Top 5 Luxury Trains of India with Ticket Price

Indian Railways and the IRCTC provide a variety of luxury train tours in India. Luxury trains of India are owned and operated by Indian Railways. The coaches of luxury trains would be similar to those on the Palace on Wheels and the Maharajas’ Express.

These best luxury trains of India cater to travellers who wish to discover India’s rich cultural heritage in the lap of luxury. Their magnificence is evident from the majestic ambience, mind-boggling interiors, lavish fare, tight security arrangements and almost everything you can imagine.

5 Top Luxury Trains in India

Tours in these luxury trains offer matchless amenities onboard and allow travellers to explore some of India’s most famous tourist destinations. Here is a list of luxury trains in India with all the essential details like luxury trains in India fare, facilities, routes, and more!

• Maharajas’ Express
• Palace On Wheels
• The Deccan Odyssey
• Golden Chariot
• Royal Orient Train

Here is a full detail of top 5 luxury trains in India with ticket fare:

1. Maharajas’ Express

Maharaja Express is the most expensive luxury train in India. It is owned and operated by IRCTC and runs between October and April, covering around 12 destinations, mostly in Rajasthan. The train provides a range of five itineraries between September and April, including attending the elephant polo match in Jaipur, meeting the members of the royal family, and visiting the temples of Khajuraho. The train’s presidential suite would give any premium five-star hotel a run for its money, with private lounges, bedrooms, a plush dining area, butler services, fully stocked bars, and lavish washrooms. 

Maharaja Express Routes

The Maharajas’ Express is India’s most expensive train that offers five itineraries, all of which start or end in Delhi. New itineraries include three pan-Indian tours and two golden-triangle journeys of Jaipur, Delhi, and Agra. 

• The Heritage of India Route (Mumbai – Ajanta – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Bikaner – Jaipur – Ranthambore – Agra – Delhi)
• The Indian PanoramaRoute (Delhi – Jaipur – Ranthambore – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Gwalior – Orcha – Khajuraho – Varanasi – Lucknow – Delhi)
• Gems of India Route (Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Delhi)
• Indian Splendour Route (Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Bikaner – Jodhpur – Udaipur – Balasinor – Mumbai)
• Treasures of India Route (Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Delhi)

Maharaja Express Time Table and Fare

Maharaja Express is operational between October and April and plies on 5 various routes as mentioned above. The duration and luxury train in India price of Maharaja Express for these routes are as follows:

• Gems of India and Treasures of India – 4-days trip for Rs. 2,57,950 (approx) each
• Indian Splendour and The Indian Panorama – 8 days trip for Rs. 4,00,660 (approx) each
• Heritage of India – 8 days trip for Rs. 4,58,280 approx

Food – Vegetarian dishes and eggs are served here.

Also Read: Maharajas Express: The Most Luxurious Train in the World

2. Palace on Wheels

Palace on Wheels is the first luxury Indian train which started being operational on 26 January 1982. This is the most famous luxury train in Rajasthan and journeys from Delhi to all the rural area of Rajasthan. It has 39 Deluxe Cabins and 2 Super Deluxe Cabins with an occupancy of 82 passengers. Each cabin has an attached washroom, and each cabin is named after the palaces and forts of Rajasthan. Moreover, every carriage is decorated in hues of turquoise, ruby, and pearl. The train is equipped with an ayurvedic spa as well as two resto-bar lounges. It was the first luxurious train among all the Indian trains. Such coaches were used to travelling by the Nizam of Hyderabad, rulers of princely states of Rajputana, Gujarat, and the British Viceroy. This is one of the most expensive trains in India and also voted as 4th best luxurious train in the world. If you are planning a luxurious tour to Rajasthan, this is the best mode of travelling!

Palace on Wheels Train Routes

The train travels from Delhi and covers most of the beautiful places of Rajasthan.

Route: Delhi – Jaipur – Sawai Maadhopur – Chittorgarh – Udaipur -Jodhpur – Jaisalmer – Bharatpur – Agra – Delhi

Key attractions covered by the Palace on Wheels train are:

• Delhi – India Gate, Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Lotus Temple, 
• Jaipur – Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Rajasthali, Jantar Mantar, City Palace
• Sawai Madhopur and Chittorgarh – Chittorgarh Fort, Ranthambore National Park 
• Udaipur – Lake Pichhola, Jag Niwas
• Jaisalmer – Yellow Sandstone Fort, Ancient mansions
• Jodhpur – Grand palaces, Mehrangarh Fort, shopping tour in Jodhpur
• Bharatpur – Keoladeo Ghana National Park
• Agra – The Taj Mahal, Fatehpur-Sikri

Palace on Wheels Time Table and Fares:

The train duration and Indian luxury train ticket price of Palace on Wheels for these routes are as follows:

• 7 nights Deluxe Cabin Single Occupancy: Rs. 5,23,600
• 7 nights Super Deluxe Cabin: Rs. 9,42,480
• For Indian travellers: Rs. 2,10,000 + 4.5% Service tax (Starting Fare)
• For international travelers: US$3,500 + 4.5% Service tax (Starting Fare)

Food – Vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties are available in Indian cuisines, Chinese, and Continental.

3. The Deccan Odyssey

The Deccan Odyssey is based on the Palace On Wheels train model, and this train was introduced to boost tourism in Maharashtra. It starts from Mumbai and covers 10 popular tourist places including Ratnagiri, Goa, Sindhudurg, Aurangabad, Ajanta-Ellora, Pune, Nasik returning to Mumbai. While a deluxe cabin for per person costs $5,810, you will have to shell out $12,579 to book a presidential suite. A starting of Maharashtra Tourism, the Deccan Odyssey is the perfect combination of transport and luxury. This train is managed by the Taj Group of Hotels and designed to reflect the lives of Maharajas in the 16th century. Royal treatment for passengers, multi-cuisine eateries, bar, spa for relaxing massages, and many other state-of-the-art facilities makes it one of the best luxury train in India and the world. 

Deccan Odyssey Routes:

1. Indian Odyssey Routes: New Delhi – Sawai Madhopur – Agra – Udaipur – Jaipur – Vadodara – Ellora Caves – Mumbai
2. Maharashtra Splendor Routes: Mumbai – Nashik – Ellora Cave – Ajanta Caves – Kolhapur – Goa – Ratnagiri – Mumbai
3. Jewels of the Deccan Routes: Mumbai – Bijapur – Aihole and Pattadakal – Hampi – Hyderabad – Ellora Cave – Ajanta Caves – Mumbai
4. Maharashtra Wild Trail Routes: Mumbai – Ellora Cave – Aurangabad – Pench (Ramtek) – Tadoba – Ajanta – Nashik – Mumbai
5. Hidden Treasures of Gujarat Routes: Mumbai – Vadodara – Palitana – Sasan Gir and Somnath – Little Rann of Kutch – Modhera and Patan – Nashik – Mumbai
6. Indian Sojourn Routes: Mumbai – Vadodara – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Agra – Sawai Madhopur – Jaipur – Delhi

The Deccan Odyssey Time Table and Fare:

The Deccan Odyssey operates between October and April, and the duration for all the above 6 routes is 7 nights, 8 days.

Tariff for single occupancy: 

• For Indian Tourists: Rs. 4,71,380for Deluxe Suite and Rs. 10,20,880 for Presidential Suite per trip.
• For International tourists: US$5,810 + 4.5% Service tax

Food – Vegetarian and non-vegetarian menu are available in Indian and continental cuisines.

Also Read: Train Travel in India: Everything You Need to Know

4. Golden Chariot

The Golden Chariot is one of the best luxury trains in India for touring around some of the popular tourist places in South India. The train was launched in 2008, and it is well known for its impeccable hospitality. The Golden Chariot has AC chambers with royal interiors, bars, multi-cuisine restaurants, mini gym and Ayurveda spa, a personal attendant, and other 5-star facilities. The Golden Chariot was also awarded as ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Train’ in the year 2013.

The Golden Chariot Train Routes:

• Pride of the SouthRoute (Bangalore – Kabini – Mysore – Hassan – Hampi – Badami – Goa – Bangalore)
• Southern Splendour Route (Bangalore – Chennai – Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry – Thanjavur – Madurai – Thiruvananthapuram – Alleppey – Kochi – Bangalore)

The Golden Chariot Time Table:

The Golden Chariot runs between October and March, and duration for both the routes is 7 nights, 8 days.

The Golden Chariot Fare:

Tour cost per cabin on twin sharing basis for Pride of the South:

• For Indian travelers- Rs. 3,08,000 + 4.5% Service tax
• For international travelers- US$8,260 + 4.5% Service tax

Starting price per cabin on twin sharing basis for Southern Splendour:

• For Indian travelers- Rs. 3,50,000 + 4.5% Service tax
• For international travelers- US$9,130 + 4.5% Service tax

Food – Vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods are available

5. Royal Orient

The Royal Orient is an Indian luxury tourist train that runs between Gujarat and Rajasthan, covering essential tourist locations in the two states. India’s first luxury tourist train modelled on the Palace on Wheels. The train offers travellers a taste of royal luxury while “showcasing the best of Indian heritage and culture”.

There are 13 elegant blue coloured coaches in the Royal Orient train, named after former kingdoms of Rajputana. The coaches provide five-star hotel facilities to passengers, and each coach has two attendants who will serve you round the clock. Cabins are well furnished in a palatial style and have spacious washrooms attached. Various cuisine restaurants offer Indian, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Chinese and continental cuisine. The royal orient train also has a library with a wide range of novels, books, magazines and a beautiful lounge which has a TV and a CD player.

The Royal Orient Train Route:

Route: Delhi – Chittorgarh/Udaipur -Junagarh/Veraval – Sasan Gir/Dilwara – Palitaana- Sarkhej- Ahmedabad- Jaipur- Delhi

Key attractions covered by the Royal Orient train are:

• Delhi – Red Fort, Qutub Minar, India Gate, Jama Masjid
• Chittorgarh/Udaipur – City Palace, Chittorgarh Fort, Shilpgram and Royal Gardens, boating in Lake Pichhola
• Junagarh/Veraval – Darbar Hall Museum, Ashokan Rock EDICT of 3rd Century BC, Somnath Temple on the shore of the Arabian Sea, Mausoleum of Nawab, Mahabat Khanji
• Sasan Gir National Park – Lion Sanctuary
• Dilwara – St. Paul’s church and Mandir Beach
• Palitana – Jain Temple atop Shatrunjaya Hills
• Ahmedabad – Calico Museum of Textiles, Gandhi Ashram, Sidi Sayyad’s Mosque
• Jaipur – Amar Fort and elephant ride, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar (observatory)

The Royal Orient Train Time Table and Fare:

The Royal Orient Train operates all year round, and the journey duration is 7 nights, 8 days.

Starting fares per cabin per person for one night on twin sharing basis from October-March:

• For Indian travelers: Rs 7,480 + 4.5% Service tax
• For International travelers: US$200 + 4.5% Service tax

Starting fares per cabin per person for one night on twin sharing basis from April-September:

• For Indian travellers: Rs 10000 + 4.5% Service tax (approx.)
• For international travelers: US$150 + 4.5% Service tax

Food – Rajasthani, Gujarati and Continental foods are available here.

Also Read: Top 5 Fastest Trains in India