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 13th
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 6th
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!
