temple. A lighthouse, a fish museum and an aquarium which houses turtles and a jaw-dropping gargantuan skeleton of a whale are the other notable attractions. Further to discover is the Thibaw Palace which was once the residence of the exiled king of Burma. Tourists make a beeline to the fabled Ganpatipule Temple following which is an encounter with ferocious tigers in the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary.

On the second day after a sumptuous breakfast served onboard, pilgrims of this opulent train head towards North Goa to pay obeisance at the transcendent churches. After a brief “Walk the Talk” tour of Old Panjim Houses the plush guests spend some quality time with the astounding waves on the beaches of Goa. Post lunch onboard, the travellers visit the Goa Chitra Museum, which houses around 4,000 artefacts—showcasing Goa's traditional agrarian lifestyle and technology. Dinner is served at an exclusive joint and thereafter the train scorches the tracks to the interiors of Karnataka.

The medieval town of Hampi is the next cynosure for the tourists. Hampi, also referred to as the Medley of Monuments at Hampi has been designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. This was the epicentre of the Hindu Vijanagara Empire in the 14th century. Chronicles recorded by Persian and European travellers, particularly the Portuguese, indicate that Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, with numerous temples, farms and trading markets. The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates and its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by Sultanate armies in 1565, and in the aftermath of bloodbath Hampi remained in ruins.

The propertied train then chugs its way to Mysuru by night. Typical South Indian fare is served at breakfast which is followed by a voyage to the spectacular Mysuru Palace. The hosts transport the guests to an exclusive destination for a lip smacking lunch. The propertied guests are then treated to an exciting visit to the banks of Cauvery River near the historical town of Srirangapatnam where they have a glimpse of Srirangapatna Fort, Daria Daulat Baugh, Scott’s Bungalow, the Ranganatha Swamy Temple and the famous Tipu’s armoury.

After luxuriating in Karnataka this grandeur train transports its well-heeled guests to God’s own Country, Kerala. The train stops at Kochi (a melting pot of faiths and a city truly representative of the pluralistic culture of India). Kochi is also known as the Queen of Arabian Sea, and is eponymous   for its famous synagogue, St Francis’s Church and the grave of the original traveller Vasco da Gama. This was also the place where the Chera Kingdom established their empire. The tourists unravel at the model ecotourism village during their stay and traverse to Kumarakom.

On the seventh day of this expedition, guests relish a Canoe Cruise in the tranquil backwaters. After dinner on board, this upscale train motors its way to Thiruvananthapuram, where the voyage terminates.

“Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination,” writes the American politician Roy M. Goodman. One could very well say that travel is a way of happiness!