3 Case Scenarios That Make a Compelling Case for Palace on Wheels Journey

The news is out. Palace on Wheels is now available for charter. The train of the Maharajas can now be rented wholly, although at Maharaja like prices all the same – INR 1.7-2.5 crores ($310,000-450,000). Trade experts have expressed different opinions on this move by IRCTC – while some have lauded the initiative, others have already dismissed it as a dud. As I started to put my thoughts to paper, I could think of a few scenarios when you just can’t help but board the Palace on Wheels.

Palace on Wheels Luxury Train,India

1 - You earn in Kuwaiti Dinars ( 1 KWD = 195 INR = $3.5) and you want to take a break from stashing all that money from your oil fields. And since it’s your son’s birthday and you plan to take out his friends on a “field trip”, a 8 day ride on the Palace on Wheels seemed only appropriate.

2 - You play bridge every weekend with the Minister of Indian Railway, and in one of those bets, you won a couple of tickets on the Palace on Wheels. Since you are too proud to trade them for something else, you decide to turn up for the trip. We hope not alone, though!

3 - You have all the money but none of the time in this world. To top it all, you have your own wedding to plan and attend. What do you do? You charter the beautiful Palace on Wheels and have the most awesome wedding of all times.

P.S. – The writer will happily switch places with you, in case you find yourself stuck in any of the “situations” above!

Wedding on board Palace on Wheels : Get Hitched in Ultimate Luxury

Getting hitched at a beach, palace, cruise and five star hotel has become quite a cliché concept. But as long as there are innovative minds, there would be no dearth of new concepts. In order to make your nuptials an unmatched and lavish affair, Rajasthan Tourism and Development Corporation (RTDC) is planning to give away its luxury train ‘Palace on Wheels for wedding charters. It is the first time that a concept of wedding on rolling wheels has been proposed. It is fairly obvious to see that RTDC pioneered this concept as they were the first one’s to introduce luxury train travelling in India. 

The proposal has its fair share of pros and cons. But the lucrative prospects are so much so that you will overlook everything else. When it comes to wedding, it requires both the parties (the boy and the girl family) to make arrangements for so many pre-nuptial functions such as booking venues, caterers, Sangeet and cocktail party. All these responsibilities will be borne by the RTDC staff. Their wedding package will include a grand royal welcome, arranging priest on board, honeymoon suite for the newlyweds, marriage functions such as cocktails and buffets and sightseeing. 

Now what are the benefits of chartering Palace on Wheels for the purpose of the wedding? Here they are:

It offers you a wedding plus honeymoon package

The journey on board Palace on Wheels takes guests on an 8 days and 7 night’s journey across former princely states of Rajasthan such as Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Bharatpur. Since most wedding functions took place at night, the day can be utilized by newlyweds for romantic beginnings. Udaipur, Jaisalmer and Agra are the perfect options to live some cozy and intimate moments with your beloved. From beholding Taj Mahal in the moonlight to having a candle-lit dinner amidst Lake Pichola to a bonfire at Sam sand dunes in Jaisalmer, all these make for a perfect and enjoyable honeymoon.

It gives you a short and sweet wedding experience

If you intend to keep your wedding a private affair with few guests (including friends and family), Palace on Wheels is a pretty good option. Since the per person cost of travelling on board is all inclusive of accommodation, dining and sightseeing tour,  what more you can ask for. The total cost for that will be 2 crore at max, much more reasonable than a 10 crore affair at a palace in Rajasthan. 

Multipurpose use of the train

Since the peak season of Palace on Wheels clashes with the peak of marriages (October to December), this luxury train is a better option as  you may find difficulty in booking venues for different pre-marriage functions such as Sangeet, cocktail party, engagement and obviously marriage. 

Palace on Wheels Train : A Breakdown of On Board Offers

Palace on wheels

Launched in 1982, Palace on Wheels is the pioneer of the luxury train travelling in India. The brain child of Rajasthan Tourism and Development Corporation (RTDC) and the Indian Railways, Palace on Wheels takes guests on a whirlwind tour through erstwhile princely states in Rajasthan along with a halt in Agra. Owing to its luxurious facilities and service par excellence, this Indian luxury train has won several prestigious awards from the travel magazines and experts.

The current scene is that Palace on Wheels managed to get 70 to 80% bookings, before the start of the peak season. After reading the above written stuff, I am sure you all must be curious to know the reasons behind the unprecedented heights attained by this luxury tourist train. Scroll down and read the general information about the train.

Where to Stay On Board

From the perspective of accommodation, there are 14 guest carriages available on board this train which can accommodate 88 passengers in all. These cabins have been named after the different destination of Rajasthan and epitomize their art and culture in their décor. State of the art amenities such as channel music system, mini pantry, CD/MP3 player, LCD TV and attached bathroom.

Where To Dine

There are 2 ornately designed restaurants- Maharaja and Maharani- serve an array of Indian, international and Continental cuisines on the platter of the guests along with traditional Rajasthani fare. The food menu includes both a la carte and table d’hôte meals. Besides that, lunch and dinner will also be arranged for the guests as a part of the tour itinerary. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are also available on board this train.

Exclusive Insider Experiences

The journey spanning over 8 days and 7 nights on board Palace on Wheels includes various exclusive insider experiences such as lunch at the Amber Fort, Son-et-Lumiere at the Chittorgarh Fort, lunch at a heritage hotel in Udaipur and dinner & cultural program in the Sam sand dunes, Jaisalmer.

Personalized Attention

Each guest carriage on board Palace on Wheels is appointed with a personal attendant aka Khidmatgar. This personal attendant is assigned with the duty to address all the personal needs and requirements of the guests.

Palace on Wheels is an award winning luxury train running in India since 1982. This post states the general features of this luxury tourist train for the luxury travel aficionado around the world.

Tour Highlights aboard Palace on Wheels Train

Initiator of luxury train travelling in India, reminiscent of the royal past, a week long journey to royal Rajasthan, you guessed it right, we are talking about none other than the famous Palace on Wheels. Now, this blog post is not meant to bore you with the facts and the history of this Indian luxury train. You have read it multiple times before in our several other posts.

As mentioned above, Palace on Wheels crisscrosses the route of erstwhile princely states of Rajasthan (royal Rajasthan) which include Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bharatpur. Besides covering the famous attractions, Palace on Wheels tour comes with some highlights that mark the crescendo of each day on board. So what are those highlights? Here they are

Day 2- A grand barbecue dinner accompanied by cultural performances at the famous Jai Mahal Palace

Jai Mahal Palace, Jaipur

Revamped under the patronage of the famous Taj Group, Jai Mahal Palace offers an expansive assortment of 4 multi-cuisine restaurants serving pan-Indian, Italian and local Rajasthani delicacies. There are special discounts availed to the passengers on liquor and soft drinks.

Day 3- Evening tea and Son-et-Lumiere within the environs of the Chittorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh Fort,Rajasthan

The light and sound show that took place within the Chittorgarh Fort traces the history of Sisodhia Rajputs and bring to fore the tales of Rajput romance, valor and chivalry.

Day 4- Boat Ride on the Lake Pichola

Boat Ride on the Lake Pichola, Udaipur

It is an absolute enjoyable experience. It divulges the beauty of Udaipur and the richly bedecked Havelis lined on the banks of the Lake Pichola.

Day 5- Dinner and cultural program in the Sam sand dunes of Jaisalmer

Cultural Program in Jaisalmer , Rajasthan

This is the final program on the 5^th day on board Palace on Wheels. At Sam sand dunes in Jaisalmer, a lavish dinner is organized for the passengers. Adding to the mystical charm of the moonlit desert are the wonderful performances by the folk artists and dancers.

Day 7- Son-et-Lumiere in Agra

Agra Fort

The Son-et-Lumiere at the Agra Fort traces the chronicles of Mughal Empire.

These are the few highlights that a passenger experience during 8 days and 7 nights journey on board Palace on Wheels train and get etched in his bouquet of memories.