“World’s Most Luxurious Train” Set to Roll across Rajasthan from December

With India’s popular Palace on Wheels fully booked until 2010 and in a bid to satisfy demand for high end luxury rail travel, the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and the Ministry of Railways will inaugurate a new super luxury train, the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, in December.

The all new-from-the-ground-up train will utilise India-built carriages with state-of-the-art facilities including internet access and an international standard spa.

Consisting of two super deluxe suites, 13 deluxe saloons and two ‘restrobars’, “the world’s most luxurious train” will travel on a circuit that touches the major places of interest in the desert state as well as Agra where passengers can visit the Taj Mahal. 

The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels will depart New Delhi’s Safdarjung Railway Station every Sunday at 1800.  The train returns to New Delhi the following Sunday morning.

[Pictured] The super luxury Royal Rajasthan on Wheels was a major topic of interest at Rajasthan’s ornate pavilion at the recent PATA Travel Mart in Hyderabad.

An extensive programme of sightseeing is included in the fare.  The top tariff for the super deluxe suites will be US$2000 per person per night while deluxe saloons will cost US$800 per person per night.

The train which will actually begin passenger service during the first week in January will operate to a 7 night itinerary until the end of the season in the first week of May, said Ms Usha Punia, Minister of State for Tourism, Art & Culture, Rajasthan, during a briefing held during the 3-day PATA Travel Mart held in Hyderabad, the state capital of Andhra Pradesh, last month.

“One in four tourists coming to India visits Rajasthan.  There has been over 100 per cent growth in tourist arrivals in Rajasthan in the past four years”, she said.

More than 1.4 million foreign tourists visited the state in 2007.  Just over 610,000 foreign arrivals were recorded in the first four months of this year, she added.

In addition to the launch of the new super luxury train in a few months, the state is undertaking a number of other initiatives to boost tourist arrivals.

A desert safari circuit is to be introduced in the western part of the state.  Hot air ballooning – already an established option in Jaipur – is proposed to begin in Udaipur, Jaisalmer and Barmer.

Eco-tourism trails are being developed in various parts of Rajasthan while floodlighting of monuments, the introduction of more sound and light shows and rural tourism projects have been undertaken, she added.

Both sports tourism and wellness tourism centres are set for infrastructure developments and promotion, she said.

An intensive programme is also underway to conserve, restore and develop state/federal protected forts, palaces, monuments, havelies (traditional residences), temples and other historic sites.

[Pictured] Rajasthan’s wildlife is being promoted along with its forts, palaces and fairs and festivals.

An ‘adopt a monument’ scheme has been launched for 14 significant monuments.  This will facilitate their proper maintenance by the private sector after they have been restored, she said.

The popular destination of Jaipur has benefited from a number of tourism projects including the creation of an elephant village and Kalbeliya Village at Amber Fort outside the town.

Within Jaipur, the old town hall has been developed as a museum after a major revamp.  The Albert Hall Museum now contains many of the cultural treasures of the town and the state.

Jaipur’s airport infrastructure is being strengthened with the commissioning of a new international terminal in December. 

In addition, the international runway will be extended from 2736 metres to just under 3500 metres to accommodate bigger aircraft in a major project that commences in 2009.

As well, Udaipur is set to become the state’s second international airport.

Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel and Lifestyle Editor