Almost everybody loves to treat themselves in a grand and luxurious manner. People are familiar with the luxury of flights, with the option of flying first class, but did you know that India boasts some of the most luxurious (read – expensive) train rides that let you enjoy the beauty of the country while making you feel like royalty?
Trains have played an important role in Indian history. Brought to us by the British Raj, the history of trains in India is older than India’s Independence! The first train was meant to connect the short distance from Bombay to Thane in 1843, and now trains have been running across the country, connecting the farthest corners of India. This 169-year-old heritage of Indian railways makes it very special! That’s not all, India is home to the fourth-largest national railway system in the world. The Indian railways even have four UNESCO World Heritage sites to their name – Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka Shimla Railway. Trains in India are seen as more of an affordable means of transport, however, some trains can be expensive too!
If budget is not an issue, then we have found some of the most expensive train rides you can take in India. These train rides are curated journeys, meant to cater to all the needs of a traveller. Palace On Wheels, Maharajas’ Express and more aim to treat their guests as royalty and take them on a beautiful journey to some of the most iconic spots in India. These expensive train rides in India are an all-in-one experience, including everything, from tourist visits to food and other essentials.
Here are five of the most expensive train rides in India:
Palace On wheels
The train was launched on January 26, 1989, as a collaboration between Indian Railways and Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. It has been offering world-class luxury to travellers from all over the world. Palace On Wheels exudes opulence and charm, offering a royal ride to remember. The train covers over 3000 kilometres over eight days. Back in the day, before it was running commercially, the luxurious coaches were being used by rulers of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India!
Palace on Wheels starts from Delhi and moves towards Rajasthan, a state famous for its royal culture and beautiful palaces! The train journey takes you through iconic Rajasthani cities like Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Ranthambore. After extensively covering Rajasthan, the train will take you to Agra so that you can witness the Wonder of the World – the Taj Mahal.
The wholesome and exciting experience includes a tour of the cities too. The package includes an elephant ride at Amber Fort, a jeep safari at Ranthambore National Park, a boat ride on Lake Pichola, a camel safari in the dunes of Jaisalmer, bird watching in Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary and tours of popular forts like Chittorgarh Fort, Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Bhawan Palace and Agra Fort.
With 39 Deluxe cabins and two Super Deluxe Cabins, the train has 14 coaches and can accommodate 82 people. The Deluxe cabins are named after precious stones and decorated to the stone’s colour. Each cabin is furnished with a bed, study table, and sofas and has an en-suite bathroom along with access to a butler. The Super Deluxe Cabin is decked in opulence and only has the finest of materials with silk and velvet furnishing. The cabins and the private bathroom of the cabins are huge and come with a variety of services, a personal butler, a personal attendant for the bags and an exclusive car for sightseeing.
Price for the 8-day journey:
- Single Occupancy – INR 6,69,442 (HKD 63,228)
- Twin Sharing – INR 4,35,282 (HKD 41,112)
- Super Deluxe Suite – INR 12,04,995 (HKD 1,13,811)
Maharajas’ Express
Launched in March 2010, the Maharajas’ Express is a luxurious train that focuses on giving a world-class travel experience along with exposing travellers to India’s cultural heritage through the journey on board. The grandeur of the interior along with the lavish treatment of the Maharajas’ Express runs on four different routes across India. Maharajas’ Express is the most expensive train in India.
Each train has 43 cabins. The Maharajas’ Express has four types of accommodation – deluxe cabin (20), junior suite (18), suite (4) and presidential suite (1). Named Navratana, the presidential suite has two bedrooms and two washrooms. The luxurious cabin has an exclusive 24-hour personal valet, a complimentary mini-bar, a language-speaking guide and a personal car. The suite is designed to have a separate bedroom and living area. The attached bathroom also comes with a lavish bathtub. The junior suites have a bedroom and attached bathroom. The deluxe cabins are the smallest rooms on the train but they do come with a private bathroom.
Related Stories
The four routes of the Maharajas’ Express train are called the Indian Panorama, Treasures of India, Indian Splendour and Heritage of India. The shortest journey is the Treasures of India, taking four days to visit Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, and Jaipur and returning to Delhi. The rest of the routes take seven days to cover. Indian Panorama starts from Delhi then goes to Jaipur, Ranthambore, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Orchha and Khajuraho, Varanasi and goes back to Delhi. Indian Splendour starts from Delhi and takes travellers to Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, and Udaipur and ends in Mumbai. Heritage of India begins from Mumbai and heads to Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Fatehpur Sikri, and Agra and then ends in Delhi. All the tours and excursions are included in the packages.
Price:
7 days:
- Deluxe cabin – INR 6,19,920 (HKD 58,551)
- Junior Suite – INR 7,94,640 (RM 75,053)
- Suite – INR 11,59,200 (RM 1,09,486)
- Presidential Suite – INR 19,90,800 (RM 1,88,030)
4 days:
- Deluxe cabin – INR 6,19,920 (HKD 58,551)
- Junior Suite – INR 7,94,640 (RM 75,053)
- Suite – INR 11,59,200 (RM 1,09,486)
- Presidential Suite – INR 19,90,800 (RM 1,88,030)
Deccan Odyssey
The Deccan Odyssey made its maiden voyage on January 16, 2004, and was a joint initiative between the Maharashtra Government and the Ministry of Railways. Described as a blue limousine on wheels, the 5-star facilities of the train are by Taj Group of Hotels. The train has separate cars dedicated to spa, bar and conference purposes. The Deccan Odyssey can accommodate 88 passengers at a time.
This glamorous train has two types of rooms – the presidential suite and the deluxe cabin. The spacious presidential suite has a master bedroom and a living room along with two attached bathrooms! Passengers will also enjoy a 24-hour butler service when living in the presidential suite. The deluxe cabin is a comfortable and cosy space designed to cater to all of the traveller’s needs. It comes twin bed and an attached bathroom.
The train is operating on six different exciting routes across India. Maharashtra Splendour starts from Mumbai and takes passengers to Nashik, Aurangabad (Ellora Caves), Ajanta Caves, Kolhapur, Goa, and Sindhudurg and ends in Mumbai. Indian Odyssey tour starts from Delhi and goes to Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore National Park, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Vadodara, Aurangabad, and Ellora Caves and ends at Mumbai. For the Jewels of Deccan, passengers board the train from Mumbai and then go to Bijapur, Aihole, Pattadakal, Hampi, Hyderabad, Ellora Caves, Ajanta Caves and end at Mumbai. Explore the wildlife of Maharashtra through the Maharashtra Wild Trail, starting from Mumbai and taking passengers to Ellora Caves, Aurangabad, Pench, Tadoba, Ajanta, and Nashik and ends in Mumbai. Hidden Treasures of Gujarat starts from Mumbai and goes to Vadodara, Palitana, Somnath, Rann of Kutch, Patan, Nashik and ends at Mumbai. Indian Sojourn starts from Mumbai and goes to Vadodara, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Agra, Sawai Madhopur, and Jaipur and ends in Delhi. All the journeys are eight days long.
Price for an 8-day journey:
- Deluxe Cabin – INR 7,35,000 (RM 69,420)
- Presidential Suite – INR 11,09,850 (RM 1,04,824)
The Golden Chariot
This grand and magnificent train has been specifically designed to be the window to the beauty of South India. Decked with impressive interiors and elegant furnishing, the Golden Chariot offers impeccable service and treats its passengers like royalty! Golden Chariot’s carriages are named after the royal dynasties which have ruled South India throughout history. The train offers three types of accommodation – twin bed cabins, double bed cabins and a cabin for the specially-abled.
With three train routes, the Golden Chariot takes a scenic journey to some of the best places in South India. Pride of Karnataka starts from Bengaluru and goes to Bandipur, Mysore, Halebidu, Chikmagalur, Hampi, Pattadakal, and Goa and ends back at Bengaluru. This is a seven-day journey. Glimpses of Karnataka is the shortest trip provided by the Golden Chariot. It starts from Bengaluru and covers Bandipur, Mysore and Hampi in four days. Jewels of South starts from Bengaluru and takes passengers to Hampi, Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, Chettinad, Cochin, and Kumarakom and ends at Bengaluru.
Price:
- 7 days – INR 3,98,160 (Deluxe Cabin) (RM 37,606)
- 4 days – INR 2,65,440 (Deluxe Cabin) (RM 27,050)
Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train
This train has been specially designed to take travellers through the life and journey Lord Buddha took on his journey of enlightenment. Specially curated by IRCTC, the train only rides on one route. Buddhist Circuit’s eight-day-long journey is different from the other train journeys.
Starting from Delhi, passenger head to Bodhgaya, the place where Gautam Buddha gained enlightenment. After an overnight stay at a hotel, the train will take passengers Rajgir and Nalanda to learn more about Lord Buddha’s life. Next, the train heads to Varanasi and Sarnath to experience the iconic aarti at the Ganges. Following this, travellers will head to Gorakhpur to reach Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The train shall proceed to Kushinagar to witness Mahaparinirvan Temple, Rambhar Stupa and other popular destinations. Next, the train heads to Gonda to take passengers to Sravavasti. The final stop before the journey ends in Delhi is Agra, to witness the Taj Mahal.
While this train journey is not as luxurious as most of the trains on this list, it offers a one-of-a-kind spiritual experience on a train! The train is designed like most trains, offering AC First Class, AC-2 Tier and AC-First Coupe. The cabins don’t have an attached bathroom.
Price for 8 days journey:
- AC First Class – INR 1,12,938 (RM 10,666)
- AC-2 Tier – INR 94,487 (RM 8,924)
- AC-First Coupe – INR 1,25,348 (RM 11,839)
Hero and feature image credit: Courtesy of shutterstock
Related: The Luxurious Eastern & Oriental Express To Be Back On Tracks In 2024
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answer: All the trains mentioned in the story are the best rated luxury trains in India.
Answer: The price of the Maharajas' Express starts from INR 6,19,920.
Answer: The Deccan Odyssey, Maharajas’ Express and Palace On Wheels are some of the most expensive train rides.
Written By
Priyaja Bakshi
Priyaja took her love for reading to the next level by majoring in English and minoring in Journalism at Lady Shri Ram College For Women (DU). She is extremely curious about the world and wishes to visit all the countries once in her life. She identifies as a foodie and loves to spend her free time exploring different cuisine and curating new dishes. ..Read More
