Palace on Wheels is one of India’s best-known luxury trains, recreating the royal rail travel of the Rajasthan maharajas. Over seven nights you travel in a heritage-styled saloon train, waking up each morning in a new royal city while the train carries you onward overnight.
The circuit is a complete Rajasthan sampler — forts, lake palaces, desert dunes, a tiger reserve and the Taj Mahal — without a single hotel check-in or long road transfer.
Delhi – Jaipur – Sawai Madhopur – Chittaurgarh – Udaipur – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Bharatpur – Agra – Delhi
The classic Palace on Wheels circuit, departing and returning to Delhi. It links Rajasthan’s major forts and palaces with wildlife at Ranthambore and the Taj Mahal at Agra.
Guests gather at Delhi Cantonment railway station for a traditional welcome with garlands, turbans and music, followed by a welcome drink and introduction to the train and its staff.
Settle into your cabin and enjoy dinner onboard as the train departs for Jaipur.
Arrive in Jaipur for breakfast and a full-day sightseeing programme. Visit Amber Fort (with an optional elephant or jeep ascent), the City Palace, Jantar Mantar and a photo-stop at the Hawa Mahal.
Return to the train for lunch, with time to browse Jaipur’s bazaars for textiles, jewellery and handicrafts before the train departs for Sawai Madhopur.
Early morning arrival at Sawai Madhopur for a wildlife safari in Ranthambore National Park, one of India’s best-known tiger habitats. Return to the train for breakfast.
In the afternoon the train reaches Chittaurgarh, where you tour the vast hilltop fort with its palaces, towers and tales of Rajput valour and sacrifice.
Arrive in Udaipur for breakfast and sightseeing. Visit the City Palace above Lake Pichola, the Jagdish Temple and Saheliyon-ki-Bari gardens, followed by a boat ride on Lake Pichola at leisure.
Lunch is served at a lakeside heritage venue or onboard; the train departs for Jaisalmer in the evening.
Reach Jaisalmer in the morning. Explore the living Jaisalmer Fort, the intricately carved Patwon-ki-Haveli and the town’s sandstone lanes.
Optional camel ride on the Sam sand dunes at sunset, with tea or a cultural performance in the desert, before returning to the train.
Arrive in Jodhpur and visit the imposing Mehrangarh Fort — its museum, palaces and ramparts overlooking the blue-washed old city — and Jaswant Thada, the marble royal cenotaph.
After lunch at Umaid Bhawan Palace (or onboard), the train departs towards Bharatpur.
Early morning at Bharatpur for Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a UNESCO-listed bird sanctuary (rickshaw or cycle tour). Breakfast onboard as the train continues to Agra.
Afternoon visit to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Gather for a farewell dinner onboard as the train heads back to Delhi.
The train arrives at Delhi Cantonment in the morning. After breakfast, guests disembark and the journey concludes with onward transfers.
Palace on Wheels is styled after the royal saloon carriages of the Rajput rulers. Each cabin has an en-suite bathroom and an attendant, and the train carries two restaurants, a bar and a lounge. Cabins are decorated in the colours and motifs of the Rajasthan princely states.
Itineraries are indicative and may vary with the train operator’s season schedule; the final day-wise programme is confirmed at the time of booking.