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The Palace on Wheels
Think Indian train tours and surely the wonderful Palace on Wheels must be one of the first names that comes to mind. Recognised as one of the top 10 rail journeys in the world, this luxury train snakes its way through the exotic splendors of Rajasthan, the opulence and quality of the carriages and faultless service on board, mirroring the majesty of the sights the train travels past. This is the stuff of dreams, perfect for a honeymoon or a particularly romantic holiday Indian holiday. The train's coaches are fully air-conditioned and decorated to the highest quality, whilst the food is exquisite and the service legendary.
Tours of Rajasthan via the Palace on Wheels depart from New Delhi and transport you to fabulous locations such as Jaipur (the Pink City) with its spectacular Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds). The next stop is Jaisalmer, with its ancient sandstone fort rising from the baking sands of the Thar Desert. Then it's on to the startlingly blue city of Jodhpur, home to a number of palaces as well as the Mehrangarh Fort. After Jodhpur a tour of the Ranthambhor National Park and some possible tiger spotting divides trips to Sawai Madhopur and Chittaurgarh. From there, you train tour will take you to lovely Udaipur (the Lake City) known the globe over for the Jag Niwas (Lake Palace) which seems to float serenely above the waters of Lake Pichhola. The final legs of the tour include Bharatpur and then the incomparable Taj Mahal in Agra, before returning you to New Dehli. Fabulous!
If you don't feel like splashing out on the Palace on Wheels, or would prefer a slightly different itinerary, there are a number of other Indian tour operators who conduct train tours of Rajasthan. Some train companies refer to their Rajasthan train routes as Golden Triangle tours and they may include more stops or less than the Palace on Wheels, depending on which tour you choose. Make sure you do your research thoroughly before you decide which Indian train trip to book.
North India Train Tours
Like the rail tours of Rajasthan, there is a huge amount of choice if you wish to see the sights and sounds of North India from the comfort of a deluxe railway carriage. Many North India train rides will also include many of the cities associated with a Rajasthan tour; such is the popularity of the state with tourists. However, you'll also find travel schedules, which will venture beyond Jaisalmer and Jodhpur to other Northern Indian attractions. |
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South Indian Train Tours
South India entails the delights of Mumbai and Cochin, Bangalore and Chennai. Kerala has been loved by travelers for decades and if you first enjoyed her warmth, natural beauty and fantastic vegetarian cuisine as a cash-strapped backpacker many moons ago, maybe now is the time to revisit her from the comfort of railway carriage. Southern Indian has a completely different feel to the North, due in no small part to the different religious beliefs observed there. Many of the top tourist sites in the south include incredible temples, covered in intricate carvings, such as the Kanyakumari and Padmanabhaswamy Temples. Kerala is also rightly famous for it's houseboats and many India vacations to this part of the world include boat trips through the lakes and lagoons of this gorgeous state.
West and South Indian Train Tours
Again, there are a large number of schedules and various stops for you to make your travel selection from, but the southern and western states of India are ideal for a longer train tour, taking in sites such as Hyderabad, Chennai, Maduria and Cochin as you wend your way from Mumbai to Bangalore. This is a good way to sample some of the attractions of Goa and Kerala, enjoy some of India's stunning flora and fauna at some of her national parks and explore the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. The history and culture of this part of India is rich and enthralling and any tour to this area cannot help but instill fascination in the visitor.
Hill Train Tours
Running across the highlands and tea plantations of India, the hill railways offer another unique opportunity to absorb another side of India. Railway tracks run to exotic locations such as Darjeeling and Shimla, Kalka and Ooty. Pick a train tour and see where the rail track leads you.
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