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 he country's lifeline, Indian Railways
symbolizes the nation's cultural integration. Running through big cities,
past the beautiful countryside, over huge rivers, through dense forests,
by the sea... a journey by train in India is as richly rewarding for the
scenic beauty, as for experiencing India's Unity
in Diversity. The narrow-gauge Darjeeling mountain railway is
now a world-heritage site.
The size of India is such that trains running for days together are not uncommon. During any such
trip, people from different regions, religions and economic status
socialize as if they have known each other for ages! People from adjoining compartments join in
the conversation uninvited and exchange eatables (and to think that Grandma told you
to not accept anything
from strangers!!). The atmosphere is always of warm informality and cordiality.
In fact a train in India
is a mini India on rails.
The railway stations are some of the liveliest places that one can find on
Planet Earth! Buzzing
with incessant activity and the inimitable cries of chai-wallahs, snacks-wallahs and
magazine-wallahs, they have become focal points around which local commercial
activities flourish... the ideal place to go if you want to buy something at odd hours.
An interesting aspect of the platform is its emotionally charged
theatrical value - one half joyously welcoming close friends and
relatives, and the other half bidding wailing farewells.
Palace on Wheels
The royal families traveled in style. Their luxurious saloons were
wood-paneled with glittering chandeliers, and had separate bedrooms,
changing rooms, bathrooms, dining rooms, libraries, lounges and formal
drawing rooms. The Palace on Wheels recreates the opulence and grandeur of
the bygone era, with excruciating attention to the minutest of details.
Starting and ending in New Delhi, the 8-day tour is one of the world's
most exciting journeys and takes you to right royal destinations every
single day - Jaipur, Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Ranthambhor, Jaisalmer,
Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Agra.
With everything taken care of - dining, accomodation, sightseeing,
organized shopping - there won't be much for you to do but seep in the
history of the land, soak in the colors, and experience the royal life of
a maharaja/maharani. Doesn't sound too bad, does it ?!
Other captivating train journeys in India are the Mountain Railways, Royal Orient, Fairy Queen
(Oldest working steam engine in the world) and Konkan Railways.
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