India’s Best Trains

Its travel time folks ! I am heading to Kolkata this weekend to attend a friend’s wedding.
While the event as also the time spent there are expected to be a blast, we decided to enjoy ourselves even during travel time 😀
I have NEVER been on a long distance train in India…..so travelling for 26 hours via the Durunto Express should be a novel experience !

[Update : The Duronto Express is a well maintained fast train which really goes non stop to its destination ! They have a great catering service also with regular bursts of food supplements.]

Speaking of trains, most of us have a rather bad opinion of train travel in India…..not very clean….very cramped (short distance trains!) etc.
I thought why not look up something on some of the best trains of India instead ? That ought to make most people change their opinions on train travel here ! (yaya…I know I am a very optimistic person :D)

Palace on Wheels :

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Started In	:	Jan 26 1982
Route	:	Delhi – Jaipur – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Sawai Madhopur – Udaipur – Bharatpur – Agra – Delhi
Duration	:	7 Nights / 8 Days .
Season	:	August- April
Cost	:	450$-670$(September-April) or 340$-500$(August) per person per night depending on the type of occupancy.
Description	:	Rated amongst the top ten luxury trains of the world. A journey, which takes you to enthralling Rajasthan – the land of chivalry, then on to a rendezvous with one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Taj Mahal at Agra. Completely self-sufficient, its public spaces include two restaurant coaches and a bar coach with an attached library.

Deccan Odyssey :

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Started In	:	2004.
Route	:	Mumbai – Ganapatipule – Tarkarli – Goa – Pune – Aurangabad (Ellora) – Ajanta (Nashik)
Duration	:	9 Nights / 10 Days .
Season	:	October to March
Cost	:	285$-950$ per person per night depending on the type of occupancy.
Description	:	This really aims to be a complete 5-star hotel on wheels, with two restaurants and a bar, a sauna, business centre and other such amenities on board. One gets to visit the beautiful beaches in Goa and Maharashtra, the grand forts and palaces of the Marathas and the Osho Ashram in Pune.

Golden Chariot :

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Started In	:	October, 2009.
Route	:	Bangalore – Kabini – Mysore – Hassan – Hampi – Badami – Goa – Bangalore
Duration	:	7 Nights / 8 Days.
Season	:	October – April
Cost	:	285$-485$ per person per night depending on the type of occupancy.
Description	:	Named after the famous Stone Chariot in Hampi, a world heritage site. It takes enthusiasts across exotic locations in the state of Karnataka, in India. There are Eleven Passenger Saloons of Four Sleeping Chambers(cabins) each;Two Dining Cars with onboard Kitchen; Bar Lounge Saloon; & facilities of Conference Space,Business Center,Mini Gymnasium,Aryuvedic Spa center.

Royal Orient :

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Started In	:	1994-95.
Route	:	Delhi-Chittorgarh – Udaipur – Palitana – Somnath – Diu – Ahmedpur – Mandvi – Sasangir National Park – Junagarh – Ahmedabad – Jaipur – Delhi
Duration	:	07 Nights / 08 Days .
Season	:	September – April
Cost	:	175$-350$(October-March) or 132$-263$(April & September) per person per night depending on the type of occupancy. (not including liquor,laundry ,video camera expenses)
Description	:	The train covers some of the most exotic and lustrous destinations comprising of serene lakes, ancient temples, beautiful sea resorts and it also provides you an opportunity to closely monitor the rich wildlife of Rajasthan and Gujarat. A restaurant car is attached with the train to provide you Indian, continental, Chinese as well as Rajasthani and Gujarati cuisine. Additional facilities include a well stocked bar & a library.

The Fairy Queen :

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Started In	:	1855-1908 , 1997-Present.
Route	:	Delhi – Alwar – Sariska – Delhi
Duration	:	2 Days .
Season	:	October-March.
Cost	:	48$-165$ per person per night depending on the depth of travel(1 way/2way,Sariska travel etc).
Description	:	It holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest working Steam locomotive in regular operation. This train has got only a first class chair car having 50 seats and a pantry car for on board catering. The train will stop at every major destination and the ambience of it will provide you an excellent opportunity to feel like a maharaja as you travel through the royal land.

Other fantastic luxury trains include Heritage on Wheels, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels ,India on Wheels etc .

Ref :
http://www.visit2india.net/
http://www.famousinindia.com/famous_trains_in_india.html
http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-seltrain.html