History of Palace on Wheels 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. Thirteen carriages from different princely
states were brought together and refurbished, and the Palace on Wheels
was launched. |

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. Thirteen carriages from different princely states were brought
together and refurbished, and the Palace on Wheels was launched. A superb train
that evoked the past with modern facilities and created a journey that was on
offer to people around the world-wannabe princes who could be royals for their
week of the journey.
For,
along with the restored carriages-some still glowing with their original
teakwood panels intact-came liveried attendants, royal repasts from the
attached kitchen, a lounge, and a dining car. The Palace on Wheels had
become so popular and there is and would always be resistance to any move to
discontinue it.
The result was a spanking new train that
faithfully recreated the old one, but much more comfortable, and intended to
provide a smoother ride. However, this too was on the meter gauge being used
for yet another exotic journey in the form of the Royal Orient Express that
travels from Delhi to parts of Rajasthan, but is used primarily to discover
the neighboring state of Gujarat.
The Palace On Wheels started as a unique holiday train hauled by a steam
engine with its inaugural trip on 26th January, 1982. It started to roll on
its regular operations from October 1982.
The Palace on Wheels,
on broad gauge, is clearly the pride of the Indian Railways. It is
luxurious, and it is modern. 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
rooms and corridors are carpeted, the furniture inlaid and upholstered
especially for the train. Blinds drape large windows, which frame views
across the desert and the passing arid landscape. At the end of each coach
is a lounge.
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