Times have changed and the winds have shifted, but the Palace On Wheels cruises along in a unique style, the kind only the Maharajas of yesteryear could have perpetuated and enjoyed.
Palace on Wheels is a legend in the annals of India’s travel industry history.
Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (RTDC), Indian Railways and Department of Tourism, Govt. of India and Rajasthan jointly launched the Palace on Wheels on 26 January 1982 as a special heritage tourist train for providing unique and memorable experience to the tourists visiting Rajasthan and Agra.
This was the meter gauge train comprising of wooden carving saloons of the erstwhile rulers of the princely State of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India.
In 1991 a new air-conditioned meter gauge Palace on Wheels was launched making every attempt to preserve the pristine and heritage nature of the train.
The gauge conversion brought another new air-conditioned broad gauge Palace on Wheels in 1995 and it has gained remarkable success and attained worldwide acclaim and popularity including the PATA Gold Award in 1987. It has been noted as one of the top ten luxury trains by media from across the world. Leading TV channels like BBC, MTV, Zee TV, National Geographic, MDR of Germany and many other have covered the train and aired programmes.
RTDC and Indian Railways are proud on the success of the Palace on Wheels, which has paved a path for a launch of new tourist train- Heritage on Wheels, on the available meter gauge section in Rajasthan.
Facilities
- Nine saloons with heritage ambiance/décor
- Capacity 72 Berths.
- Two Restaurants – Maharaja and Maharani
- Well Stocked Bar cum Lounge
- Kitchen and service cars
- Each saloon has a capacity to accommodate eight guests in four bedrooms with two bathrooms on sharing basis.
- Well-experienced staff in traditional uniform on board ready to serve variety of cuisine including Rajasthani.
- Visit to Palace/Castle at lunch.
- Sight seeing by deluxe coaches and Jeep Safari at sanctuary.
- Well trained guides
Bikaner and Shekhawati being lesser-explored regions have been chosen for the Heritage on Wheels.
Shekhawati Region – Rajasthan’s Open-Air Art Gallery
No other region in India, or perhaps, even in the world, has such a large concentration of high quality frescoes as the region of Shekhawati. In the beginning, this semi-arid region had only its blank monochromatic palette to offer. No school of painting thrived till history and circumstances took up this colorless page and made it blossom with art for almost two centuries – from 1750 to 1930. Today, this region is commonly called the ‘open-air art gallery of Rajasthan’.
Itinerary:
The itinerary of the Heritage on Wheels is so planned that tourists can have experience of Shekhawati Region – Bikaner – Nawalgarh – Ramgarh (Mahansar) – Mandawa including Gajner and Tal Chhapar sanctuaries.
Pre and Post sightseeing tour of Jaipur is also offered by RTDC on nominal cost.
Duration:
The tour is of 3 nights and 4 days. The train will leave twice a week from Jaipur on Tuesday and Friday and will return back to Jaipur on Friday/Monday morning respectively.
Tariff:
The tariff is reasonable in comparison to Palace on Wheels thereby bringing luxury at an affordable price:
| Occupancy | Tariff per person per night | |
| US Dollar | Indian Rupee (For Indian nationals only) | |
| Single | 300 | 12,500 |
| Double | 200 | 8,500 |
| Triple | 150 | 6,500 |
| Child: Half fare between 5 to 12 years of age. | ||
Reservation:
Terms and conditions for reservation/cancellation / amendment are kept same as of Palace on Wheels.
Marketing:
The Network of GSAs for Palace on Wheels has shown keen interest in giving bookings for Heritage on Wheels. The Gala launch for Heritage on Wheels is scheduled for 17 Feb. 2006.
Detailed Itinerary:
HERITAGE ON WHEELS (Metre Gauge) Luxury Tourist Train
Duration: 03 NIGHTS/04 DAYS
Departures: Eevery Tuesday & Friday
Day 1 : Tuesday/Friday
Jaipur
Check in at Jaipur Railway Station
Reception 18.30 hrs.
Departure to Bikaner 19.30 hrs.
Dinner on Board 20.00 hrs.
Day 2 : Wednesday/Saturday
Bikaner
Arrival at Bikaner 06.00 hrs.
Breakfast on Board 07.00 hrs.
Departure for sight seeing of Fort 08.30 hrs.
Departure for Haat 11.00 hrs.
Departure from Haat for Gajner 12.15 hrs.
Arrival at Gajner 13.15 hrs.
Lunch at Gajner and Safari 15.45 hrs.
Arrival at Lal Garh Palace for Tea 16.15 hrs.
Arrival and Dinner on Board 18.30 hrs.
Departure for Tal Chhapar 23.30 hrs.
Day 3 : Thursday/Sunday
Tal Chhapar & Shekhawati
Arrival at Padhiyar Railway Station 04.00 hrs.
Departure 07.15 hrs.
Arrival at Tal Chhapar and sight seeing 07.30 hrs.
Departure 09.00 hrs.
Arrival at Ramgarh 11.00 hrs.
Departure for Nawalgarh Via Sikar 11.15 hrs.
Departure for sight seeing Ramgarh 11.15 hrs.
Sight seeing of Ramgarh Havalis (Mahanser) 11.30 hrs.
Sight of Mandawa Havalis and Cenotaphs 12.30 hrs.
Lunch at Mandawa Castle 13.30 hrs.
Departure for Nawalgarh 15.00 hrs.
Arrival at Nawalgarh and sight seeing 16.00 hrs.
Tea Breakfast Nawalgarh 17.30 hrs.
Arrival on Board 19.00 hrs.
Dinner on Board 19.30 hrs.
Departure for Jaipur 20.00 hrs.
Day 4 : Friday/Monday
Jaipur
Arrival 06.30 hrs.
Breakfast on Board 07.30 hrs.
Tour ends.