| The Royal Orient | |
|---|---|
| Entered service | 1994-95 |
| Operators | Indian Railways |
TheRoyal Orient is an Indian luxury tourist train that runs betweenGujarat andRajasthan, covering important tourist locations in both states.
Modelled on thePalace on Wheels, India's first luxury tourist train, it offers tourists a taste of royal luxury while "showcasing the best of Indian culture and heritage".
The train started operating in 1994–95 as a joint venture between the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat andIndian Railways.[1] Its livery features a blue scheme to differentiate it from thePalace on Wheels.
The train struggled in its early years, with passenger occupancy dropping from 25 percent in the first year to 15 percent in subsequent years. However, after an overhaul in 2007, things started looking up and the train started making profits.[2]
There are 13 coaches in the train which are named after erstwhile kingdoms ofRajputana.[3] Cabins are furnished in apalatial style and have baths attached. The train has multi-cuisine restaurants which offerRajasthani,Gujarati,Indian,Chinese andContinental cuisine.
The Royal Orient starts fromDelhi Cantonment railway station and operates between September and April, starting every Wednesday of the week.[4] It provides an eight day and seven night tour, and has stops atChittorgarh,Jaipur,Udaipur,Ahmedabad,Mehsana,Junagarh,Veraval,Sasan Gir,Mandvi, Dilwara,Palitana andSarkhej.[1][5]
Some of the tourist spots covered are theQutub Minar,Red Fort andJama Masjid inDelhi,Chittorgarh Fort andRani Padmini's Palace in Chittorgarh,Sabarmati Ashram in Amdavad,Lake Palace in Udaipur, theGir Wildlife Sanctuary andSomnath Temple inGujarat and theHawa Mahal andJantar Mantar in Jaipur.
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