Maharajas Express -Heritage of India

Today is the only day of the trip spent entirely on the train (the rest of the journeys take place overnight), which provides a very relaxed introduction to India! As you proceed northwards, the densely populated heart of downtown Mumbai gives way to modern suburbs and, eventually, a patchwork of rice fields, market towns and slow-flowing rivers framed by the shadowy profiles of the Western Ghat mountains inland. The nearby coast was where some of the very first Portuguese and British trading posts were located in the 16th century. After passing through the capital of Ahmedabad in the evening, you’ll travel onwards through the night to Udaipur.

The Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, once spent a dreamy sojourn in one of the summer palaces in Udaipur, and it is said he was so taken with the beauty of the architecture that he used it as a blueprint for the Taj Mahal. Spread around the shores of shimmering Lake Pichola; the city remains an undeniably romantic spectacle, its ghats (sacred steps), whitewashed havelis and temple towers overlooked by the pale-ochre walls and domes of the exquisite City Palace.

Aside from the views over the water, the highlight for most is the palace interiors, where treasures from the royal collection are displayed amid a backdrop of ornate Rajput murals, mirrorwork and mosaics.

Mehrangarh Fort rises from the top of a sheer-sided escarpment overlooking one of the greatest spectacles in Asia: the blue-painted patchwork of rooftops and courtyards comprising Jodhpur’s old city. After a guided tour of the fort’s royal apartments and museum, you’ll be led on foot (or by auto-rickshaw if you prefer!) around the fascinating main bazaar area. Supper will be either in the garden palace of Khaas Bagh or on the foot of Hanwant Mahal, a splendid sandstone mansion on the outskirts whose rooftop dining terrace affords spectacular views of Umaid Bhawan – the Maharaja of Jodhpur’s vast palace complex, built as a famine relief project in the 1930s.

Filled with richly carved sandstone pavilions, palaces and assembly halls, Junagarh forms the nucleus of a fascinating old city dating from the heyday of the caravan trade across the Thar. An unassailable fortress built in 1593 AD by Raja Rai Singh, the formidable structure is encircled by a moat, but on the inside, you will find overwhelming beauty in the Diwan-i-Khas, Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Hawa Mahal, Badal Mahal and Anup Mahal.

Later, experience the royal pageantry as a convoy of camel carts accompanied by musicians takes you for a Sundowner on the Sand Dunes, followed by an exclusive open-air barbeque in the Thar desert, in traditional style, with live folk music, song and dance. Overnight on board the train.

Return to the comfort of your train by 9 p.m. for an overnight on board.

The Amber Fort rises from a craggy escarpment on the city's outskirts. The ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of Rajput fortress palaces encompasses a wonderland of sumptuously decorated halls, pavilions, ornamental entranceways and gardens, all enlivened by intricate mirrorwork and mosaic. Built in red sandstone and white marble by Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and completed by Mirja Raja Jai Singh, the rugged, forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise with a beautiful fusion of art and architecture.

A short jeep ride takes you up to the fort, where you will enjoy a tour of the royal apartments and striking views of the gorge below. Step back into the Mughal era as you enter the Chamber of Mirrors (Sheesh Mahal) and the Hall of Victory. Before leaving the Fort, our guide will help you explore the village below the fort, where an ancient, beautiful old stepwell offers a worthwhile detour or the nearby stands Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, where you can admire fine antique fabrics and watch block printers in action.

Enjoy a wonderful lunch at the world-famous Rambagh Palace Hotel. Built in 1835, the place remained the official residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur until 1957, when it was converted into a luxury hotel. Even today, it retains much of its original royal splendour and showcases the living style of the Maharaja at its most elegant.  You can choose to relax at the hotel for the afternoon or enjoy further sightseeing of the city, returning to the train for dinner.

Overnight on board the train.

Ranthambore National Park was created in the 1970s to spearhead 'The Save the Tiger Project' and remains a shining example of conservation. As a result of this and several subsequent National Parks, India's Tiger population in the wild has grown from under 1,000 in 1970 to over 4,500 today.   

The park lies on the margins of the Aravalli range of hills amid a tract of dry deciduous forests and grassland and offers the perfect terrain for these magnificent animals. Close to the park entrance sits a long flight of stone steps that winds up to the ramparts of a medieval fort, affording fine views over the reserve and its much-photographed lake. On your search for the Tiger, you will also get to see several other animals, including Sambar deer, Chital, Hyena and wild Boar and the elusive Nilgai, a blue-hued cow.  Around eighty Tigers currently survive in reserve, and your chances of spotting one here are better than average.

On return to the train, you enjoy a sumptuous breakfast as the train travels towards Emperor Akbar's spectacular former capital, which he abandoned shortly after, as local wells ran dry.  It remains beautifully preserved, in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago.

Today's early morning visit focuses on the Taj Mahal, the Jewel of India and one of the world's great architectural wonders.  Among the first to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, the mausoleum was built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved wife of Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632. Crafted entirely of white marble and decorated in elaborate geometric forms, screens cut out of solid marble and delicate pietre dure inlay work showcasing elaborate plants, flowers and fruit, so admired by the Empress, the Taj Mahal is so perfect in its geometry and artistically accomplished that it took 22 years and over 20,000 craftsmen to complete.

You will have plenty of time at the Taj Mahal before heading for breakfast at a nearby restaurant, where you can continue gazing at the magnificent Taj Mahal. 

Later, you return to the train and continue your journey to Delhi, where the Rail Journey ends. A TransIndus representative will receive you and either transfer you to the international airport for your return journey home or to a Delhi Hotel for further arrangements as booked.