Palace on Wheels



The Palace-On-Wheels comprises 14 fully air-conditioned deluxe saloons, equipped with world-class amenities to enhance the pleasure of travelling.

The 14 coaches are made up of 104 passenger berths in double-bedded cabins, each with channel music intercom, attached toilet, running hot and cold water and a shower.

The coaches are named after former Rajput states matching the aesthetics and interiors of the royal past. Each saloon has a mini pantry and a lounge to ensure availability of hot and cold beverages, and refreshment and a place to relax and get together.

The train has two lavish restaurants “The Maharaja” and “the Maharani” with a Rajasthani ambience serving palate tickling continental, Indian and Rajasthani cuisine. The train also boasts of a well stocked bar offering the choicest of spirits of Indian and international brands. Each coach also offers a good collection of books to choose from.

A Renovated Look
In 1999, the palace-on-wheels has been refurbished to a great extent. The décor in the saloons, bar lounge has been changed, keeping in mind the traditionally aesthetic yet modern, Palace On Wheels. Toilets have been redone and are maintained sparkling clean. Each saloon lounge has been equipped with a colour television and a CD player.

A satellite phone is on the way to make passengers communicate anywhere in the world from the train.

THE LEGEND TRAVELS ON

Tourists will be delighted that they among those chosen ones to see Rajasthan by the Palace-On-Wheels. On board, a passenger will feel like an erstwhile monarch, travelling in regal splendour. Each coach named after the erstwhile princely state has 4 twin bedded chambers, thoughtfully decorated in ethnic Rajasthani décor. Channel music, intercom, attached toilets, running hot & cold water shower and wall to wall carpeting are some of the facilities to make you feel at home. Each saloon has personal attendants or “Khidmatgars”, who are at your beck and call to extend a courteous helping hand, should you need anything.

The 14 Coaches are: -

ALWAR
Located strategically, Alwar is the gateway to Rajasthan from Delhi. With a turbulent history spanning back to the medieval era, Alwar has been an important place of trade and commerce. Bestowed by nature with a unique habitat comprising forests and deep valleys, Alwar is home to several species of flora and fauna. The ceiling of the Alwar coach lounge has been done aesthetically in a delightful mix of cone work and oils in relief, depicting a hunting scene. The royal emblem and a miniature painting adorn the lounge subtle tones of pink enhance the romantic ambience of the lounge.

BHARATPUR
Maharaja Suraj Mal, the valiant Jat king who was admired for his chivalry and courage, had his abode here. Once a fortified township, Bharatpur is now an ornithologist’s paradise and well known for the Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to over 376 avian species. Echoing the vividity of nature’s gift to Bharatpur the relief work on this coach depicts various species of birds on the tree of life. A replica of the royal crest of Bharatpur adorns the valance of the blinds. The ‘nature’ theme is further endorsed by the white cedar inlay work depicting birds and painted peacocks, sitting on a Haveli worked on a mirror. The colour scheme, with its profusion of beige and aqua green, is a vivid reminder of lush green forests of Bharatpur and Ghana.

BIKANER
Bikaner came into being in 1486 AD when Rao Bika set out to carve a separate kingdom for himself. The colour scheme of the lounge has been motivated by the opulent coronation rooms in burning red and gold of the Anup Mahal and Padam Mahal of the Junagarh Fort. The royal state crest is placed on the valance along with some handicrafts of Rajasthan. The ceiling is done up in relief work and an oil painting on canvas, depicting the legendary lovers Dhola & Maru on camel back. The artwork in the lounge is in the Mughal influenced style of the Bikaner School of Art.

BUNDI
The quaint little state of Bundi lies cradled in the hills, east of Mewar. The palace complex of Bundi towers above the township. An imposing structure, it is approached by a long paved ramp that ascends to the Hathi Pol, and is depicted in watercolour work in one of the bedrooms. The famous Ragmala also called “Rag Ragini”, paintings of Bundi have been highlighted through oil paintings on canvas and are placed on the ceilings. The royal crest is highlighted on the valance. The famous Bundi School of Painting is depicted in the framed and mounted art pieces and also serves as the bases for the colour scheme and overall décor, including a delightfully frescoed ceiling.

DHOLPUR
Dholpur is known for its locally quarried sandstone used for building palaces and for lattice-work extensively used for balcony railings. The rails in the coach are made of Teak ply and depict the fine craftsmanship originally done in stone. The Dholpur crest decorates the valance in Zardozi work.

DUNGARPUR
Dungarpur meaning ‘Hill Town’ is wild and rugged and known for its architecture and the Bhil tribals. The ceiling is done up in a mixture of relief and mirror work in line with the ‘Lep’ work done by the tribals on the walls of their houses. The royal state crest, in intricate Zardozi work, appears on the valance of the blinds.

JAISALMER
Founded by Rao Jaisal in 1156 AD, this remote desert city is famous for the Jaisalmer fort, epitomised by Satyajit Ray in the ‘Shonar Kella’ (The golden fortress), an epic celluloid saga. The city is also famous for its Havelies, cobbled streets, ancient Jain temples and a festive gaiety that reverberates across the shimmering sands of the Thar Desert. The intricately latticed havelies with conspicuous facades served as the inspiration for the intricately carved Jharokhas on the lounge ceiling. It is done on teak wood with a mirror backing. The famous Jawahar Niwas façade has been depicted in the state lounge using cone, metal, copper and silver medium. The royal insignia adorns the valance of the blinds. The colour scheme reflects the beige of the desert sands.

JAIPUR
Known the world over as the pink city, Jaipur was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh in 1727 A.D. the city was planned by the architect Vidhyadhar, under the instructions of the maharaja. The king was an astronomer and a connoisseur of arts. And his taste is conspicuous in the beautiful city constructed by him. A fascinating land, Jaipur has innumerable palaces, monuments & gardens that attract hoards of visitors every year. Fairs and festivals reflect the exuberant charm of the people here. The cheerful nature of the local inhabitants is reflected in the vibrant colours & captivating music that enliven their spirits, even in this arid desert land. The ceiling of the state lounge has been created using the famed ‘Phad’ or foil work, depicting festivals like Teej, Gangaur, Holi, Diwali etc. The royal emblem of the state, in Zardozi work, graces the valance. The walls have been decorated with miniature paintings of the famous Jaipur style of painting. The ceilings have painted frescoes, done in complementary colours, reflecting the state’s colour scheme of Blue & Gold.

JHALAWAR
This powerful kingdom of the Jhalas, a clab of valiant Rajputs, was created in the year 1838 A.D. it is a charming land with immense natural beauty. Tales of valour and chivalry and numerous folklore abound in this region. Jhalawar also has some beautiful temples and ancient Buddhist caves. The ceiling has been worked out in a medium used by the local inhabitants of Jhalawar to decorate their home. A play of colours and mirror work has been used in the medium of plaster of paris to create a unique ambience. The royal emblem of the erstwhile state in Zardozi work is seen on the valance along with handicrafts supporting the tabletops of the state lounge.

JODHPUR
This capital of the Marwar kingdom lies on the tip of the Thar Desert and was the seat of a formidable dynasty of rulers from the 15th century onwards. The Mehrangarh Fort, which dominates the city of Jodhpur is fascinating with its cusped arcades and the Mughal influenced designs of the Moti Mahal recreated in mother of pearl work on the ceiling. The royal crest is highlighted on the valance along with the miniature paintings in the lounge, which is typical of the Jodhpur school of art.

KISHANGARH
The Bani Thani paintings of the state with their exaggerated features like eyes and long fingers, are well known. One of these famous paintings is recreated on the ceiling in acrylic, painted with enamel and foil. The crest appears in Zardozi work on the blinds of the windows with an artwork of the Kishangarh School of Art highlighted on the wall of the state lounge.

KOTA
Once a prosperous Rajput state, Kota is picturesquely located beside the Chambal River, surrounded by verdant forests and picnic gardens. The city palace is a grand structure. The entry to the palace is through the Hathi Pol, which is brightly painted with figures of elephants. Kota is well known for the Kota school of design. These elements have served as the basis for designing the décor of this coach. The distinctive features of the Kota School of Art can be seen in the oil paintings titled “Raja Aur Praja” (The Monarch and his subjects) on the ceiling. It depicts Raja Ram Singh (1826-66) of Kota amidst a royal procession.

SIROHI
This erstwhile state has earned an enviable reputation the world over for its gold fort near Pratapgarh. Especially the coloured glasswork within it is remarkable. The style of work has a typically Indo-European flavour as European influence is quite conspicuous. The rooms highlight this style through the framed works of art done in the same style. The ambience and colour scheme has also been designed in keeping with this school of art. The gold foil and glasswork also has semi-precious stones embedded in it, and has been done in a mix media created from cone and paint embossed particle boards. The royal insignia has been placed prominently. Mounted miniatures done in the Sirohi School Style lend a unique character to the décor.

UDAIPUR
Lazing on the edge of the lake Pichola, Udaipur was the capital of the Sisodia Rajputs after they moved from Chittaur. The city palace in Udaipur is a complex of reception halls, residential suites and internal courts from which the state lounge and bedroom take their colour schemes- dominant blue and white. The most fascinating of the inner courts is the peacock court. The medium used is a combination of relief work and ‘Patra’ or oxidized white metal work. The royal crest of the state, in alluring Zardozi work, is set on the valance of the blinds.