Tour of Palace on Wheels in India

Kuuuuu& Chuk Chuk!!! Doesn't the whistle of the luxury train seem to invite you, If your answer is not in affirmative, it soon will be. After having gone through this article you will have a strong desire be onboard the luxury trains of India. The Palace on Wheels, the Royal Orient and the Toy Trains are the pride of Indian Railways, the largest passenger train service in the world.

The train tourism in India has actually done wonders bringing to life the concept of 'live life king-size'. The luxury trains of India namely the Palace-on-Wheels and the Royal Orient do more than providing opportunity of sightseeing the Indian States of Rajasthan and Gujarat. They offer an unforgettable holiday experience. The Palace on Wheels lives by its name and is no less than a fort on the swing. The lavish lifestyle, the facilities, the décor, the comfort and the style have made the first tourist train of India the most sought after. The journey is like a dream come true.
In a way it is the fusion of the East with the West, it is the amalgamation of all the modern day facilities including the air conditioners, bars etc. with the trails through the picturesque cities of Rajasthan. The marvelous train that today is a joint effort of the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and the Indian Railways is a legacy from the Rajputanas, the Viceroy of the British India and the Nizam of Hyderabad.

The slow yet steady track takes the tourists through the lows of the Indian Desert and the highs of the Aravalli range. The itinerary of the royal trip has been thoughtfully planned to concentrate on the journey at night and focus on sight seeing during the daytime. The shopping sprees in the bustling bazaars have also been well taken care of. Tourism aboard the Palace-on-Wheels is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the legendary traditional hospitality of India and in the royal state, Rajasthan. The spectacular combination of the sight, sound and smell of royal India will not fail to sweep you off your feet. Plus you get to savor the taste of celebrated Indian food. The views of terrific Taj Mahal, huge Hawa Mahal and its likes make the tour an absolute joy.

During this excursion, the tourists are overwhelmed with the beauty at the major stations of Jaipur, Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Bharatpur, and Agra chugging through the culturally colorful states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The welcoming elephants, garlands, music and dance can never fail to enchant any of the tourists. What better way of touring Rajasthan than being aboard the Palace-on-Wheels. The Desert Queen of Rajasthan has contributed immensely to the promotion of tourism in the state as well as in India.

You may even opt for a voyage onboard the Royal Orient, the train offering both style and comfort. The Royal Orient of India happens to be one of the most exotic trains in the world. It is a project of the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited along with the Indian Railways. The rainbow of cities trotted by the royal extravagance of the bygone era include Delhi, Chittaurgarh, Junagarh, Veraval, Somnath, Sasan Gir, Ahmedpur, Mandvi/Palitana/ Sarkhej, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. For the pious tourists the halt at Somnath gives them the opportunity to offer prayers at one of the twelve holiest Shiva temples. For all the tourists the 11th century Shiva temple is a must visit. The temple was repeatedly destroyed and each time rebuilt in a more magnificent manner. For the wildlife freaks there is the opportunity to spot the Asiatic Lion in its natural habitat at the Sasan Gir Sanctuary. The 863 Jain temples in hills of Palitana have a charm of their own. Basking in the sun at the Ahmedpur Mandvi beach is a beautiful experience.

The range of stations varies from placid, ancient temples, a stunning sea resort and exotic wild life. It runs through the months of September to April. The memories will for sure be as golden as the sand. Relish the recreation of the extravaganza of the bygone princely era in Indian holiday. The weeklong journey aboard the Royal Orient is the best way to enjoy the Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The holiday on Royal Orient offers you

Besides the Royal trains, the toy trains of India have attracted many a tourists. The ride on the train with a 4500 kilometers track chugs through the popular hill stations of the country like Shimal, Darjeeling, Ooty/ Udagamandalam or Ootacamund and Matheran. The toy trains are called so because of the narrow gauge railway lines they ride on. The Matheran Light Railway is another tourist attraction in India. The tiny mountain train commences its journey from Neral that is well connected by Mumbai suburban trains. The rail and road play hide and seek with each other, meeting and disappearing time and again.

The gradual gradient and the little toy trains urge you to be patient in life and enjoy each moment as it comes. Puffing along the jungles of Sal and teak, mountains, rocks and orchids. The nature seems to be at its best with the pace of the train and the rhythm of life.

The wondrous miniature of rail engineering that offers the most scenic beauties of the Himalayas from Kalka to Shimla and another from Jal Pai Guri to Darjeeling. The tourists are attracted to the old-world-charm offered by the toy train from Kalka to Shimla.

Promoting the train tourism in India is the Kangra Railway. Across the picturesque Kangra valley in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh the Kangra Railway is an experience in itself. There are not many places in India that can match the picturesque beauty of the Kangra valley in the sub-Himalayas. The beautiful glens and streams pass by the train making the journey a pleasure.

Down south we have a baffling trip around the Nilgiris, the mysterious tinge of blue that made the mountain name to be called so. The journey through the tea and coffee plantations, into the dense forests and up to the mountains offers the humming insects and the chirping birds simultaneously. Deep ravines and the cascading green slopes come as bonuses to the tourists of the Indian railways. These spots have repeatedly attracted members of the film industry. The mysterious mist will refresh you for quiet a few days though the Blue Mountain Railway has already completed its centenary. No doubt the train tourism is doing so well in the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

So have you got your tickets booked for an odyssey of a lifetime? The royal week ahead awaits you with the accompanying family and friends. Be the 'Prince' or the 'Princess' as soon as you can! Wander amongst the blues of the hills and feel the morning mist that will rejuvenate you better than any of the gels, for sure.