Palace on Wheels
|
|
Palace on Wheels History
It was in the eighties when Indian Railway and Rajasthan Tourism decided to work together on a project to resurrect some of these forgotten symbols of its historic heritage. (POW) has graced the Rajasthan Tourism and the Indian Railway since January 1982.
Thirteen carriages from different princely states were brought together and refurbished, and the Palace on Wheels was launched.
The Legend
The Palace - on - Wheels started as a unique holiday train hauled by a steam engine with its inaugural trip on 2nd January, 182. It started to roll on its regular operations from October 1982.
The coaches have different names derived from the former princely states and that provides the link for the coat of arms and the decor inside. Within each carriage are comfortable of showers, built-in wardrobes with full-length mirrors, overhead and night-lights, piped music, service bells and public address system.
The Legend Conserved
In 1991, a new air - conditioned meter gauge Palace - On - Wheels, on the lines of the old heritage train, was launched 13 saloons, 2 restaurants, kitchen car, bar - cum - lounge and 4 service cars.
The Legend and the Modern
The Palace - on - Wheels has gained remarkable success and attained worldwide acclaim and popularity bagging the PATA gold award in 1987. The Palace - on - Wheels has been rated as one of the ten best luxurious rail journey in the world. The popularity of the train has been enhanced by the media. Famous TV Teams such as BBC, MTV, Zee TV, National Geographic, MDR of Germany and many other have covered the train and shown it on their network.
It has carried 32264 tourist in 518 trips up to Feb. 2001. The eight days' and seven nights journey in royal splendor takes you to the territory of the Maharajas; the 'Pink City' of Jaipur; Jaisalmer, 'the jewel of the desert; the majestic stronghold of Jodhpur; Sawai Madhopur for the Ranthambore National Park; the city of Chittorgarh with its countless tales of Rajput chivalry; Udaipur with its lakes and Lakes Palace; the red stone city of Fatehpur Sikri and; of course, the Taj Mahal in Agra - one of the seven wonders of the world; Bharatpur, with its remarkable bird sanctuary.
