Luxury Trains in India: Routes, Features & Royal Experiences

Luxury Trains in India: Routes, Features & Royal Experiences

Have you ever witnessed any luxury trains in India? Either yes or no, you must be interested in finding more about it. Luxury trains come with deluxe quality services with royal journeys across the diverse landscape of India. Luxury trains run on specific routes offering cultural heritage, historical sites and wildlife views. Its gourmet dining with butler service provides an unforgettable experience. Its royal features like personalized services, opulent cabins and amenities makes it luxurious.

Seems Interesting! Keep reading this post to explore a list of luxury trains in India that will blow your mind with their features. Keep an eye on IRCTC Train Running Status to stay on time and enjoy the luxury train travel. It also explains its unmatched features, service and experience in scenic routes.

Why Choose Luxury Trains In India?

The top reasons to choose the luxury train for the journey are listed below.

Unmatched Comfort and Luxury

Talking about luxury and private suites is not in the list, so it's incomplete. Yes, luxury trains offer private suites; it doesn't matter whether you are on wheels or not. Moreover, it offers luxury through opulent, gourmet dining, modern amenities with wifi facilities, on board spa/lounge, and personalized butler services, offering unmatched comfort.

Scenic Routes

Luxury Trains offer scenic and diverse routes to cover cultural landmarks, heritage cities and natural wonders across India. Changing landscapes offer unforgettable experiences to passengers with the best services. Route selection and journey structure, such as day time or slow journey offers natural scenery with a blend of changing landscapes.

Gourmet Dining

Luxury trains in India offer thematic dining restaurants, national/international menus by top chefs, elegant ambiances with expressing royal decoration. It also offers personalized dietary services with regional specific meals or themed dinners to meet royal experience. Multi-cuisine meals in butler service make your day.

Personalized Service

With a high staff-to-passenger ratio, it offers quality and quick service. Its attentive services, such as sightseeing guidance, luggage handling, and taste specific meals, improves royal experience. Private butler, available around the clock, offers premium services and provides an unmatched experience during travel.

Top 10 Luxury Trains in India & Their Features

Indian Railways offers iconic luxury trains through IRCTC. Passengers traveling on these premium trains can easily check their PNR Status online to confirm booking details, seat availability, and journey updates. The list of luxury trains operated in India is discussed below.

1. Maharaja Express

The Maharaja Express is the most luxurious train in India​ and is considered internationally. Recognized as “World’s Leading Luxury Train”.

Features

  • Ultra-luxurious cabins with spacious rooms and large panoramic windows.
  • Multi-cuisine options featuring Indian, regional and continental specialties.
  • Personalized butler service for assistance with luggage, dining or any requests.
  • Off-train experiences at destinations like guided tours and others.

2. Palace on Wheels

A joint venture between Indian Railways and Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation offering a complete luxury experience.

Features

  • The Palace on Wheels, the first luxury heritage train, was launched in 1982.
  • The train offers a round trip with a travel time of 7 nights and 8 days.
  • It has 18 coaches with air-conditioned cabins like suites, junior suites and deluxe cabins.
  • A private bathroom with antique furniture and 24/7 room service offers a royal experience.

3. Deccan Odyssey

It is the best luxury train in India, jointly ventured by Indian Railways and Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, offering rich heritage and culture.

Features

  • Spacious cabins with air-conditioning.
  • Suite options like Deluxe and Presidential.
  • Multi-cuisine restaurant with expert chefs.
  • Lounge and bar for evening entertainment.
  • Itinerary options with professional safety.

4. Golden Chariot

The only Southern region operated luxury trains offering 3 itineraries across South India. It is the most luxurious train offering a royal travel experience with unforgettable hospitality.

Features

  • Royal cabins with en-suite premium fitted bathrooms.
  • Multi-cuisine with top chefs in a fine dining style.
  • Unique restaurant names like Nalapaka, Ruchi and a bar named Madira.
  • Spa cum fitness center named Arogya, combines traditional Ayurvedic spa with modern machines.

5. Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

Another train comes in the list of luxury trains in India​ and is similar to the Palace on Wheels. The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is especially designed for cultural immersion and ultimate comfort.

Features

  • Royal themed cabins, Deluxe and Super Deluxe cabins with modern amenities equipped cabins.
  • It offers royal restaurants named Sheesh Mahal and Swarna Mahal.
  • Spa and well facilities with personalized hospitality.
  • Well planned itinerary with a mix of cultural activity, royal dining and sightseeing.

6. Mahaparinirvan Express

The IRCTC Buddhist tourist train is named after Gautam Buddha. Mahaparinirvan Express, one of the top 10 luxury trains in India​ offers Buddhism pilgrimage places.

Features

  • Comfortable AC cabins with charging points and lighting over bed.
  • Offers pure vegetarian meals onboard, but can be ordered with the RailMitra or RailRestro train app.
  • Professional guides with multilingual coverage of multiple Buddhist sites.
  • All-in-one travel package with 24/7 safety and standard cleanliness.

7. Royal Orient Train

Enjoy the best luxury train journeys in India with eight-day and seven-night journeys in the Royal Orient Train. It offers a royal travel experience in the culturally rich states of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Features

  • Cabins with comfortable bedding, decor, warm lights and royal interiors.
  • A restaurant with a royal dining ambience, with freshly prepared meals.
  • Fully stocked bar with cosy lounge and stylish interior.
  • 24/7 cabin assistance with well coordination during off-train excursions.
  • Covers two culturally rich states Gujarat and Rajasthan with scenic views and changing landscape.

8. Fairy Queen Express

The oldest working steam locomotive, the Fairy Queen Express built in 1855. It holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the “World's Oldest Working Locomotive”.

Features

  • Heritage steam locomotive offering a historical experience with a vintage engine.
  • Fully restored coaches for comfort and nostalgia to offer the cheapest luxury train in India among the list of top 10  luxurious trains..
  • Covers about 132 km from Delhi to Alwar, offering rural landscapes and historic towns.
  • Offers traditional cuisine and allows Order food on Train from top restaurants using train apps like RailMitra or RailRestro.

9. Heritage Palace on Wheels

It is a modernized or revamped version of Palace on Wheels with improved interiors, newer routes with heritage experience.

Features

  • Fewer destinations but focusing on heritage-centric experience.
  • Provides heritage-inspired luxury with authentic royal experiences.
  • Personalized hospitality, heritage focused itineraries making it one of the best luxury train in India.
  • AC coaches with safe luggage storage and basic medical facilities.

10. Panj Takht Darshan Train

IRCTC special tourism train, the Panj Takht Darshan Train, offering a spiritual pilgrimage of sacred Sikh shrines.

Features

  • Covers all five takhts, such as Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Takht Sri Hazur Sahib.
  • Travel package includes train journey, local transport, vegetarian meals and tour escort with proper guidance.
  • It is not the cheapest luxury train in India​ but quite affordable for religious tourism.

Enjoy a Royal Experience with the Luxury Train & Its Route

Now, you have the list of India's most luxurious trains with their specific features that make it luxury. So, check each train's route to plan your journey with a royal experience onboard.

1. Maharaja Express (7 Days/6 Nights) & (4 Days/3 Night)

  • The Indian Splendour (7 Days/6 Nights)

Delhi to Mumbai via Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Mumbai.

  • The Heritage of India (7 Days/6 Nights)

Mumbai to Delhi via Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra.

  • The Indian Panorama (7 Days/6 Nights)

Delhi to Delhi route trip via Jaipur, Ranthambore, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi.

  • Treasures of India (4 Days/3 Night)

Delhi to Delhi round trip via Ranthambore and Jaipur

​2. Palace on Wheels (8D/7N)

Enjoy the best luxury train journeys in India with a Delhi to Delhi round trip via Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Bharatpur.

​3. Deccan Odyssey (8D/7N)

  • Maharashtra Splendour

Mumbai to Mumbai round trip via Nashik, Ajanta/Ellora Caves, Kolhapur, Goa, and Sindhudurg.

  • Cultural Odyssey

Delhi to Delhi round trip via Ranthambore, Jaipur, Agra, Gwalior, Orchha, Khajuraho, and Varanasi.

  • Indian Odyssey

Delhi to Mumbai via Ranthambore, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Vadodara, Ellora caves or (reverse route).

  • Heritage Odyssey

Get royal experience with the most luxurious train in India​ covering route Delhi to Delhi via Agra, Ranthambore, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Jaipur.

  • Maharashtra Wild Trail

Mumbai to Mumbai round trip via Ellora Caves, Aurangabad, Pench, Tadoba, Ajanta Caves, and Nashik.

4. Golden Chariot (6D/5N) & (4D/3N).

  • Pride of Karnataka (6D/5N)

Bengaluru to Bengaluru round trip via Nanjangud, Mysuru, Halebidu, Chikmagalur, Hospet and Goa.

  • Jewels of South (6D/5N)

Bengaluru to Bengaluru round trip via Mysuru, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, Chettinad, Cochin, and Cherthala.

  • Glimpses of Karnataka (4D/3N)

Bengaluru to Bengaluru round trip via Nanjangud, Mysuru, and Hospet.

​5. Royal Rajasthan on Wheels (8D/7N)

Delhi loop via Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jaipur, Khajuraho, Varanasi, and Agra.

​6. Mahaparinirvan Express (8D/7N)

It is one of the luxury Trains in India that offers a Delhi loop via Bodhgaya, Rajgir & Nalanda, Varanasi & Sarnath, Lumbini, Kushinagar, Sravasti, and Agra.

​7. Royal Orient Train (8D/7N)

Delhi to Delhi trip via Chittorgarh & Udaipur, Mehsana & Ahmedabad, Sasan Gir & Somnath, Ahmedpur Mandvi & Palitana, Sarkhej & Ranakpur, and Jaipur.

​8. Fairy Queen Express (2D/1N)

Delhi-Alwar-Sariska-Delhi

Delhi Cantt-Rewari-Delhi

​9. Heritage Palace on Wheels (8D/7N)

New Delhi to New Delhi via Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, & Agra.

​10. Panj Takht Darshan Train (10D/9N)

Patna Sahib, Kesgarh Sahib (Anandpur), Damdama Sahib (Bathinda), Akal Takht (Amritsar). Hazur Sahib (Nanded).

Final Thoughts

Indian Railways offers the best luxury train in India in various routes. It offers premium class personalised service with a royal experience in trains. Trains such as Maharaja Express, Deccan Odyssey, Golden Chariot and more offer various features to make journeys royal. Moreover, its specific day-night route provides an opportunity to witness changing landscape, natural scenery and royal treatment during train journeys. So, book tickets and check train running status with RailMitra or RailRestro to avoid last minute chaos. Enjoy all in one package as per your interest and experience the royal class journey with these premium trains.