Palace on Wheels History
It
was in the eighties when Indian Railway and Rajasthan Tourism decided to work
together on a project to resurrect some of these forgotten symbols of its historic
heritage. Thirteen carriages from different princely states were brought together
and refurbished, and the Palace on Wheels was launched. A superb train that
evoked the past with modern facilities and created a journey that was on offer
to people around the world-wannabe princes who could be royals for their week
of the journey.
For, along with the restored carriages-some still glowing with their original
teakwood panels intact-came liveried attendants, royal repasts from the attached
kitchen, a lounge, and a dining car. The Palace on Wheels had become so popular
and there is and would always be resistance to any move to discontinue it. The
result was a spanking new train that faithfully recreated the old one, but much
more comfortable, and intended to provide a smoother ride. However, this too
was on the meter gauge being used for yet another exotic journey in the form
of the Royal Orient Express that travels from Delhi to parts of Rajasthan, but
is used primarily to discover the neighboring state of Gujarat.
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