| Palace on Wheels | |
|---|---|
 Logo of thePalace on Wheels | |
| Entered service | 26 January 1982; 44 years ago (1982-01-26) |
| Operators | Indian Railways |
| Lines served | New Delhi –Jaipur –Sawai Madhopur –Chittorgarh –Udaipur –Jaisalmer –Jodhpur –Bharatpur –Agra –New Delhi |
ThePalace on Wheels is a luxury tourist train in India operated jointly byIndian Railways and theRajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC). It was launched on 26 January 1982 with the aim of promoting tourism in Rajasthan by offering rail journeys modeled after the personal trains of former Indian princely states.[1][2][3][4]
The concept of the train was inspired by the personal carriages of the rulers of princely states such asRajputana,Vadodara, and theNizam of Hyderabad. These royal coaches were not used after independence and gauge conversions. The Palace on Wheels was introduced using newly built coaches reflecting the historical style.
The train underwent refurbishments in 1991, 1995, and 2009, the last of which included interior redesign and upgrades to services and dining options.[5]
Operations were temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022. The train resumed services in October 2022.[6][7]
The train follows a seven-night, eight-day itinerary operating between September and April. The route includes the following destinations:
The train consists of 14 coaches, each named after a former princely state of Rajasthan.[9] These includeAlwar,Bharatpur,Bikaner,Bundi,Dholpur,Shri Dungargarh,Jaisalmer,Jaipur,Jhalawar,Jodhpur,Kishangarh,Kota,Sirohi, andUdaipur.[10][11]
Each coach contains three double-occupancy cabins, styled with décor reflecting Rajasthani heritage and equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, attached washrooms, and Wi-Fi access.[12]
Facilities available on board include:
In 2017, the train was officially renamed theHeritage Palace on Wheels.[19]
