Fairy Queen Express Tour: A Vintage Adventure!

Luxury Trains in India

What according to you could be the best way to explore the heritage of a particular place? Isn’t traveling the best way to discover the secrets of a place? And if there is luxury train to accompany you in your journey, then nothing like it! Railways in India are the ideal option that a tourist can get while touring the amazingly gorgeous land of India. Like all other luxury trains in India, the Fairy Queen Express is one of the popular trains, a luxury journey on which is not easy to forget.

The oldest vintage steam train, the Fairy Queen Express was constructed in the year 1855 by the British firm Kitson, Thompson & Hewitson for serving the East India Railways, the British firm.

Fairy Queen Train- Down the Memory Lane

The Fairy Queen started with its very first journey in the year 1885, by traveling a distance of 121 miles from Howrah to Ranigunj. Till the year 1908, the train was very similar to those of hauling trains, after which till the year 1971, the train somehow managed to survive the passages of time. In the year 1971, the train was exhibited as one of the fossilized items at the National Rail Museum.

They say that ‘you never exactly know what destiny has in store for you’! Same happened to be the case with the Fairy Queen! Things changed dramatically and definitely for the better, in the year 1997, when it got a complete make over and was again brought back to life at the Perambur Workshop of the Southern Railways. The 1st tourist load was pulled by this luxury train in India on 18^th of October 1997. The train also found place at the Guinness Book of Records in January 1998 as the ‘World’s Oldest Working Locomotive’.

Fairy Queen Train: Facilities

The Fairy Queen is replete with sixty seater AC chair car that has been specially designed to have a large glass window which offers you the frontal view of the train. Apart from this, a properly maintained pantry car offering catering services to the guests on board is also there. A beautiful lounge is attached to the coach, which also offers a panoramic view of the countryside. Several cultural programs in the evening takes place at the day at the Hotel Sariska Palace to entertain the guests! With this luxury train tour in India, you would for sure go back home with beautiful memories of a lifetime experience. So what are you waiting for? Go and book your ticket at one of the popular luxury trains in India, the Fairy Queen! Enjoy the Fairy Queen Express Tour: A Vintage Adventure!

Fairy Queen Train: Tour Schedule

Fairy Queen: Day 01 Tour Schedule

A train tour on the Fairy Queen commences from the capital city of India, Delhi. Before embarking on the regal journey, the guests are offered a traditional welcome. The city of Delhi happens to be a lively metro city of India that carries with it an old charm along with the touches of modernism. An interesting mix of the British and the medieval, among the fascinating historical monuments that finds place at Delhi are the Red Fort, Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Jama Masjid, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, and Parliament House. Other popular tourist attractions in Delhi include the Lotus temple and the Akshardham temple. Delhi is also a popular place for all those shopping freaks out there! Connaught Place and Rajiv Chowk are a heaven for the shoppers.

A fascinating city in the state of Rajasthan, Alwar is situated at an approximate distance of about 160 km to the south of Delhi, and about 150 km towards the north of Jaipur. The city of Alwar is adorned in architectural pleasure. Many popular and interesting monuments find place in Alwar. Alwar’s is among the sough after tourist destinations owing to its proximity to the well-known Tiger Reserve in India that is the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary. Other attractions include Bala Quila, an ancient, huge fort atop a hill, tomb of Tarang Sultan and the city palace complex, called Vinay Vilas Mahal. The city is further abounded in diverse natural heritage with picturesque valleys and beautiful lakes.

• 1000 Hrs: The Fairy Queen leaves the Delhi Cantonment Station
• 1030 Hrs: You are offered light snacks on board
• 1300 Hrs: Enjoy your lunch
• 1500 Hrs: Refresh yourself with some light refreshments
• 1600 Hrs: The Fairy Queen reaches the Alwar Railway Station
• 1620 Hrs: You arrive at the city of Alwar by an AC coach
• 1730 Hrs: Next you reach the Hotel Tiger Den
• 1930 Hrs: A theme dinner specially waits for you followed by a night stay at the Hotel

Fairy Queen: Day 02 Tour Schedule

Your 2^nd day at of the train tour with the Fairy queen commences with an adventurous Jeep safari to the very famous Sariska Tiger sanctuary. The sanctuary is popular for being home to diverse variety of wildlife like tigers, Sambhars, Nilgai, leopards, and Chinkaras. One can spot these animals in their very natural environs. The sanctuary also consists of the ancient ruins of temples palaces and forts like the Kankawari. Explore the adventures and beauty of the Sariska wildlife sanctuary by indulging in a jeep safari!

The photography enthusiasts can find great scopes at the Sariska sanctuary. The sanctuary apart from being home to wild life also houses numerous birds ranging from Peafowl, Grey Partridge, Bush Quail, Sand Grouse, Golden backed Wood Pecker, Tree Pie, to the Crested Serpent Eagle and the Great Indian Horned Owl. Once you are done with your exploration at the Sariska Wildlife sanctuary, you need to board the Fairy Queen in order to come back to Delhi.

• 0630 Hrs: You will be taken for a Jeep safari in the Tiger Sanctuary
• 0930 Hrs: While on your way back from the safari, you will have your breakfast at the Tiger Den Hotel
• 1200 Hrs: You depart from Sariska by an AC coach
• 1245 Hrs: You arrive at Alwar Railway Station
• 1300 Hrs: The Fairy Queen leaves the beautiful city of Alwar
• 1320 Hrs: You have your lunch
• 1600 Hrs: Refresh yourself with some snacks etc
• 1845 Hrs: The Fairy Queen arrives at the Delhi Cantonment Station

 

The Royal Orient Express: Truly Royal!

Royal Orient Express

 

Welcome to a delighted journey through Rajasthan and Gujarat, India’s two bewitching states rich in cultural and dynastic history: the places which has witnessed a handful of brave emperors and vicious battles of Indian history. These states own two primitive universities for students as well as a close meet with oriental charisma for travelers.

The journey on the Royal Orient Express train, the stagecoach of past gives an extraordinary and memorable experience of Indian Railways. The Royal Orient Express evokes the resplendence of those days and projects the majestic visits and safaris of the emperors to the bordering kingdoms. A journey through this luxury train in India makes a tourist experience the spiritual cultures of one of the old civilizations on earth, its vibrant ethnicity, its plentiful environment, its lasting myths, its obscurity and morale.

This luxury train tour in India, takes one back to the world of fairy tales, to the age of gracious Princes and beautiful Princesses. The Royal Orient Express is Truly Royal! Rediscover an epoch of inconceivable grandeur, a period of consummate luxury, the quintessence of the monarchy of the Maharajas through the Royal Orient, an extravagant transport concept and an aesthetic sensation of modern age. Thirteen incredible, beautiful, gold imprinted saloon cars provide a great opportunity to experience the actual definition of the word “pleasure” by portraying the then glorious living.

On this journey, one can live out their dreams of being a royal traveler on bridal voyage, majestic hunt parties or state visits by sinking into retreats with soft music, cold and hot running water and showers. Apart from having a library, a deluxe lounge, video and television entertainment, the Royal Orient even serves mouth-pottering continental and Indian cuisines to its passengers. Mostly it’s a travel done at night while the day is kept for shopping and sightseeing.

The Royal Orient Express Facilities

The tavern of the Royal Orient Express offers regal self-indulgence and historic grandeur for a period of seven days. The delightful aura of the past era is recreated by its gold dusted décor, overwhelming sagacity of antiquity, the conventional pieces of art and craft, the embroidered and elaborated curtains, the quaint carpets, the fragile crockery and the well-dressed attendants      trained on royal service.

Keeping in mind, the varied taste and choices of different people, the extraordinarily decorated restaurant car offers a range of Indian, Western and continental cuisines. “The Watering Hole”, the aptly named in-built bar is loaded up with branded liquors. Its in-house library provides the opportunity to read some of the latest fiction as well as factual writings.

Each of Royal Orient’s saloons is named either after a historical man-made or natural creation or a lost dynast. The train’s tourist guides are one of the best sources to know the interesting stories about the naming of the saloons. The Royal Orient Express Train consists of 14 air-conditioned well- decorated saloons including 2 dinning coupes. Each of these saloons has got four cabins, a kitchenette and a well-equipped bathroom with cold and hot baths.

Though each cabin has got the capability of accommodating three passengers but in general, two are accommodated in a single coupe. Each saloon has two dedicated attendants on call and is provisioned with first-aid kit for crisis situation. Communication requirements are arranged for passengers through fax or phone by the train manager and he in turn can be contacted throughout the day via telecom.

The lounge of the Royal Orient Express Train is generally used for recreation and sitting and is en suited with VCR and TV. One can choose to listen to his or her own choice of music through the music channel speakers fitted in each cabin.

The Royal Orient Express Itineraries

Royal Orient Express, one of the luxury trains in India, takes one on a luxurious and unforgettable excursion of Rajasthan, the state of desert and Gujarat, one of the north-Indian states. Its 13 lavishly decorated coaches portrays different epoch of Indian history. The affectionate hospitality of the attendants of the Royal train is analogous to the service of a five-star hotel. The deluxe train has not only got baths with cold and hot water, it has even got a library for bookworms and a pantry car offering mouth-watering delicacies and a variety of alcoholic beverages.

The Royal Orient Tour – Day 01

The Royal Orient starts from the Delhi Cantonment railway station

The Royal Orient Tour – Day 02

Chittaurgarh (Chittaurgarh fort) – Udaipur, Rajasthan (Manek Mahal and the Fateh Sagar Lake)

The Royal Orient Tour – Day 03

Mehsana (Sun temple situated at Modhera and the Ran-ki-Vav and Patola weaving institute) – Ahmedabad (Adlai Step-well, the Calico Museum of textiles, Siddi Sayyad Mosque and the Gandhi Ashram)

The Royal Orient Tour – Day 04

Sasan Gir (Lion Sanctuary, Somnath) – Delwada (Mandvi Beach, Ahmedpur, St. Paul’s church and the Diu Fort)

The Royal Orient Tour – Day 05

Palitana (Jain temples and other shrines devoted to Hindu deities) – Sarkhej (Vishalla village)

The Royal Orient Tour – Day 06

Udaipur (Kumbhalgarh Fort, Shilpgram Crafts Village)

The Royal Orient Tour – Day 07

Jaipur (Hawa Mahal, Amber Fort, Jantar Mantar and the City palace)

The Royal Orient Tour – Day 08

You reach Delhi with pleasing memories of 8 days luxury train tour