Description :-
Day 01/ Saturday
Board The Maharajas’ Express in Mumbai - Onto Vadodara
Welcome aboard the Maharaja’s Express.
Your epic journey will begin at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. After your arrival at the station you will be taken to the Maharajas’ Express. Drinks will be supplied as you proceed to complete all your pre-boarding formalities. Then at late evening, the Maharajas’ express takes it track from Mumbai and travels from the land of the Marathas to Gujarat.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.
Day 02/ Sunday -Vadodara
You will open your eyes on Sunday morning at Vadodara. After savoring a sumptuous breakfast you will be taken on a tour to the lovely city.
It is an ideal choice to commence your tour with the world heritage site of Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park. It is a prehistoric town on the foothills of Pavagadh and is dispersed with ruins on all sides. Jama Masjid, Kewda Masjid and the Nagini Masjid are the other places of attraction in Vadodara. The highlights of the Masjid is its architectural grander.
To enjoy a lavish lunch, the ancient Jambughoda Palace is a good choice. You will be impressed by the hospitality and service rendered by the feudal family, the owner of the age old estate.
After your return to the city, make sure you visit the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum. It is a preferred destination for all art lovers as it exhibits a wide array of work by the eminent painter Raja Ravi Verma of the 19th century. The 19th and 20th centuries European paintings of important masters like Raphael, Titian and Murillo are also exhibited.
At the magnificent Laxmi Vilas Palace you can unwind yourself over a cup of tea. An extravagant building of the Indo-Saracenic school, the Laxmi Vilas Palace is sure to mystify you with its architectural splendor. It was built by Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1890 and is the home of the royal family. The ornately decorated Durbar Hall, the Venetian mosaic floor, Belgium stained glass windows and sculptures of bronze and marble by Fellici are attractive to the point of mystifying the onlookers.
Return to the station and board the train for your forward journey.
Dinner and Overnight stay will be on board.
Day 03/ Monday Udaipur
At Udaipur you will be welcomed by the vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes of the Aravali Hills. Perceived as one of the most romantic cities in India, Udaipur has much to offer to its visitors. So, after a heavy breakfast, get ready to explore Udaipur in all its vicinity.
Udaipur is a city clad with enchanting image of white marble palaces, serene lakes and green hills on all sides. It is famous for its captivating lakes and hence it has been conferred with an alternative name “City of Lakes”. Subsequently, it is also known as the “Venice of east” Udaipur boasts of picturesque havelis, ghats, innumerable temple, and vibrant and colorful markets. This makes Udaipur one of the most alluring destinations in India.
Begin your tour of Udaipur with City Palace. The palace towers over the Pichola Lake and is the largest palace complex in Rajasthan. The scalloped arches, fretted balconies and cupolas are eye-catching and you will be enthralled by the magical charm that it evokes. The lavishly adorned mosaics of peacocks in the Mor Chowk, the impressive mirror work in Moti Mahal, and the ornamental tiles of Chini Mahal are an attractive sight.
After a lavish lunch you can proceed on a “Walking tour” to the Old Market of Udaipur. Take a stroll through the shops that sells beautiful, embroidered and printed fabrics, jewellery, paintings and wooden artifacts and numerous other traditional local crafts. You are sure to come out with your hands full.
Return to the luxury of the train and look forward to another exciting journey.
Dinner and Overnight stay on board.
Day 04 / Tuesday Jodhpur
You will land in Jodhpur the following day and after an early breakfast you will start your discovery of the "blue city".
Jodhpur was previously the capital of Marwar. The landscape is attractive and mesmerizing. The golden sands all around embrace the city. The city houses some of the finest architectural wonders and is famous for its magnificent forts and palaces of the Rajput era.
An exotic jeep safari to some of the remotest corner of Jodhpur is thrilling and you will enthusiastically be able to explore the rural village of Rohet extensively. Here, you will be introduced to the descendants of the 16th century Rathore of the Champawat clan and the Bishnoi tribe. This safari will acquaint you with the life history of the Bishnoi tribes and other local villagers and give you a fair knowledge of the traditional folk rituals and village arts and crafts.
Proceed to Rohet Garh for an exciting lunch. Rohet Garh was once the ancestral home of the Rathores and is today, a leading Heritage Hotel. The sprawling lawn around the hotel is a paradise in the true sense of the term and over the years it has inspired and influenced writers and celebrities from across the world.
After lunch visit the extravagant Mehrangarh Fort. You will be amazed by the intricately designed latticed windows, elaborately carved panels and elegantly curved porches. The palaces and temples therein are an impressive sight.
Return to the train and continue your journey to glorious Bikaner.
Dinner and Overnight stay on board.
Day 05 - Wednesday Bikaner
After a leisurely breakfast, get ready to explore the desert kingdom of Bikaner.
Bikaner, a medieval city was once a major centre in the cross-desert caravan trade. It is popularly known as the "Camel Country" as it possesses the best riding camels in the world. The forts, palaces and temples reflect the rich historical and architectural heritage of the bygone era.
The best way to start your tour is by visiting the Junagarh Fort, an indisputable fortress built by Raja Rai Sing in 1593 AD. The beauty of the fortress lies in the interior structure. You will surely be overwhelmed by other palaces and places of attractions like the Diwan-i-Khas, Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Hawa Mahal, Badal Mahal and Anup Mahal.
Go for an extravagant lunch in a majestic palace and late in the afternoon, get ready to board on a journey of a lifetime. Get closely acquainted with the life of the people in the rural India and consequently with the traditional folk song and Rajasthani dance.
Return to your train and enjoy a sumptuous meal on board.
Dinner and Overnight stay on board.
Day 06 / Thursday Jaipur
On the 6th day you will arrive in Jaipur, the "Pink City" of the country.
Jaipur is often regarded as a crown in the desert state of Rajasthan. It was built by Raja Jai Singh in the 18th century. Today it has built a niche for itself and is the proud possessor of mind blowing monuments, palaces, forts and temples.
A visit to the Amber Fort is the best way to commence your tour of Jaipur. Amber fort is situated on the outskirts of Jaipur City and a short jeep ride will take you to the fort. The fort is built in white marble and red sandstone and the Maotha Lake makes its backdrop, thus adding to the charm of the place. The intricate carvings on the walls and ceilings grasp the attention of the visitors.
Proceed to explore the romantic hamlet of Kukas. It is an Exhibition Elephant Polo Match and you will be given a royal welcome here. You can either watch or participate in the exhibition game.
Post lunch, you can go for shopping in the vibrant markets of Jaipur. Handicrafts, antiques, jewellery, pottery, carpets, textiles, metalwork and leatherwork are a common buy amongst tourists.
Return to the comfort of the train and get ready for a thrilling ride into the wild the very next day.
Dinner and Overnight stay on board.
Day 07 / Friday Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore) – Agra
After your arrival in Sawai Madhopur, get ready to embark on a jeep safari to the Ranthambore National Park. The park was actually the private hunting ground of the Maharajas. It was later made public as a National Park in 1973. The park houses a host of tigers, sambar, chital, nilgai, chinkara, wild boar, sloth bear, hyena, jackal and leopard.
Return to the train for a hearty brunch, following which, you will arrive in Agra.
A prominent destination of the World Tourism Map, Agra city is known for the spellbinding Taj Mahal. A beautiful marble monument, located on the bank of the Yamuna River, Taj Mahal has inspired poets and lovers from all over the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Shah Jehan for his beloved queen Mumtaz.
Your next stop is at the Agra Fort, which has been conferred by the UNESCO as a world heritage site. The fort was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1565. The fort extensively reflects the grandeur of the Mughal Empire.
You can enjoy your spare time shopping at Agra. At the end of the day board the train for the final night journey.
Dinner and Overnight stay on board.
Day 08 / Saturday Disembark in Delhi
Post breakfast you will continue with your final journey towards Delhi. Your Princely India journey comes to an end as you land in imperial Delhi. We are sure that the memorable journey will forever remain vividly imprinted in your mind.