India’s erstwhile maharajahs liked their creature comforts, even while travelling. Many of the royals, thus, had their own trains in which they could travel with their retinues in the style they felt befitted them.
Indian Railways has been running a number of trains that seek to bring back the experience of that era. Aside from specials that cover parts of the north, the Maharaja Express, which started in 2010, has been winning international acclaim and awards, consistently being listed among the leading luxury trains of the world in the company of the Royal Scotsman and the Eastern and Oriental Express.
The Maharaja Express runs between Mumbai and Delhi, with 23 coaches carrying just 88 guests, on seven-night-eight-day trips with a hefty price tag: $6,840 for deluxe cabins going up to $23,700 for the Presidential Suite. This does not deter well-heeled foreign tourists who are happy to pay for the royal treatment and content with seeing a slice of India at train-pace.
Southern comfort
Now, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is introducing two new routes in September, bringing the regal train rides to the south.
The Southern Sojourn will cover Goa, Hampi, Mysore, Ernakulum, Kumarakom and Trivandrum.
And the Southern Jewel will cover Chettinad, Mahabalipuram, Mysore Hampi and Goa.
As with the Maharaja Express, both will be seven-night-eight-day trips, and guests get on-board dining, and excursions and events at each destination. And of course, tariffs will ransom minor princelings: ₹5,00,680 (plus taxes) gets you the entry-level deluxe cabin, ₹7,23,420 is the price of a junior suite and ₹10,09,330 is the bill for a suite. The Presidential suite will set you back ₹17,33,410. You, or your Dewan, can make your bookings at the official Maharaja Express site, the-maharajas.com.
