Palace on Wheels History

The Palace on Wheels is considered one of the most elegant and luxurious trains of the world. Its extraordinary decorations, unparalleled services and exceptional comfort all together make it unique.

The history of the Palace on Wheels dates back to the Rajput and British Era. During those days the kings and the princes of the states of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India used luxurious coaches of this train. However after India’s Independence in 1947, this train was discontinued by the Indian Railways because of its gorgeous furnishings and rich and traditional interiors. They dicided to discontinue the running of this train because they thought it was not feasible for normal passengers to travel by such luxurious trains.

Perhaps because of the inspiration derived from this the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation came up with a plan to offer memorable train journeys to tourists visiting Rajasthan. Therefore during the year 1981--82 they have launched the Palace On Wheels, the luxurious train with all modern amenities, but with a feeling of the past. The train made its inaugural trip on 26th January 1982. And the most amazing fact about the trip was that it was powered by a steam engine.

The Palace on wheels covers some of the most beautiful destinations of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, including Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and the Taj Mahal at Agra.

The palace on Wheels is a dream come reality. Because of the wide media coverage by TV channels such as BBC World, Zee TV, National Geographic, MDR of Germany, etc., the Palace on Wheels have gained wide popularity. As time passed, Palace on Wheels has acclaimed great reputation worldwide through its excellent onboard services as well as enchanting interiors. Moreover it has greatly enhanced the tourism industry.