Palace on Wheels Interesting Facts & History

Palace on Wheels, the great luxury train of India has a very interesting history and fact file.

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1. The Palace on Wheels is India’s first luxury train
2. The carriages of this wonderful luxury train of India have a history of their own. Originally used as a favorite medium of transport by the rulers of princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India, the magnificent coaches of the Palace on Wheels take you to the dream world of erstwhile Maharaja and Nawabs of India.
3. After the independence of India in 1947, Indian Railways decided to discontinue the use of these magnificent coaches. As the coaches had well decorated traditional interiors with gorgeous furnishings, it was not viable to include them in the normal passenger trains. In 1981-82, due to efforts of the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, the Indian Railways decided to launch a special heritage train for tourists, visiting Rajasthan. It was aimed at providing an unforgettable and momentous travel and tour experience to the tourists. And so was the Palace on Wheels became a reality.
4. Powered by a steam engine, the Palace on Wheels made its maiden journey on 26th January (India’s Republic Day) 1982.
5. The Palace on Wheels has gained remarkable success and attained worldwide acclaim and popularity including the PATA gold award in 1987. The Palace on Wheels has been rated as one of the ten best luxurious rail journeys in the world.
6. Recently it’s been voted in Top 4 luxury trains in the world by a popular travel magazine.
7. There is a separate reception area for Palace on Wheels passengers at the railway station. Once you reach the station, it’s very easy to find its location, as an extended reception area is created in front of the station building itself. You need to park your vehicle just in front of the reception area.
8. In 1991, a new air-conditioned meter gauge Palace on Wheels on the lines of the old heritage train was launched, which has 14 saloons, 2 restaurants cum kitchen cars, one bar cum lounge and 4 service cars. Each saloon boasts 4 cabins, equipped with bath and shower facilities. The Palace on Wheels also has a well-maintained library. It now boasts of a Spa, Wi-fi and Digital television facilities also.

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