The Indian Railways - the second largest Railway system in the world, has over 62,300 Km of track laid between 7000 station. Today it offers diverse tourist routes, magnificent hotels on wheels with five star services and Indrail passes. Ideal for extensive trouble-free tour across the country.

To explore the splendor of multi-faceted India, Indrail passes provide excellent value for money and enhance the charm of holidays for visitors from abroad. INDRAIL passes offer visitors on a budget, the facility to travel as they like, over the entire Indian Railway System, without any route restriction within the period of validity of the ticket. These passes can only be purchased by foreign nationals and NRI's on payment in US Dollars, Pound Sterling and other convertible foreign currencies.

The Pass holder is not required to pay any reservation fee, super fast charges or surcharge for the journey.

The INDRAIL passes have now been made more attractive for transit and short stay visitors. The passes which were either available for a duration ranging from 1,7,15,21,30,60 to 90 days are now also available for half day, two days and four days. This new facility will offer economies of scale to visitors arriving by international flights and visiting only one or two connecting destination.

Palace on Wheels ( A Royal Train Journey)

Welcome aboard the Palace On Wheels on its splendid and enchanting royal journey through the bygone era of the erstwhile Maharajas. On board the Palace on Wheels you will feel the magic of the royal Rajasthan and the amazing Agra. Colour, action, fun and frolic added with rich local culture and tradition create an ethnic ambience and attract large number of tourists to these Indian destinations every year. The royal retreat takes you through the hues of the pink city, city of lakes, national park and the elegy of love. The journey begins on the Wednesday night when the dinner is served onboard. The eight days' and seven nights' magnificent journey in royal splendour takes you across the tourist destinations in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Palace-on-Wheels has been rated amongst the top ten luxury trains of the world. India boasts of other luxury trains too like the Royal Orient and the Fairy Queen. It happens to be one of the finest ways to travel through the intoxicating, incomparable, incredible, impressive, inimitable, inspirational land of India. Experience the royalty along side the cultural, architectural, natural and traditional richness that India has to offer on this terrific train - Palace On Wheels. The ambience and the aura make the astute feel to be living in the regal era. The train that is so true to its name, is bound, to enchant you. The comfort, the convenience and the charm are unmatched by any other train. The ease with which the entire trio will be covered is awesome.

Accommodation

14 fully air conditioned deluxe salons, each a combination of 4 twin bedded chambers with channel music, intercom, attached toilets, running hot and cold water, shower, wall to wall carpeting and other amenities.

Luggage Collection

Your luggage is picked up and taken to your respective salons without your worrying about it.

Arrival Kit

Each guest is provided with an arrival kit consisting of stationery items, brochures, cards etc. Anything additional can be asked for, from the attendant, always available at your service.
Attendant 'Khidmatgar'

An attendant or 'Khidmatgar' is always available at your service, to take care of your travel needs.

Palace on WheelsMeals

An exotic array of dishes to choose from - Continental, Chinese, Indian and Rajasthani cuisines are available on the Palace-On-Wheels.

Mineral Water

The greatest gift of nature bestowed on us i.e. water is made available to you in its purest form. Mineral water is made available to you all through the journey.

Newspapers/Magazines

The leading dailies and newspapers greet you every morning over a simmering hot cup of tea or beverage of your choice. Also available for you is a large collection of magazines.

Security

Adequate safety arrangements are made for you as well as your personal belongings in the train itself.

Toiletries

All essential toiletries like soaps, shampoos, moisturizers etc. are provided in the train.

Wine

A complimentary bottle of fine Indian wine to the royal guests (per cabin), courtesy Palace-On-Wheels.
For Disabled Persons : There is special; assistance available in the form of wheel chairs, crèches and a special attendant for manual assistance.

Restaurants

Two lavish and beautifully done restaurants; "The Maharaja" and "The Maharani" serve mouth watering Continental, Chinese, Indian and Rajasthani cuisines that would definitely make way to your heart through your stomach.

Shopping

Certain handicrafts and other special items of Rajasthani origin can be bought from State Govt. owned Emporia while you visit the places covered by the Palace-On-Wheels.

Common Facilities

Bar, Indoor Games, Chess, Playing Cards, Chinese Checkers, Carrom Board and Crossword Puzzles are available.

A lounge for relaxing, interacting, making friends, getting together and indulging in games. A mail box is provided on board, for posting your mail. First Aid is available on the train whereas a doctor can be arranged on call at very next station.

A wonder on wheels that carries you through the captivating world that is India - a civilization that has blended the past and the present as none has. A dreamscape where the dividing line between reality and fantasy gets blurred as you proceed, and each day brings forth experiences beyond your wildest expectations.

The Royal Orient is a joint venture of the Tourist Corporation of Gujarat Limited and the Indian Railways with thirteen coaches and saloons, The Royal Orient promises you seven memorable days and nights. Travel by night and take day trips to fascinating places.

Taste the pleasure of Raj culture, because your journey will take you and your family back in time of Maharajas. Weave through two of India's most culturally fascinating states, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Cross the great Indian desert at nights and take day trips to fascinating places by luxury coach.

The Royal Orient will transport you to palaces and forts steeped in legends of heroism and chivalry. One can feel the spirituality of an ancient Jain Temple city. Soak the feet in warm waters of the Arabian sea and laze on the beach. Safari in jungles to see the only lions outside Africa. Shop for exquisite handicrafts as old as history.
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The Coaches of Royal Orient : The Royal Orient, a spectacular concept in transport; an aesthetic marvel of modern times. It is an opportunity to experience its princely grandeur; a possibility of redefining the word pleasure. Thirteen indescribably wondrous, beautiful, gold embossed saloon cars recreate the resplendent living of times of yore.

The Facilities Offered

The Royal Orient provided with personalized service that only royalty was privileged with, promises you memorable days and nights that you will always remember and cherish. Sink into pink retreats with hot and cold running water, showers and soft channel music. Restaurant cars with exquisite Indian and continental cuisines. A luxurious lounge, Multicuisine restaurant, spacious baths, clean and comfortable cabins, furnished better than may 5-star hotels, a library, television and video entertainment. Most of the travel is done by night; daytime is reserved for sightseeing and shopping. The " Watering Hole," a bar well stocked with the choicest liquors.

To promote the concept of integrated tourism development, the Indian Railways after collaborating with the Himachal Tourism have added a touch of class to the Shivalik Deluxe Toy Train on the Kalka-Shimla route. The train runs between the Kalka and Shimla , Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and Kalka is situated on the foot hills of Shivalik Mountain Range.The whole journey is like paradise , with beautiful seneries all over the journey.

The Destinations Covered in the Kalka Shimla Rail Route
The 96-km long Kalka-Shimla narrow gauge railway track combines antiqueness and modernity with a gift of pilgrimage and natural charm. The rail motor car of 1927 vintage which had the distinction of bringing Mahatma Gandhi in 1945 to Shimla for talks with Viceroy Wavell about British plans to leave India, is still rail worthy and remains a tourist's attraction. The Gothic-style Barog railway station has become a favourite jaunt of Bollywood stars.

Going back to 1903, the Kalka-Shimla rail track is an engineering marvel, with 103 tunnels and over 700 non-girder bridges in a distance of only 96-km. The route's longest tunnel, midway at Barog, is 3,760 feet long. More than two- thirds of the entire track is on curves, some as sharp as 48 degrees.

The train stops at or run past Jabli, Dharampur, Barog, Solan, Salogra, Kandaghat and Taradevi, to name a few of the well maintained railway stations on the way. The Shivalik Deluxe Express, popularly known as the narrow-gauge Shatabdi, caters to top-of-the-line clientele. Introduced in June 1996, the Shivalik Deluxe Express runs packed to nine months capacity during the year.

The Coaches of the Shivalik Deluxe Toy Train
Wide glass windows, ergonomically designed reversible cushioned chairs, fancy electrical fittings, wall-to-wall carpeting, modern toilet amenities, exclusive cabins for couples, a music system, communication facilities with the guard and on-board customised catering services, has made this train extremely popular among the tourists.

Shivalik Deluxe Toy Train Shivalik Palace Tourist Coach
The Shivalik Palace tourist coach has a deluxe hotel room and a kitchenette. The fare includes meals on board and two retiring rooms for a one-day stay at Shimla. A family of six can book this coach for the onward journey from Kalka to Shimla. This coach can be attached in the rear of any train on the route so that the travelling party gets a 'peninsular' view of the valleys, mountains and clouds.

It has tastefully decorated interiors, folding beds/dining and dressing tables, cushioned chairs, wall clock, temperature-cum-time indicator, fans, fridge, kitchenware, cutlery, crockery, cooking range, music channel, cordless bell, and much more. Indoor games and light reading material are also provided to let the passengers enjoy a full-fledged luxury stay. An attendant is also provided while on travel.

Major Destinations of Rajdhani Express

New Delhi

The capital of India, New Delhi is a sprawling modern metropolis. The Rajdhani connects New Delhi to all the major destinations of India. Places of interest include the walled city of Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk, the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, the impressive Rashtrapati Building, the Old Fort, Humayun's Tomb, the Qutb Minar and Tughlakabad Fort.

Kolkata

Kolkata is the gateway city of eastern India. Despite its large population, Kolkata is an amazing city with unique attractions. Places of interest include the Fort William, the Victoria Memorial and its museum, St.Paul's Cathedral and the Raj Bhawan. Across the banks of the River Hooghly are Belur Math and the Dakshineshwar Temple. Diamond Harbour, where the Ganga meets the sea, is 51 kms from Calcutta.

Chennai

Chennai, a modern metropolis, is the most convenient gateway to South India. The places of interest include Fort St.George, St.Mary's Church, Kapaleeswarar Temple, Parthasarathy Temple, San Thome Basilica, the Government Museum and Valluvar Kottam. The broad sandy shore of the Marina Beach is the ideal place for an evening stroll.

Mumbai

Mumbai, the commercial capital of India has numerous interest to offer its visitors. The interesting places to visit in Mumbai include the famous Marine Drive, the Gateway of India, the Afghan Church, Hutama Chowk, Mahalakshmi Temple, Nehru Planetarium, Victoria Terminus and the famous Elephanta rock-cut caves.

Hyderabad

The 400 year old metropolis, Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad's rich past tfinds expression not only in its marvelous monuments, also in its language, food, customs and etiquette. Some fo the places of interest here are the Char Minar, Mecca Masjid, Golconda Fort, Publc Gardens and Birla Temple.

Bangalore

Bangalore, 'the garden city' of India, is also one of Asia's fastest growing urban centres. This Silicon valley of India boasts of numerous places of interest, which include the Bangalore Palace, Tipu Sultan's Fort and Palace, the Lal Bagh Gardens with its Glass House, Cubbon Park, the Bull Temple, the Vidhana Soudha and Venkatappa Art Gallery. The centrally located Ulsoor Lake, is dotted with picturesque and tiny islands.

Bhubaneshwar

This Temple city of India is the capital city of Orissa. There are numerous places of attractions here which are worth visiting. The interesting destinations like Puri and Konarak are close to Bhubaneshwar.

Ranchi

Ranchi is state capital of Jharkhand. The salubrious climate of Ranchi captivates numerous tourists to this place. Ranchi prides in housing several waterfalls, which are worth visiting.

Superfast, intercity trains known as the Shatabdi Express link major cities and offer facilities for quick and comfortable travel. While you relax, the Shatabdi hospitality treats you to meals and snacks. Shatabdi is a short distance train, it does not cover too long distances.

Major destinations of the Shatabdi are-
New Delhi

This national capital with numerous world renowned monuments is worth visiting. Places of interest include the walled city of Old Delhi, Chandni Chowk, the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, the impressive Rashtrapati Building, the Old Fort, Humayun's Tomb, the Qutb Minar and Tughlakabad Fort.

Kolkata

Kolkata, the city of joy is also linked to several destination by the Shatabdi Express. The attractions of Kolkata includes - Fort William, the Victoria Memorial and its museum, St.Paul's Cathedral and the Raj Bhawan. Across the banks of the River Hooghly are Belur Math and the Dakshineshwar Temple. Diamond Harbour, where the Ganga meets the sea, is 51 kms from Calcutta.

Agra

Once the capital of the brilliant Mughal rulers, Agra has history stamped indelibly on every brick of its numerous monuments. The places of interest include the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

Shatabdi Express Lucknow

The capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow is the artistic hub of this region. Lucknow’s culture, cuisine, crafts are all exceptional. The scarred brick buildings of the Residency, the Bara and Chhota Imambaras, Jama Masjid, Rumi Darwaza, The Clock Tower, the Picture Gallery, Aminabad and Hazrat Ganj, all tell vivid tales of the city’s past.

Dehra Dun

Dehra Dun set in the Doon Valley in Uttar Pradesh, is one of the most picturesque regions in the foothills of the panoramic Shivalik ranges. Enjoyable throughout the year because of its salubrious climate, Dehra Dun is a popular spot and an appropriate base for tourists visiting Haridwar, Rishikesh and the charming hill resort of Mussoorie.

Amritsar

Situated on the north western borders of India, in Punjab, the 400 year old city of Amritsar is the most important seat of Sikh history and culture. The city houses the sacred shrine – the Golden Temple, the Akal Takht – the immortal throne, the Sikh Museum and the Durgiana Mandir.

Bhopal

The city of Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is very impressive with its verdant, exquisitely laid out parks and gardens, broad avenues and streamlined modern edifices. Sites to visit in this historic city are: Taj-ul-Masjid, Jama Masjid, Moti Masjid, Shaukat Mahal, Sadar Manzil, Bharat Bhawan – the centre for performing and visual arts and the Tribal Habitat – a presentation of contemporary tribal cultures.