8 Days of Palace on Wheels

Report by 4:30PM at Safdarjung Railway Station for traditional welcome including garlanding, tikka and turban & check-in formalities for the ‘Week in Wonderland’ train tour. Time free for photo-shoot with traditionally attired Palace On Wheels staff. Be escorted to your saloon cabins by personal attendant for briefing on cabin facilities. At leisure, proceed to Bar Lounge for complimentary welcome drink. The train departs at 6:30PM & dinner served onboard.

Breakfast is on-board, followed by royal elephant welcome at Jaipur Railway Station. Then proceed to visit St. Albert Museum, Pink City Palace & UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jantar Mantar (sun observatory).

After brief photo stop at Hawa Mahal (Palace Of winds), the sightseeing tour reaches the excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hill Fort Palace of Amber in the afternoon. Enjoy an elephant ride up the steep ramparts of the fort. Lunch is held in the 1135 AD Boutique Restaurant, located in Fort premises.

Later discover the beauty of 16th century well preserved Fort Palace, with huge courtyard’s and built in rare fusion of combined Rajput and Mughal architecture.

At around 5pm, visit the vibrant local market for shopping. Return to Palace on Wheels train around 6:00PM & depart for the next destination. Dinner is served on-board.

After an early morning at 6:30 AM in a forest lodge, proceed to jungle safari in 15-seater canters inside Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. One of the most popular reserves in India with a rich history; the jungle is home to Tigers, Panthers, Sloth bears, Pythons, Marsh crocodiles, hundreds of deers and numerous birds. Truly a delight for wildlife lovers.

Return back to Sawai Madhopur Railway Station and depart on train by 10:00 AM. Lunch is prepared onboard.

At 04:00PM the Palace on Wheels train reaches Chittorgarh Railway Station. Begin excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hill Fort of Chittorgarh, spread over a huge plateau - with history dating back to 11th century. It is considered to be the largest fort of India.

In the Evening, enjoy Sound & Light program in fort complex & later return to train for dinner. The train departs post midnight.

Train arrives by 08:00AM. After onboard breakfast proceed to visit 17th Century built - City Palace complex with eleven constituent Mahals, balconies, towers and cupolas. Also visit Crystal Gallery - housing personal collection of H.H. of Udaipur.

Later enjoy boat ride around the world famous "Lake Palace Hotel" atop a small island in the middle of Lake Pichola. Lunch is held at the majestic Fatehprakash Palace Hotel.

Later, you get time free for shopping followed by a visit to the Royal Gardens at Saheliyon Ki Bari. return to train by 3 pm & depart. Dinner onboard.

After onboard Breakfast proceed by 09:30AM to UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jaisalmer Fort, which seems straight out of an Arabian Nights fable. Enjoy a leisurely walk through the 15th century built living Fort complex, standing at a height of hundred meters over Jaisalmer town & glows golden in the afternoon sun. The fort is entered through a forbidding series of massive gates leading to a large courtyard.

Then visit Patwon ki Haveli, one of the largest and most elaborate mansion houses .-which is five storey high & extensively carved. Nearby is located a group of 15th century built Jain Temples, which are beautifully carved & have a library hosting some of the oldest manuscripts of India.

Proceed for Lunch to 5-Star Hotel & later return to train for brief rest and tea. At 4:30PM proceed for excursion to Sam sand Dunes in Thar Desert for Camel joy ride during sunset. Later enjoy Cultural Program & Dinner at 5-Star Hotel. Return to train by 10:00PM & depart.

Train arrives at 08:00 AM in Jodhpur and after on-board breakfast proceed for sightseeing of 16th century built Mehrangarh Fort, atop a rocky hill which soars 125 Mts. above Jodhpur town. The Palace complex it is approached by a series of gateways set at an angle so that enemy armies could not charge, with any success. Once past the Fort gates, you have access to breath taking Palatial Apartments (Mahal), overlooking wide courtyards. Inside the fort complex is a museum having wide & impressive collection of Royal dresses & Medieval weapons. Nearby the Fort complex is located, late 19th century built Jaswant Thada, a cluster of royal cenotaphs in white marble. Later visit museum at Umaid Bhawan Palace, displaying personal artifacts of H.H. Maharaja of Jodhpur. Lunch is served at Hanwant Mahal Boutique Restaurant.

Return to Palace on Wheels train and depart by 3:30PM. Dinner is served on-board.

At 06:30 AM proceed to UNESCO world Heritage Site of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary& enjoy cycle rickshaw ride to view many of 375 species of both local & migratory birds (from places like Sri-Lanka, Europe, Siberia, China and Tibet). Return to train for breakfast & depart by 08:45 AM.

Train drops you at Railway station on outskirts of Agra at 10:30 AM. The sightseeing tour starts with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Agra Fort, the seat of power of the once mighty Mughal Empire.

Lunch at ITC Mughal Hotel is followed by a visit to the majestic Taj Mahal, one of seven wonders of modern world & a flawless architectural wonder built in white marble. Afterwards, guests have some time free for shopping.

Then return to train for onboard dinner & depart.

The Palace on Wheels train returns to Delhi’s Safdarjung Railway Station by 05:30AM. Check-out by 07:15 AM after early breakfast.