Palace on Wheels is amongst the Top 5 Luxury Trains in the World

India's legendary luxury train - Palace on Wheels - is amongst the Top 5 Luxury Trains around the world  declared sometime back by the popular travel magazine Conde Nast. For 2009, the magazine had asked its readers to vote for their favorite train.

They were asked to rank each train out of 100 points. Palace on Wheels attained 83.94 points and was ranked fourth below the Venice Simplon-Orient Express (89.92 points), Eurostar (86.92 points) and Pride of Africa, Rovos Rail (84.25 points). There is no other luxury train of India in the top 10 trains. The newly launched Royal Rajasthan on Wheels (RROW) was not ranked since it is a new train.
The chairman and managing director of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC), Manjit Singh, said the announcement will give a big boost not only to the luxury trains of Rajasthan but also tourism in the state. He said the train was currently undergoing major revamp at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crore. The interior of the train were being redone. A spa was being added to the facilities in the train.
The CMD also said that the tourists will be taken for a Dubai-like desert safari when the train halts at Jaisalmer. More varied food will be served. For instance, Mexican, Thai and seafood were being added to the menu. The bar was also being upgraded and some of the world’s best wines and liquor will be made available.

Source: Times of India

New Palace on Wheels embarks for this season!

India's premier tourist luxury train, 'Palace on Wheels' steamed out of New Delhi on last Wednesday.
To woo more tourists, the train has been refurbished with an added spa and variety of cuisines on its menu.
Forty-one passengers, including foreigners, boarded the train.
"We had actually heard about this train long back and we planned with our European friends to come here but unfortunately we could not manage but this time we decided to go on this train with our whole family," Murli Adnani, a passenger.
The joint operators of this exclusive train-Indian Railways and the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC)-- expressed hope that the added facilities would attract tourists.
"Now this time after two to three years, refurbishing has been done. All the saloons, cabins and lounge cars have new curtains, new tapestry, new carpets; all have been changed. We have added a spa car this year apart from this, the cuisine, now we have Indian, Chinese, Continental, Italian, Mexican, Thai, sea food every thing is there," said Pramod Sharma, General Manager, Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation.
The journey by the Palace on Wheels covers all the famous royal palaces, museums, sanctuaries and the Thar Desert in Rajasthan over a period of seven days.
Guests on the Palace on Wheels are taken around the rich cultural heritages, including architecturally renowned palaces in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Chittorgarh and Jaisalmer.
Inaugurated in 1982, the 'Palace on Wheels' has been a hit with tourists.
The fully air-conditioned train has 14 deluxe saloons in which the Maharajas of yore traveled.
In tune with modern trends, all saloons are equipped with five star amenities like channel music, intercom, running hot water, double beds and wall-to-wall carpeting.
The interiors of most coaches reflect the glory and elegance of various dynasties of Indian history. (ANI)