Maharajah Express exclusive Train tour
Maharaja Express Train Tour
Embark on an extraordinary voyage through imperial India discovering its fascinating heritage and exquisite architecture.
The luxury train has a total of 23 coaches with a passenger capacity of 82. It is the first luxury train that boasts of four distinct configurations. It has five deluxe carriages, each with four cabins; six junior suite carriages, each with three cabins; two suite carriages each with two suites and finally one presidential suite exclusively in one carriage.
Dining options include two fine dining restaurants that seat 42 persons in each at a time, so that everyone onboard dines together. It has one exotic bar with the choicest collection of beers, wines and spirits. There is also one Observation lounge with its own bar, game tables and comfortable club.
Embarkation and
Disembarkation Timings
Royal India -- see below for full itenerary
Embark in Delhi : Early Morning
Disembark in Mumbai : In the morning after breakfast
Classical India -- see below for full itenerary
Embark in Delhi : Early Morning
Disembark in Kolkata : In the morning after breakfast
Prices
Classical routes from
£4695 per person
Royal routes from £5695 per person
To book this tour, please contact us here
Royal India Tour
(London-Delhi-Agra-Ranthambore-Jaipur-Bikaner-Jodhpur-Udaipur-Vadodara-Mumbai-London)
Day 1: London-Delhi
Fly from Heathrow in the evening on Jet Airways
Day 2: Delhi
Arrive Delhi in the morning. Transfer to The Imperial Hotel for an
overnight stay. The afternoon is at leisure with an option to do a city
sightseeing.
Day 3: Delhi-Agra
Transfer to Safdarjung Railway station in the morning. Start your
luxury train journey to Agra. After breakfast, start the sightseeing
tour by visiting the Agra Fort – a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy a
champagne lunch at Taj Khema, overlooking the Taj Mahal. At sunset,
visit the Taj Mahal – a poetry in marbles. There is a scope to indulge
in shopping before returning back to the train. Begin an onward journey
to Sawai Madhopur
Day 4: Sawai Madhopur – Jaipur
Arrive Sawai Madhopur in the morning. Transfer by jeep to Ranthambore
National Park for a morning game safari. Ranthambore National Park
is famous for sightseeing Tigers, sambar, chital, nilgai, chinkara,
wild boar, sloth bear, hyena, jackal and leopard.
Return to the train for a hearty brunch and proceed to Jaipur – a “Pink City”. Visit the bustling colourful markets of Jaipur and the magnificent “Amber Fort”. Later drive to Kukas to witness an elephant polo match followed by a champagne dinner. Return to the station and start an onward journey to Bikaner.
Day 5: Bikaner
Arrive Bikaner. Visit Junagarh Fort in the morning. Afternoon enjoy
an excursion to nearby villages to see camel farms and a sunset over
sand dune – followed by cultural programs. Return to the train and
being an onward journey to Jodhpur
Day 6: Jodhpur
Arrive Jodhpur – a “Blue City”. Enjoy a jeep safari to the rural
Bishnoi villages. After a lunch at Rohetgarh, return to Jodhpur for a
sightseeing of Maharangarh Fort. Return to the train and begin an
onward journey to Udaipur
Day 7: Udaipur
Arrive Udaipur in the morning. After breakfast, visit the magnificent
City Palace complex. Afternoon enjoy a walking tour of old markets of
Udaipur. Return to the train and proceed to Gujarat
Day 8: Vadodara
Arrive Vadodara in the morning. After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing
of palaces, parks, temples and museums of the city. Later visit the
World Heritage site of Champaner-Pavagarh Archaeological Park. After
lunch visit the Jambughoda Palace. Return back to Vadodara to enjoy a
‘high tea’ with the Royal family at Laxmi Vilas Palace. Return to the
train and begin onward journey to Mumbai
Day 9: Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai in the morning. After breakfast, disembark from the train
and transfer to Taj Mahal Hotel for an overnight stay. Visit the
elephanta caves later in the morning. Afternoon enjoy a city
sightseeing including Prince of Wales Museum, Crawford market and Dhobi
ghat.
Day 10: Mumbai – London
Board a mid-day Jet Airways flight, arriving London same evening.
Meal Plan: Full Board, except Delhi and Mumbai on Bed &
Breakfast
Classical India Tour
(London-Delhi-Agra-Gwalior-Bandhavgarh-Varanasi-Gaya-Kolkata-London)
Day 1: London-Delhi
Fly from Heathrow in the evening
Day 2: Delhi
Arrive Delhi in the morning. Transfer to The Imperial Hotel for an
overnight stay. The afternoon is at leisure with an option to do a city
sightseeing.
Day 3: Delhi-Agra
The epic journey kicks off at the Safardjung Railway station. On
arrival, proceed towards the Maharajas’ Express and complete the
pre-boarding formalities as you enjoy a welcome drink and proceed to
Agra.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on board. On arrival in Agra, enjoy a
tour of the spectacular monuments of the city. Enjoy a Champagne Lunch
on the lush green lawns of Taj Khema, overlooking the Taj Mahal.
Be welcomed by colourfully attired dancers and musicians who escort you to the gardens. Rejoin the train and continue your eventful journey to princely Gwalior. Dinner and Overnight on board.
Day 4: Gwalior
Early this morning, after a leisurely breakfast, set out to explore
the magnificent wonders of Gwalior. Welcome to Gwalior. Head to the
Gwalior Fort, the city’s most famous landmark.
Enjoy a tour of the many
temples and ruined palaces like the Man Mandir Palace, Gujari Mahal,
Sas Bahu Ka Mandir and Suraj Kund. Continue for lunch to the Usha Kiran
Palace to a true Gwalior traditional welcome.
Enter this 120-year-old
palace, which has played host to the King of England and is now a
heritage hotel. Set amidst 9 acres of beautifully landscaped lawns,
this regal palace is outfitted with artistic stone carvings and
delicate filigree work. Following lunch, explore the Jai Vilas Palace
and Scindia Museum.
Although the current Maharaja still lives in a
portion of the palace, a large part of it is now a museum. It displays
royal memorabilia and a remarkable collection of artifacts from around
the world. The crystal staircase, arched ceiling with stunning gold leaf
work, two of the world’s largest chandeliers, each weighing over three
tons are noteworthy artifacts found within the palace. Revisit the
Usha Kiran Palace for Cocktails, following which, you will head back to
board the train. Dinner and Overnight on board.
Day 5: Khajuraho
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and get ready to explore the erotic
architecture of the temples of Khajuraho.
Located in Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is renowned for its architecture
and exquisite sculptures.
Built between 950 and 1050 AD in a truly
inspired burst of creativity, the temples are superb examples of
Indo-Aryan architecture. The highly sensual engravings depict the whole
range of human emotions and relationships. Proceed on a tour of the
magnificent temples of Khajuraho, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Explore
the Western group which constitutes some of the finest examples of
Chandela art at its peak. Visit the Kandariya Mahadev Temple and the
Chaunsath Yogini Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and the 64 Yoginis
respectively. Continue to the Eastern group of temples. Visit the
exquisite Jain Temples and admire some of the finest sculpture and
carvings.
Following lunch, familiarize yourself with the local culture and the rural lifestyle of the villagers on a guided Village Walk. Return to the comfort of the train and get ready for a thrilling ride into the wild. Dinner and Overnight on board.
Day 6: Bandhavgarh
Very early this morning, you will arrive into Umaria. Prepare
yourself for an exciting drive to the Bandhavgarh National Park. With
the highest known density of tigers, it was the former hunting grounds
of the Maharaja of Rewa.
Animals such as deer, langur, sloth bears and
exotic birds can also be found here. Watch them in their natural
surroundings and we ensure the thrill more than makes up for the early
wake up call. Following brunch, you will return to Umaria and continue
the journey. Dinner and Overnight on board.
Day 7: Varanasi
Rise early and arrive into the legendary city of Varanasi. Following
an early morning tea/coffee, get ready to witness a spectacular sunrise
over the sacred Ganges. Begin the morning with a scenic cruise on the
river Ganges.
Watch the sunrise over the river amidst the sound of
temple bells and religious chants. Witness the spectacle of pilgrims
ritually bathing, holy men practicing yoga and invoking the dawn.
Continue for a walk through the twisting alleys absorbing the hustle
and bustle of the Old City.
After breakfast, visit the world famous
Varanasi Silk Weaving Centre. You can even shop for some world famous
Banarasi silk saris and brocades. Following lunch, visit the ancient
ruins of Sarnath, where Buddha delivered his first sermon expounding
the principles of Buddhism.
Visit the ruins, stupa and the Ashoka
Pillar, whose four back-to-back lions have been adopted as India’s
national emblem. Rejoin the train and head to your next destination.
Dinner and Overnight on board.
Day 8: Gaya
Another early morning arrival gets you into Gaya. Following
breakfast, proceed to Nalanda, an important seat of learning in ancient
India. Its ruins indicate the presence of more than 2000 teachers and
10,000 students from all over the world.
After visiting these
magnificent ruins enjoy lunch at Rajgir. After lunch, drive to Bodh Gaya
– the place where Prince Gautama attained enlightenment under the
Bodhi Tree and came to be known as Lord Buddha. Visit the Maha Bodhi
Temple complex dedicated to Lord Buddha; originally believed to be a
small shrine erected by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC, the
temple was later restored in the 11th and 18th centuries.
Today, the
temple complex is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to
Gaya and rejoin the train for your final night on board. Dinner and
Overnight on board.
Day 9: Kolkata
Following an early breakfast, you will disembark in ‘The City of
Joy’, Kolkata. Bid farewell to the Maharajas’ Express and proceed to
explore this vibrant city with its distinct imperial flavour. Enjoy a
lavish lunch during the city tour, as your ‘Classical India’ journey
comes to an end.
The mystical journey is over, but the memory of which,
will live on forever. Transfer to the Oberoi Grand hotel where you have
the remainder of the day at leisure.
Day 10: Kolkata
Return to your home country!
Meal Plan:
Full Board, except Delhi and Kolkata on
Bed & Breakfast