Palace on Wheels
Palace on Wheels is India's original heritage luxury train, a Rajasthan Tourism initiative running a fixed weekly-season loop from Delhi through Rajasthan's main cities and back, typically over seven nights and eight days.
- We check live cabin availability before you commit
- Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm IST
- No payment to start planning
- Best season
- Winter-to-spring season, broadly
- Price
- Quoted per person
- Route
- Palace on Wheels
Reviewed by Experience My India Editorial Team · Updated 13 Sept 2026
- Off-train excursions involve walking and, at some forts, steps; comfortable footwear helps.
- Book ahead, especially for winter departures, when demand is highest.
- Travellers whose main interest is Rajasthan specifically, and who want the classic, most established version of the royal-train experience rather than the newest or most premium option.
- Launched in the 1980s using former royal and Viceregal carriages, Palace on Wheels was India's first luxury tourist train and remains the most closely associated with Rajasthan's royal-heritage theme.
Launched in the 1980s using former royal and Viceregal carriages, Palace on Wheels was India's first luxury tourist train and remains the most closely associated with Rajasthan's royal-heritage theme. Its route typically loops from Delhi through Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Chittorgarh, Bharatpur and Agra before returning to Delhi, over seven nights.
Cabins carry a heritage decor theme, and the fare typically bundles meals, onboard entertainment and guided excursions at each stop.
Board in Delhi
Departures leave from Delhi on the operator's published weekly schedule for the season.
Rajasthan loop
The train stops at each city overnight or by day, with off-train guided excursions to forts and palaces included.
Agra extension
Most routes include a stop at Agra for the Taj Mahal before returning to Delhi.
Return to Delhi
The loop closes back where it started, typically eight days after departure.
Experience My India quotes this trip per person in INR after confirming your dates, hotel category and group size. The written quote names every hotel and inclusion, and nothing is charged until you approve it.
What’s included
- Cabin accommodation
- Meals
- Onboard entertainment
- Guided excursions at each stop
What’s not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Gratuities
- Monument entry fees not covered by the package
Palace on Wheels
- Book ahead, especially for winter departures, when demand is highest.
Best season and starting point
Seven nights and eight days is the established route length. It runs a winter-to-spring season, broadly September to April, with weekly departures during the season — exact dates are confirmed against the current calendar.
Who it suits
- Travellers whose main interest is Rajasthan specifically, and who want the classic, most established version of the royal-train experience rather than the newest or most premium option. It suits couples and small groups happy with a fixed, all-in-one Rajasthan loop rather than a custom itinerary.
Honest cautions
- This is a fixed loop, not a customisable route — check the stop list matches what you want to see before booking.
- Off-train excursions involve walking and, at some forts, steps; comfortable footwear helps.
Why book with Experience My India?
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Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
500+ vetted local guides
35+ destination specialists plan every trip by hand.
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Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST · +91 73022 65809
No payment until you approve
You receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.
How we vet every guide, stay and routeIndia e-Visa: who needs one and how to applyHave a specialist design this trip
How does booking work?
- 1
Send an enquiry
Dates, who is travelling and how you like to travel. Two fields to start.
- 2
We check availability
Hotels, guides and permits for your dates, with honest alternatives if something is full.
- 3
Price and hotels named
Every hotel and inclusion is named before you pay anything.
- 4
Written quote in INR
One document, no hidden lines, valid for the dates it quotes.
- 5
You approve
Change anything you like. Nothing is charged until you say yes.
- 6
A named specialist runs it
The same person from first reply to departure, Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST.
Meet your trip designer
Gurudutt Kaushal
Founder, Experience My India · IIT Jodhpur
Gurudutt Kaushal founded Experience My India and set the two rules every trip here runs on: hotels and guides are named before you pay, and a human replies within four hours. Your itinerary is designed by one of the 35+ destination specialists on his team and checked against our vetting standard.
Trust and protection
Ministry of Tourism approved
Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Registered business
GSTIN 09BZFPM8067A1Z9
4.5 / 5 on Tripadvisor
Independent guest reviews
No payment to start
A written quote first; charged in INR only after you approve.
What do guests say?
- 5 stars4
- 4 stars2
- 3 stars1
- 2 stars0
- 1 stars0
What our guests say
Pooja Sahu
Raipur, Chhattisgarh · Group · Verified trip
4/51 week agoReally good. The early start was tough but paid off in empty courtyards and cool air. One of the stops on the itinerary was swapped without warning, though the replacement was arguably better.
via Google
Anjali Nair
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala · Solo · Verified trip
5/51 month agoStraightforward and honest. They told us in advance which parts would be crowded and which days to avoid, and the route they suggested was better than the one we had planned ourselves.
via Tripadvisor
Rakesh Jha
Patna, Bihar · Family · Verified trip
5/52 months agoOur guide's local contacts opened doors we did not know existed — a block-printing workshop, a temple kitchen at prasad time. The itinerary on paper was good; the day itself was far better.
via Google
Nikhil Kulkarni
Pune, Maharashtra · Couple · Verified trip
5/52 months agoDriver was a gem — patient, careful on the highway, and he pulled over for every photo request without a sigh. The car was comfortable and the air conditioning actually worked, which is not a given.
via Google
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancellation terms are confirmed with your written quote
- No payment is taken until you approve the itinerary.
What is the Palace on Wheels route?
A loop from Delhi through Rajasthan's main cities — typically Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Chittorgarh and Bharatpur — with a stop at Agra, returning to Delhi over seven nights.
How is it different from the Maharajas' Express?
Palace on Wheels is the older, Rajasthan-specific train with a fixed loop; the Maharajas' Express is newer, more premium in positioning, and its routes can extend beyond Rajasthan. Both are booked by enquiry against a seasonal calendar.
What is included in the fare?
Typically cabin accommodation, meals, onboard entertainment and guided excursions — we confirm the current season's exact inclusions once we have your dates.
How far ahead should I book?
Several months ahead for winter departures, which are the most in demand.
Request a quote
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