indian railways and tourism
TRANSCRIPT
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Chapter: 4
Indian Railways and Tourism
The Indian Railway system can be an enormous asset in the
development of the tourism and hospitality industry in the country. India
has about 7,000 railway stations and 11,000 trains. The railways have
a special fascination for foreign tourists who wish to experience the
country both at leisure and close personal contact with the indigenous
people. The qualified success of the ―Palace-on-Wheel‖ substantiates
the contention. For the vast majority of domestic tourists, it is the
railways, which is the main affordable means of travel linking the length
and breadth of the vast and often enhancing subcontinent. Railway
services are equipped not only to meet the travel needs of domestic and
foreign tourists, but also have the infrastructure and land resource to
contribute significantly to the growth of hotel accommodation in the
country.
Tourism Services by Indian Railways:
Indian railway has provided a number of tourism services for the
general public. Existing Range of IRCTC Tourism Products are mainly
(1) Rail Tour Packages (2) Bharat Darshan (3) Educational Tours
(4) Hill Charters (5) Train/Coach Charters (6) Buddhist Circuit Special
Train (7) Maharajas‘ Express (8) Online Air, Cab, Hotel Bookings (9)
LTC Tour Packages (10) Inbound Travel (11) Corporate Travel (12)
Tourism Portal (railtourismindia.com). Indian Railways has a huge
network that covers the entire subcontinent. Thus it happens to be a
convenient means of transportation for people who wish to visit
numerous Tourist Places in India. Some of the hill stations that are of
immense importance are Dalhousie, Auli, Gangtok, Dehradun, Kullu
and Khandala. Heritage sites like Khujraho, Taj Mahal, Konark, Ajanta-
Ellora, Nalanda, Mahabalipuram and Mahabaleshwar etc can also be
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reached via railway network. In addition to this, there are various wildlife
sites in India like Kaziranga National Park, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve,
Sariska Tiger Reserve, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Bandhavagarh
National Park, Kanha National Park and India is also a home to a
number of pilgrimage spots such as golden temple, Varanasi, Mathura,
Haridwar, Bodhgaya and Shirdi. Vacationers can easily find access to
these places by Indian railway government at reasonable prices.
Various train tourism facilities have also been organized by the Indian
government. The travels through trains like the Royal orient and the
palace on wheels in Gujarat and Rajasthan give passengers an
unforgettable experience. The Places to Visit in India is truly a palace
running on wheels and it offers its guests a splendid and royal
treatment. This train is provided with royal comforts which are displayed
in the form of the interior, the facilities and the interior style.
The royal orient is one among the most striking trains in the whole
world. It is jointly administered by the tourism corporation of Gujarat
limited and the Indian railways. It crosses a number of tourist attractions
which still house the memories of opulence of ancient period including
Chittaurgarh, Delhi, Somnath, Veraval, Junagarh, Ahmedpur, Sasan
Gir, Sarkhej/Palitana/Mandvi, Jaipur and Ahemdabad. Apart from these,
there are toy trains which are available which run on the narrow lines.
Toy trains cover a path of 4500 kms traversing the famous hill stations
like Darjeeling, Shimla, Ooty, Matheran and Ootacamund. Another
attraction is the Matheran Light Railway which commences from Neraj
and is connected to Mumbai uptown trains. The journey presents
panoramic scenery to the passengers which add to the thrill of the trip.
Though please note that travelling on these trains will be costlier than
travelling on Book flight to India . So such holidays are not suitable for
people looking for Tourist Attractions in India.
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Mountain Railways of India:
Mountain railways of India are the six or seven odd "chhotey"
(Hindi for small) lines, out of around twenty similar such narrow or metre
gauge lines around the world. Built during the nineteenth and early
twentieth century of the British colonial rule, the Raj, these lines have
been running since then. Today the Indian Railways runs them, along
with the Kashmir Railway, operational since 2005. While four of these
seven: the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1881), the Kalka–Shimla Railway
(1898), the Kangra Valley Railway (1924), and the Kashmir Railway
(2005), are in the rugged hill regions of the Himalayas of Northern India,
two are further down south in the Western Ghats: the Nilgiri Mountain
Railway in Southern India, and the Matheran Hill Railway in Maharashtra;
while the Lumding–Silchar line, built at the turn of the 20th century, lies
deep inside Assam, in the Barak river valley of the Cachar Hills. The
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and the
Kalka–Shimla Railway have collectively been designated as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. These lines connect important hill resorts with the
foot hills, winding their way up through rugged yet scenic mountainous
landscape. Given the terrain they were constructed on during the British
colonial period, they were considered "outstanding examples of the
interchange of values on developments in technology" and engineering
marvels.
The mountain railways in the hills emerged as a result of the
delayed interest evinced during the British Raj for establishing control
over the Himalayas and other mountain ranges of India. It was in 1844
that Sir John Lawrence, the then Viceroy of India, had mooted the idea
of a phased colonization of the hills, particularly as military garrisons.
The British, in a proposal termed simply as ‗Hill Railway‘, considered
establishing geographically and culturally rich, stations across the
country. The hill stations chosen for this purpose were Shimla, the then
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'summer capital' of British India; Darjeeling, known for its tea gardens and
scenic views of the eastern Himalayas in the state of West Bengal, the
Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh, Ootacamund in the Nilgiri mountains of
Tamil Nadu and the Matheran hill station in the Western Ghats near
Mumbai were considered. The pioneering effort to link the mountainous
terrain of enchanting beauty with a hill passenger railway commenced in
1878 with the building of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway line, when
Franklin Prestage of the then Eastern Bengal Railway initiated plans for
the building of a hill tramway along the alignment of the Hill Cart Road
from Siliguri to Darjeeling. Construction subsequently began, and in
1881 the line was commissioned up to Darjeeling.
The next project launched was of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway in
South India, initially proposed in 1854. Work started in 1894, but the
railway was not completed until 1908, as the terrain was very difficult,
given the big difference in altitude ranging between 326 meters (1,070
ft) and 2,203 meters (7,228 ft) over a distance of 46 kilometers (29 mi).
The building of the 96 kilometers (60 mi) Kalka–Shimla railway link
commenced in 1898 to open up the remote hill regions to the rest of the
country and was inaugurated by the then Viceroy, Lord Curzon, in
November 1903. The Matheran–Neral 'toy train' was commissioned in
1907; Matheran is a hill station 108 kilometers (67 mi) away from
Mumbai. The Kangra line was built in 1929 in the picturesque Kangra
valley.
The UNESCO's 'World Heritage site' recognition to three of the
mountain railways of India has been for "outstanding examples of bold,
ingenious engineering solutions for the problem of establishing an
effective rail link through a rugged, mountainous terrain." The Darjeeling
Himalayan Railway got it first in 1999, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway
followed suit in 2005, and the Kalka–Shimla Railway, in 2008; the three
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together have been titled as 'Mountain Railways of India' under Criteria:
ii, iv under the region in the Asia-Pacific.
Nilgiri Mountain Railways:
The Indian Railways have five magnificent hill railways three of,
which are located on the Himalayan range. One is located on the
Western Ghats and the only metre gauge hill railway, which is also
perhaps the most unique from the technological angle, is located on the
Nilgiri Hills in South India. This railway is a wonderful example of
excellence in engineering achieved by the Indian Railway engineers at
a time when the engineering skills were rather primitive (Lohani, 1999).
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a single track, 46 kilometers (29 mi) long
metre gauge single line. Coonoor was initially the final hill station on the
line in June 1899 but this was extended up to Fernhill in September
1908 and up to Udagmandalam by October 15, 1908. It now connects
the town of Mettupalayam with the hill station of Udagamandalam
(Ootacamund), in the Nilgiri hills, popularly known as the 'Blue
Mountains' of Southern India. Both towns are in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The only rack railway in India, it uses the alternate biting system (Abt)
commonly termed as 'rack and pinion' rail system and is operated with
special steam locomotives. The trains that run on this line cover a
distance of 46 kilometers (29 mi), travel through 208 curves, 16 tunnels,
and 250 bridges. The uphill journey takes around 290 minutes (4.8
hours), and the downhill journey takes 215 minutes (3.6 hours). The
Nilgiri Mountain Railway was inscribed as World Heritage Site by
UNESCO in July 2005. The unique feature of this line, which is still fully
operational, is its oldest and the steepest ‗rack and pinion technology‘.
As it now operates, the line has a metre gauge section for 7.2
kilometers (4.5 mi) up to the foothill station of Kallar from where the rack
rail system begins and runs hugging the hills, passing through tunnels,
12 in number with the longest tunnel measuring 97 meters (318 ft), for
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7.2 kilometers (4.5 mi) up the hills at a gradient of 1:12.5 up to Coonoor.
Steam locomotives are used in this section. Beyond Coonoor, up to the
last station at Ooty or Oottacamund, the track has a ruling gradient
of 1:23.
North-East Railways:
This is sheer coincidence that the year 1999-2000 has been
declared as ―Visit India Year‖ and ―Passenger Year‖ by the Government
of India and Ministry of Railways respectively. As is expected, the
Government of India would channelize all its efforts to attract more and
more tourists, inland as well as overseas, to visit various places of
tourist interest in the country and the Indian Railways, being the prime
mode of reliable and economical transport, are bound to play the pivotal
role in making this occasion a grand success. By all reckoning, Visit
India Year is going to help the Indian Railways in a big way in achieving
its target for the Passenger Year 1999-2000. The area served by the
North Eastern Railway is replete with places of heritage value and
connects various important tourist centres like Varanasi, Sarnath,
Allahabad, Lucknow, Sravasti, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Ayodhya,
Maghar, Vaishali, Sonpur etc. Besides, NE Railway also takes the
tourists to the laps of natural beauty of Nainital, Ranikhet, Almora etc. to
make them feel the magic of landscape and the richness of its flora and
fauna. Aryans, this region boasts of the Mandla Fort – the capital of the
Gond Kings and Chanda Fort, both of which have survived the ravages
of time. About 64 kms., from the little township of Mandla is
Sahasradhara, where the river Narmada flows in a thousand steams.
Chanda Fort is now accessible on broad gauge after commissioning of
the Naghbir-Chanda Fort Broad Gauge Line (Pandey, 1999). The
Northeast Frontier Railway plans to preserve the 120 km-long Mahur–
Harangajao hill section while the metre-gauge track on the Lumding–
Silchar line gets converted into broad gauge. It has 37 tunnels, 586
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bridges and 24 stations on the way with the steepest gradient of 1 in 37
on the Harangajao–Jatinga section.
South-East Railways:
With a total route length of 7400 kms., and meandering through
six mineral states of West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra with diverse language, culture,
customs and traditions, South Eastern Railway epitomizes the true spirit
of India – bringing unity in diversity. It encompasses a magnificent
region, a veritable melting pot of fascinating cultures, history, folklores
and people. Talking about the place of tourist interest in South East
India, one cannot escape the majesty of the mountain ranges, the
beauty of its landscapes, the richness of the flora and fauna or the
picturesqueness of golden sea beaches that dot the map of South East
Railway. This is a land teeming with hoary traditions and ageless history
kept alive in carved stones, stuccoes and marbles. Ruins of ancient
cities, temples, forts, mosques of yore bear mute testimony to the
glorious history and rich cultural heritage of this region (Malhotra, 1999).
Eastern Railway:
Our country is the favourite playground of the God Almighty. It is
this land which has, perhaps the oldest history of civilization, the
glorious achievements of the mankind and natural beauties. The sheer
view of all these fill the heart with a fountain of joy. This is perhaps the
reason why our country has attracted many a celebrity from all over the
world from ancient times. We all nurse the intention of enjoying the
beauty to our heart‘s content. But the people in general do not have
either the means or the capabilities to travel to all those places on their
own. Indian Railways have laid its tracks connecting various corners of
the beautiful country to act as the bridge between such intention and
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capabilities. That is why the railway is not only a transport mode; it is
indeed everybody‘s companion (Indian Railways, Nov., 1999).
South-Central Railway:
The South Central Railway covers an extensive network
stretching across the Deccan Peninsula from Bay of Bengal in the east
of Arabian Sea on the west traversing through a region richly steeped in
tradition providing a many splendored panorama of history, art, religion
and culture. The network which traverses through the states of Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa besides a small stretch of
Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu beckons tourists to encounter an
enlightened experience worth cherishing a life time, a passage through
a journey that never ends (Sinha, 1999).
Northern Railway:
The Northern Railway Zone of Indian Railways is the largest
amongst all the zones in size, covering as it does a route kilometer age
of 11,023.03 kms. It also covers the states of Jammu & Kashmir,
Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and the Union Territory of
Chandigarh along with significantly portions of Rajasthan and Uttar
Pradesh. The terrain that falls in Northern Railway is also varies from
the mountainous Shivalik range to the undulating deserts of Thar, the
lush Tarai region and the majestic Gangetic plains. The trains running
on Northern Railway also serve one of the most densely populated
regions of the country. In such a varied land, there are bound to be
several places of tourist interest. Some of the most popular holiday
resorts pilgrimage towns, historical places, modern cities, administrative
centres and seats of learning of the country fall within this Zone.
Northern Railway provides convenient train services to these
destinations for all class of travelers. Some of these destinations may
be reached directly by a train, while for others; the passengers may
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need to use road transport from the most conveniently located rail-head
(Mehta, 1999).
Kashmir Railway:
The Kashmir Railway is a railway line being built in India to
connect the state of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country.
Officially termed the 'Jammu Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Railway
Link' (JUSBRL), the railway starts from Jammu and, when completed,
will travel for 345 kilometres (214 mi) to the city of Baramulla on the
northwestern edge of the Kashmir Valley. The route crosses major
earthquake zones, and is subjected to extreme temperatures of cold
and heat, as well as inhospitable terrain, making it an extremely
challenging engineering project. The project has had a long and
chequered history but serious progress was made only after it was
declared a National Project in 2002. The scheduled date of completion
was August 15, 2007. However, several unforeseen complications have
pushed back the final completion deadline to 2017 at the earliest so a
through service from central India to Kashmir will not be possible.
Kangra Valley Railway:
No one could have thought of making a finer selection of territory
for building a new mountain railway in India than the Kangra Valley.
Few places can match this scenic region in the sub-Himalayas. Indeed,
for sheer charm, for the magnificence of its scenery, for the majesty of
its northern mountain barrier, for the beauty of its glens and grandeur of
its streams, this valley can compare with any in the world. You will
stumble across a land that has cast its magic spell upon those who
planned the railway, and those who built the line. The result is there for
all to see – an achievement that in every way makes one proud of the
fine record that the history of Indian Railways has always had (Shaili,
1999).
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The Kangra Valley Railway lies in the sub-Himalayan region and
covers a distance of 163 kilometers (101 mi) between Pathankot and
Joginder Nagar, a valley known for its natural beauty and ancient Hindu
shrines. The line, which is part of the Northern Railway and is made with a
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge, was planned in May 1926 and commissioned
in 1929 and is popularly known as the ―Kangra Toy Train‖. The highest
point on this line is at Ahju station at an elevation of 1,291 meters
(4,236 ft) and the terminus at Joginder Nagar is at 1,189 meters (3,901
ft). The line has 971 uniquely designed bridges and two tunnels. Two
particularly important bridge structures are the steel arch bridge over
the Reond nalah and the girder bridge over the Banganga River. Though
the gradient of the line is generally gentle, the critical reach with steep
slopes is at the 142 kilometers (88 mi) stretch, which is of 210 meters
(690 ft) width with 1:19 slope with approach slopes of 1:31 and 1:25.
The terminus stretch between Baijnath and Jogindernagar is 1:25. The
train journey on this line provides beautiful views of peaks of the
Dhauladhar mountain range, particularly in the stretch between Kangra
and Mangwal, and also the ruins of the Kangra Fort.
Locomotives:
Locomotives in India consist of electric and diesel locomotives.
Steam locomotives are no longer used, except in heritage trains.
Locomotives are also called locos or engines. In India, locomotives are
classified according to their track gauge, motive power, the work they
are suited for and their power or model number. The class name
includes this information about the locomotive. It comprises 4 or 5
letters. The first letter denotes the track gauge. The second letter
denotes their motive power (Diesel or Electric) and the third letter
denotes the kind of traffic for which they are suited (goods, passenger,
mixed or shunting). The fourth letter used to denote locomotives'
chronological model number. However, from 2002 a new classification
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scheme has been adopted. Under this system, for newer diesel
locomotives, the fourth letter will devote their horsepower range. Electric
locomotives don't come under this scheme and even all diesel locos are
not covered. For them this letter denotes their model number as usual.
A locomotive may sometimes have a fifth letter in its name which
generally denotes a technical variant or subclass or subtype. This fifth
letter indicates some smaller variation in the basic model or series,
perhaps different motors, or a different manufacturer. With the new
scheme for classifying diesel locomotives (as mentioned above) the fifth
item is a letter that further refines the horsepower indication in 100 hp
increments: 'A' for 100 hp, 'B' for 200 hp, 'C' for 300 hp, etc. So in this
scheme, a WDM-3A refers to a 3100 hp loco, while a WDM-3F would be
a 3600 hp loco.
Steam Loco WP 7161 is going to be utilized for hauling of Steam
Special. Easily recognized by the cone shaped bulging nose with
(usually) a silver star painted on it, this locomotive became the standard
passenger locomotive on Indian Railways post 1947. Experiencing a
severe shortage of locomotive on the system in the mid 1940s coupled
with unhappy past experiences with the IRS class of locomotives
looming large, the order for 100 prototype WP was restricted to a mere
16 engines (on scale of two for each major broad gauge route). Baldwin
Locomotive Works (BLW), Philadelphia was awarded the task of
building the first sixteen prototype WP class locomotives. These were
numbered from 7200 to 7215 and went to GIPR, BB&CIR and EIR. The
initial locos were called WP/P, the extra P indicating prototype. These
engines soon earned the reputation for free steaming, fuel economy
and good riding characteristics, also there was none of the ‗tail wag‘
experience with these engines that was so characteristic of the XC
class. On establishing their success further orders for WP locomotives
went to Baldwin Canadian locomotive Company (CLC) and Montreal
Locomotive Works (MLW) who shared the manufacturing the next 300
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WP engines. These engines were numbered from 7216 to 7515 in order
of the Railway to which they were allotted. A further 120 engines were
ordered from Canadian Locomotive Company in 1955-56 and 60 more
engines came from Poland and Austria between 1957-59, this loco was
in production for 20 years from 1947 to 1967 from 53 locos in 1953, it
reached a peak holding of 167 locos on Northern Railways in 1967. This
Pacific class of broad gauge loco marked the change the coding from
‗X‘ to ‗W‘ for broad gauge locomotives. It was capable of doing up to
110 Km/h and remained Indian Railways crack locomotives for many
years and hauled prestigious express trains. WP‘s were designed
specifically for low-calorie, high-ash Indian coal and its ease of handling
made it a hot favourite amongst Loco drivers. Several WP‘s remained in
service until the late 80‘s. Early prototypes from Baldwin were labelled
WP/P, CLW versions after 1965 were labelled WP/1.
Rewari shed homes the WP 7200 and WP 7161, the former is
from the first lot of prototypes that were handed over to Indian Railways
by the United States in 1947. The locomotive was a part of Central
Railway System (GIPR) but was transferred to Northern Railway later.
Homed at Moradabad shed this locomotive was later shifted to
Saharanpur shed, before it retired from active service. It is believed that
WP 7200 was the first WP class of engine that was handed over to
Indian Railways in USA on 15th August 1947, India‘s Independent Day,
though the engine physically arrived on the Indian shores in Oct‘47.
This adds to the historic importance of this locomotive, with this in mind,
this locomotive previously called Shahjahan, after the great Mughal
emperor who build the Taj Mahal, has been re-christened ―AZAD‖,
meaning free in Hindi. WP 7161 is the Chittranjan Locomotive Works
built engine, inducted into active service in 1965, this locomotive was
also there was none of the ‗tail wag‘ experience with these engines that
was so characteristic of the XC class.
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On establishing their success further orders for WP locomotives
went to Baldwin Canadian Locomotive Company (CLC) and Montreal
Locomotive Works (MLW) who shared the manufacturing the next 300
WP engines. These engines were numbered from 7216 to 7515 in order
of the Railway to which they were allotted. A further 120 engines were
ordered from Canadian Locomotive Company in 1955-56 and 60 more
engines came from Poland and Austria between 1957-59, this loco was
in production for 20 years from 1947 to 1967 from 53 locos in 1953, it
reached a peak holding of 167 locos on Northern Railways in 1967. This
Pacific class of broad gauge loco marked the change the coding from
‗X‘ to ‗W‘ for broad gauge locomotives. It was capable of doing up to
110 Km/h and remained Indian Railways crack locomotives for many
years homed at Saharanpur shed and gave distinguished service to IR
before being phased out from active service. This Locomotive is
christened ―AKBAR‖, after the great Mughal Emperor.
Luxury Tourist Trains:
Ministry of Railways has taken several important initiatives to
promote tourism. These include introduction of new tourist train services
on popular tourist circuits in different regions of the country to offer one
week‘s fully packaged rail travel itinerary inclusive of travel,
accommodation, on board catering-on-board and conducted sightseeing
tours at the destinations. IRCTC tourism portal www.rail
tourismindia.com provides one-stop solutions to passengers‘ travel and
tourism requirements including tour packages, special trains, Bharat
Darshan, Cab Rentals, Hotel Bookings etc. ―Palace on Wheels‖,
―Duccan Odyssey‖, ―Golden Chariot‖, ―Royal Rajasthan on Wheels‖ and
―Maharajas‘ Express‖ have been operating in collaboration with the
respective State Tourism Development Corporation/Indian Railway
Tourism and Catering Corporation (IRCTC).
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Palace on Wheel:
This luxury tourist rain is fully vestibule, centrally air-conditioned
and completely self-sufficient and comprises 14 saloons, 2 dining cars,
and Spa car and a lounge car. The saloons are named after the former
Rajput States and evoke visions of the royal kingdoms. Each saloon
has 4 coupes, done in colours characteristic of the State and highlighted
by the emblem of the erstwhile States. Of the four coupes, two each
feature double beds, the other two twin beds. A third bed for an
additional person or accompanying child is in the form of the fold-away
bed on a higher tier. Each compartment has an attached bath with
running hot/cold water and showers, built-in-wardrobes, overhead and
night lamps, piped music, reading light and wall-to-wall carpeting, etc.
At the end of each coach is a separate lounge where passengers can
relax when they wish to move out of their bedrooms. The Maharajah
and Maharani Restaurant offer seating arranged in groups of two and
four near the window. Chefs in the attached pantry prepare gourmet
continental and Indian specialties with emphasis on the cuisine of
Rajasthan. The train operates between August and April. The seven
night-eight day itinerary includes New Delhi-Jaipur-SawaiMadhopur-
Chittaurgarh-Udaipur-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Bharatpur-Agra-New Delhi.
The Royal Orient:
Pack your bags for a magical journey through two of India‘s most
culturally and historically vibrant states – Gujarat and Rajasthan. The
Royal Orient is one of the few extravaganzas left of an epoch of
grandeur. Enjoy yourself in the luxury of this fascinating train, a
spectacular concept in transport, an aesthetic marvel of modern times.
Gold embossed saloon cars recreate the resplendent living of the times
of yore. We leave the days free for you to explore fascinating
destinations, while you go to sleep with the movements of the train,
journeying through the night. The Royal Orient began its journey from
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Delhi Cantonment every Wednesday from September to April. During
1999-2000 to 2003-04, there were 40 trips of trains with 882 travelers.
The Fairy Queen:
Fairy Queen comes out of the Treasure Chest of the Indian
Railways, Built in the year 1855, this 145 years old loco is the oldest
working steam locomotive in the world. The Fairy Queen takes tourists
on an unforgettable two day weekend trip from Delhi to Alwar on
selected days. Fair Queen provides first class accommodation to sixty
passengers. The two-day package includes a night stay at Sariska
Palace Hotel (near Alwar) on twin sharing basis from where the tourists
are taken around the Tiger Sanctuary the next morning. And yes, the
night at Sariska is full of entertainment, theme dinner with ethnic artistes
performing.
The Deccan Odyssey:
The tourist train leads to journey through Kaleidoscopic land of
fantastic and diverse images from pristine beaches to defiant forts, from
black monolithic rock to opulent palaces dedicated to kings and from
north to south, Indian Railway provides a package of 8 days tour
through this train. The tourists may board the train in the evening at
Chhatrapati terminus, undoubtedly one of the famous Gothic buildings
and an integral part of Mumbai‘s skyline, wine and dine in the luxurious
comforts of this train and whistle off on royal voyage. Alight in the
morning at the Ukashi station, nested amidst majestic mountains and
scenic backwaters, tourist may ride in a luxury bus to Rai Jetty,
historical Jaigard Fort, view of Konkan village life, Ganapatipule,
Ratnagiri, the land of world famous Alphouso mangoes, and birth place
of Lokmanaya Tilak, and the interment home of for the last king of
Burma, King Thibaw. From temples, forts, and virgin beaches, the train
whistles off so yet another beautiful destination feasting over a royal
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spread served on board. Next day, the train changes in to the tip of the
Konkan coast, Sindhudurg Nagari station. A luxury bus transfers tourists
to Malvan Jetty from the station. Little in a comfortable boat, arranged
for tourists for enjoy the mesmerizing view of flora, birds and caressing
waves on the ride to Sindhudurg Fort, breathtaking view of the vast
open sea, confluence of river Kanali and Arabian sea, with silver soft
sands and pristine clear waters, Kalse Jetty, craft villages etc. As the
train pulls into Goa tourists get ready to explore an exotic destination
frequented by tourists from all corners of the globe. Brilliant lush green
fields, surrounding village and hamlets, white washed churches
standing out of giant occasional empty patches of starting red soil, train
reaches to Goa, the land of India‘s finest golden sand beaches, jungle
clad hills, imposing ancient churches and elegant mansions, splashed
with colour of bougainvillea. Next morning, the royal train pulls into
Pune, the erstwhile capital of Marathas and cultural capital of the state.
Tourists may enjoy in old central market Raja Kalkar Museum, Iyenfer
Yoga Institute, Taj Blue Diamond Hotel, Rajnish Ashram, Osho Ashram,
lushly landscape, Tribal Museum, Agha Khan Palace, Shaniwarwada
Palace etc. Next morning, travelling along the rolling the rolling hills and
picturesque ruins of the past, the tourists may travel way back in time to
Aurangaba. The luxury takes tourists to the majestic fortress of
Daultabad, world famous Elora caves, Buddhists Vihars, Kailashnath
Temples, Aurangabad Caves, Bibi Ka Makbara and Mughal architecture
on the Deccan Plateau. Alight and Jalgoan railway station after a royal
breakfast, tourists may travel to T. Junction in a luxury Bus, and visit
Ajanta Caves, view of bustling township, Gangapur Dam, etc. The
tourists enjoy the breakfast on board as the Sun rises over the
commercial capital of India. Alight at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in
the morning enriched with the rich legacy of this land, the journey by
royal Odyssey completes.
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Kalka-Shimla:
The former ‗Summer Capital‘ of the Raj, Shimla, is an important
destination for holiday-makers. Come summer or snow, tourist‘s rush to
Shimla either to beat the heat or to catch snowflakes drifting down. Four
premium services for travelers on the Kalka-Shimla section are
available: the Deluxe Rail Motor Car, the Shivalik Deluxe Express, the
Shivalik Palace (Tourist Coach) and the Shivalik Queen Tourist Coach.
The Deluxe Railway Motor Car is a visual delight as it resembles a bus
of the Second World War Vintage. Carrying 14 passengers at a time, it
reaches its destination in 4.25 hrs. The car is fitted with a transport fibre
glass roof, for a clear view of the sky and if one is lucky, one can look
up at the rain or snow without getting soaked. Digital time-cum-
temperature display unit, altimeter and route indication board gives
valuable information while travelling. The Shivalik Deluxe Express is a
connecting service to Howrah-Kalka Mail for Shimla. It accommodates
120 passengers and reaches it destination in 4.45 hrs. The coaches are
equipped with wall-to-wall carpeting, wide glass windows and reversible
cushioned chairs. Improved lighting and a music system create a
pleasant atmosphere. The fare for both Deluxe Rail Motor Car and
Shivalik Deluxe Express is Rs. 340/- with a complimentary meal at the
picturesque Railway Station Barog. The Shivalik Palace Tourist Coach
provides a luxurious ambience for a dream holiday. It can accommodate
a party of six persons and is equipped with folding cushioned bed,
refrigerator, on-board-kitchen and dining table with cushioned chairs.
Booked for a tariff of Rs. 4,850/- in the up and Rs. 3,375/- in the down
direction, fare includes complimentary accommodation of two luxurious
retiring rooms at Shimla for the day and free meals en-route. A
comparatively late entrant on the Kalka Shimla section is the Shivalik
Queen, which is a luxury coach. It is divided into two portions consisting
of two coupes each. The fare charged is Rs. 750/- per coupe. The
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coach is equipped with ultramodern facilities and fittings like wall to wall
carpets, altimeter, fancy lights, chrome plated luggage rack.
Shimla, the modern capital city of Himachal Pradesh, is located at
7,234 feet (2,205 m), in the foothills of the Himalayas. It was the
summer capital of British India in 1864 and it was also the headquarters
of the British Army in India. Kalka is a town in the Panchkula district of
Haryana. Prior to construction of the railway communication, connection
with the outside world was via a village cartway. The railway line was
constructed by the Delhi–Ambala–Kalka Railway Company
commencing in 1898 in the Siwalik Hills ranges. However, several plans
with alternative routes were surveyed between 1884 and 1898, and the
contract to build this line was finally awarded to Delhi–Ambala–Kalka
Railway Company. The 95.66 kilometers (59.44 mi) long, 2 ft 6 in (762
mm) narrow gauge line was opened for traffic on November 9, 1903.
The line has 103 tunnels and 864 bridges (multi-arched gallery
type, like the Roman aqueducts), except for one bridge of 18.29 meters
(60.0 ft) length with plate girder span and steel truss. The ruling gradient
is 1:33 or 3 per cent, with 919 curves, the sharpest being 48 degrees (a
radius of 37.47 meters (122.9 ft) and climbs from 656 meters (2,152 ft)
and terminates at an elevation of 2,076 meters (6,811 ft) at Shimla. The
Barog Tunnel (No. 33) is the longest tunnel on the line at 1,144 meters
(3,753 ft) in length between Dagshai and Solan (270 meters (890 ft)
below the road) and is named after the engineer who had commenced
digging the tunnel from both sides of the mountain but could not
complete it and hence committed suicide (he was buried near the site of
the tunnel). His Indian counterpart, known by the name Bhalku, who
helped H. S. Harrington to build another tunnel about 1 kilometer (0.62
mi) away from the abandoned tunnel, was honoured with a medal and
turban as an appreciation for his contribution to building tunnels, by the
then Viceroy of India. The route from Kalka to Shimla involves journey
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through the Koti tunnel 3.2 kilometers (2.0 mi) long, the Dharampur
main station, 32 kilometers (20 mi) from Kalka, three loops at Taksal,
Gumman and Dharampur to attain flatter gradients, Taradevi, Prospect
Hill to Jatogh, Inverarm to the terminus at old Dovedell chambers at
Shimla. Other important stations on this route, distance wise from Kalka
include Dagshai – 38.4 kilometers (23.9 mi), at an elevation of 1,600
meters (5,200 ft) – and Solan. Special luxury trains called the Shivalik
Express and Shivalik Palace Saloon operate during the summer months
to cater for heavy traffic from tourism, apart from several passenger and
cargo (potato, in particular) trains, in addition to catering to the
requirements of the armed services.
Matheran Hill Railway:
A hill resort at an altitude of 800 meters (average height of 2500
feet above sea level), Matheran is 110 km. away from Mumbai on
Mumbai-Pune rail route. A narrow gauge toy train from Nerai (87 km.
from Mumbai) meanders up the mountain, treating the tourists to a
breathtaking view. Mr. Hugh Poyntz Malet, the then Collector of Thane
discovered Matheran (meaning ―forest on the top‖) in May 1850. Lord
Elphinstone, the then Governor of Mumbai laid the foundations of the
future development of Matheran as a hill station. This 2-foot narrow
gauge hill railway, connecting Neral was opened to traffic in 1907. This
hill railway was built by Sir Adamjee Peerboy, who formed a limited
company with an authorized capital of ten lakh rupees divided into 2000
shares. The railway is 20 km. (12.6 miles) long and has a gauge of two
feet with a ruling gradient of 1 in 20. The track zig zags up the side of
the hill, bringing into view the full beauty of the Matheran Hill. There are
four pairs of trains running between Neral and Matheran. Howeever,
during monsoon i.e. June to September, only one pair of train is run to
open timings.
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Matheran Hill Railway, a heritage railway in Maharashtra, was
built between 1901 and 1907 by Abdul Hussein Adamjee Peerbhoy and
was financed by his father, Sir Adamjee Peerbhoy of the Adamjee
Group. The railway line, a 610mm (2 ft) gauge line, covers a distance of
20 kilometers (12 mi), over large swathes of forest territory connecting
Neral to Matheran in the Western Ghats hills near Karjat and Mumbai.
The plan, formulated in 1900, began construction in 1904 and the line
was opened to traffic by 1907. Originally, the tracks were laid with 30
lb/yard rails but now use heavier 42 lb/yard rails. Ruling gradient is 1:20
(5 per cent) with tight curves and speeds are limited to 20 kilometres
per hour (12 mph). The line, which generally used to be closed during
the monsoons because of the danger of landslides, has, since the
1980s, been kept operational throughout the year. This railway line is
administered by the Central Railways.
The unique feature of this line is the horseshoe embankment,
which was built to avoid a reversion station, seen when the train curves
markedly. Important stations and special features include this, the initial
Neral Station, the Herdal Hill section, the Bhekra Khud steep gradient,
the only tunnel on the route, popularly known as the "One Kiss Tunnel"
(time to pass through this is just sufficient to exchange a kiss with one's
partner), a "Water Pipe" station (no longer in use due to change over to
diesel locos), Mountain Berry with two sharp 'Zig Zags', Panorama Point
and finally terminating at Matheran Bazaar. The Broad gauge line
between Mumbai and Poona runs close to this line and the road also
crosses the railway line at two locations.
Royal Rajasthan on Wheels:
After successfully running Palace on Wheels for more than two
and a half decades, the Indian Railways in association with Rajasthan
Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. launched a new train ―Royal
Rajasthan on Wheels‖ with added facilities compared to Palace on
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Wheels which itself is the bench mark in its segment, on the itinerary of
Delhi, Udaipur, Chittaurgarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jaipur, Khajuraho,
Varanasi and Agra.
The Golden Chariot:
The lands once ridden by formidable armies are now traversed by
the world‘s unique luxury train. The Golden Chariot beckons you to
discover worlds that are enriched with history and culture. Recline and
relax as the magnificent scenery unfolds outside your window with
luxury on the inside, thus far reserved for royalty. We present the
Golden Chariot - a fine balance between a glorious yesterday and on
omnipresent tomorrow in a magical land, Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu,
Kerala and Puducherry on the following itineraries: 1-Bangalore,
Mysore, Hassan, Hospet, Badami, Goa, Bangalore, 2-Bangalore,
Chennai, Puducherry, Tanjavur, Madurai, Nagercoil, 3-Trivandrum,
Ernakulam, Bangalore.
Maharajas’ Express:
An Experience Extraordinaire - The Maharajas‘ Express is a
Luxury Offering from Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation
Ltd., New Delhi. A design marvel, the train offers several unique
features from having most spacious cabins to having personal valets
attached to each cabin to take care of the guests. State of the art
facilities like live TV, Wi-Fi internet, individual temperature control in
each cabin, environment friendly toilet systems, CCTV cameras in
public areas to ensure security, direct dialing telephones to make
international calls, make the experience all the more enjoyable. With
hair dryers, electronic safe deposit boxes in each room, bath tubs and
mini bars (in suites and presidential suite), the train offers almost
everything that one would imagine to travel in luxury. Savoring the
culinary delights, sitting in either of the two restaurants - Mayur Mahal
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and Rang Mahal, one can have a glimpse of the picturesque hinterland
from the large windows specially created for the Maharajas‘ Express.
The guests can relax in the Safari Bar or the Rajah Club and choose
from our selection of choicest wines and liquors. With 4 categories of
accommodation to choose from, guests can select the cabin they would
wish to spend their sojourn - all with en suite facilities. The train can
accommodate 88 guests. There are 14 guest carriages featuring 43
cabins in total, which include 20 Deluxe Cabins, 18 Junior Suites, 4
Suites and one truly classical Presidential Suite. A lifetime experience,
the journey on Maharajas‘ Express brings one closer to bygone era of
imperial India.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway:
The most famous of the hill trains, links the town of New
Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling. The breathtaking landscape of Darjeeling (2127
m. above the sea level) must be seen to be believed - the Himalayas in
all their glory, orchids swaying in the gentle breeze, lush green tea
estates. The toy train runs on the world‘s narrowest (2 ft) of the regular
narrow gauge lines. Conferred with the status of World Heritage Site,
the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is really a tourist‘s delight.
Enjoy Steam Train Charter from any station to any station on DHR.
DHR offers charter trips on demand. The dates for operation of
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in Financial Year 2011-12 will be notified
depending on the availability of the Loco. All steam charters are
charged at Rs. 20,000/-. Booking a Steam- Charter is very easy now.
DHR also offers special Joy Rides between Darjeeling and Ghum, extra
pair of trains to / from New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling and Jungle
(Heritage) Safari during the tourist season.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), given the epithet, the
"Toy Train", is a 610 mm (2 ft) narrow–gauge railway that runs for 88
kilometers (55 mi) from Siliguri to Darjeeling in the Indian state of West
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Bengal, operated by the Indian Railways. Highly regarded in India to
this day, the railway line was built by the British Government. Darjeeling
was a major summer hill station and the centre of a flourishing tea-
growing district. The elevation level along this line starting with about
100 meters (330 ft) at Siliguri rose to about 2,200 meters (7,200 ft) at
Darjeeling but attained highest elevation at Ghoom station of 2,300
meters (7,500 ft). The Siliguri town was connected with Calcutta (now
called Kolkata) in 1878 while an alternative journey to Darjeeling used
to be performed by tongas (horse-driven carts) along a dust track. On
the recommendations of a Committee appointed by Sir Ashley Eden,
the then Lt. Governor of the Government of West Bengal, and the
request of Franklyn Prestage, the Agent of the Eastern Bengal Railway
Company, work on the railway commenced in 1879 and was completed
by July 1881.[8][10] The railway line underwent several improvements
over the years to ease the gradient of the line for convenience of
manoeuvrability. By 1909–1910, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was
carrying 174,000 passengers and 47,000 tonnnes of goods annually.
Important features incorporated in the line consisted of four loops
(spirals) and four reverses (zigzags). The introduction of the first bogie
carriages service replaced the very basic four wheel carriages and
extensive improvements were made to the track and stations after the
earthquake of 1897 and underwent further modernization under the
Northeast Frontier Railway Zone of Indian Railway. It is still powered by
a steam engine, although a modern diesel engine is used for the
Darjeeling Mail train. In 1999, this mountain line in India was the first to
be recognized by the UNESCO Committee at its 23rd session held at
Marrakech, Morocco. It was then inscribed on the World Heritage List
under the following criteria (ii) and (iv). An assurance recorded was that
apart that from creating a buffer zone under the declared heritage site,
the steam trains would be retained within the site.
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Criterion (ii): The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway is an outstanding
example of the influence of an innovative transportation system on the
social and economic development of a multi-cultural region, which was
to serve as a model for similar developments in many parts of the world.
Criterion (iv): The development of railways in the 19th century has a
profound influence on social and economic developments in many parts
of the world. This process is illustrated in an exceptional and seminal
fashion by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. The initial difficulties
faced by the British engineer in charge of building this line from both
ends of the tunnel was due to erosion in the precipitous hillside and
negotiating a gradient within the limits of rail transport. It was then a
remark by the engineer‘s wife who suggested, ―Darling if you can‘t go
ahead, why you don‘t come back?‖ that created the inventive plan of
climbing mountains adopting ‗Z‘ reversing stations. In this plan, the train
chugs forward up to the edge of the rock face, then reverses at a
slanted angle up the hillside, again moves forward to a higher level
above the original track. This helps to negotiate above the zone of land
erosion. This layout of the extended line came to be popularly known as
the ‗Z‘ form. In the initial 40 years, there were four reversing stations
and four complete loops. Another 'Z' reversing station was added much
later to ease the gradient. Another feature along this line is the pithy
signages located at key vantage points along the route which proclaim
to the passengers travelling by the train, and creates excitement to
explore the locations, such as the ‗Agony Point‘, the 'Sensation Corner'
and so forth. The loop points or spirals constructed on precipitous hills
are also view points, which provide spectacular views of the valley down
below.
Mettupalaiyam-Ooty:
It was in 1854, that the first plans were made to build a mountain
Railway from Mettupalaiyam to the Nilgiri Hills. But it took the decision-
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makers 45 years to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and complete
the construction and installation of the line. The line was completed and
opened for traffic in June 1899. It was operated first by the Madras
Railway under an agreement with the Government. The Madras
Railway Company continued to manage this railway line on behalf of the
government for a long time until the South Indian Railway Company
purchased it. The line was extended to Ootacamund from Coonoor
sometime in 1908 on the same gauge over a distance of 11 and ¾
miles at a cost of Rs. 24, 40,000. The steepest gradient on the line is 1
in 23 and there is no rack on it as provided between Coonoor and
Mettupalaiyam. The Raiwlay line from Mettupalaiyam to Ooty is 45.88
km. long and lies partly in Coimbatore District and partly in Nilgiri District
of Tamil Nadu, on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
Mettupalaiyam is at the foothills with an elevation of about 330 metres
and Udagamandalam (Ooty) on the plateau with an elevation of 2200
metres. The average gradient of this line is about 1 in 24.5. The gauge
is laid to Metre gauge (1000 mm). The sharpest curve on the section is
17.5 degrees. The track is made of 50 lb rails. There re 250 bridges on
the section, out of which 32 are major ones and 15 are road
ovder/under bridges. There are 16 tunnels between Kallar and Ooty all
of which are in an excellent condition. The section from Mettupalaiyam
to Udagamandalam is provided with stone ballast and the cushion
varies from 75 mm to 150 mm. The maximum permissible speed on
Mettupalaiyam-Kallar and Conoor-Udagamandalam ―Non-Rak‖ system
is 30 while between Kallar and Coonoor ―RACK‖ section the maximum
permissible speed is 13 kmph. The region covered by the Nilgiri
Mountain Railway gets rainfall during the south-west and north-east
monsoons. The average rainfall is of the order of 1250 mm of
Udagamandalam, 1400 mm at Coonoor and 500 mm at Mettupalaiyam.
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway keeps chugging despite the downpour.
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Tourist Trains:
The Palace on Wheels is a luxury tourist train. It was launched by
the Indian Railways to promote tourism in Rajasthan, and has been
highly popular since its launch. The train service was refurbished and
relaunched in August 2009 with a new decor, itinerary and cuisine.[1]
The concept of the Palace on Wheels was derived from the royal
background of the coaches, which were originally meant to be the
personal railway coaches of the erstwhile rulers of the princely states of
Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British
India. Each coach has four cabins (named chambers or saloons by the
company) with twin beds,[2] wall-to-wall carpeting, air-conditioning, DTH
satellite television,[3] channel music, intercom, attached toilets, running
hot and cold water, with personal attendants.
The Maharaja Express is a luxury train owned by the Indian
Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and operated from
early 2010. The train used to be a joint venture between Indian Railway
Catering and Tourism Corporation but after the verdict of the High Court
and Supreme Court of India the train now belong exclusively to the
IRCTC. The IRCTC are the owners of the Maharajas Express Train.
The reintroduced Maharaja Express train offers 5 itineraries, all of which
either begin or end in Delhi and include a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Each morning, the train arrives at a different station for off-rail
excursions, including visits to monuments, heritage sites, shopping,
palaces, forts, and hotels. New itineraries announced by the operators
of Maharajas Express include 3 pan-Indian journeys and 2 golden
triangle tour itineraries covering Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. The Maharaja
Express is the most expensive luxury train in India. It was named to the
2011 list of World's Top 25 Trains by The Society of International
Railway Travelers and was praised for its onboard accommodation and
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dining facilities, service, and off-train excursion program after its review
in the Fall of 2010.
The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is a luxury tourist train run by
Indian Railways. It is modelled on the Palace on Wheels, and follows a
similar route through Rajasthan. Tourists are taken to several important
tourist, wildlife and heritage sites across Rajasthan. The train was
launched in January 2009 following the success of the Palace on
Wheels, another luxury train that travels through Rajasthan. Some of
the tourist attractions covered are the Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds),
Moti Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Ranthambhor National Park, Chittaurgarh
Fort, Jag Niwas (Lake Palace), Keoladeo Ghana National Park, Agra
Fort and finally the Taj Mahal.
The Golden Chariot is a luxury tourist train that connects the
important tourist spots in the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa. It is
named after the Stone Chariot in the Vitthala Temple at Hampi. The 19
coaches on the train are coloured purple and gold, and sport the logo of
a mythological animal with the head of an elephant and a body of a lion.
The Golden Chariot operates weekly and had its maiden commercial
run on March 10, 2008. The train, along with the Deccan Odyssey, is
designed on the lines of the more popular Palace on Wheels with
accommodations, spa treatments and dining. The train is operated by
the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation and marketed
by The Luxury Trains, whereas The Mapple Group handles the
hospitality services on the train. The Golden Chariot offers
accommodation in 44 cabins in 11 coaches that are named after
dynasties that ruled the region: Kadamba, Hoysala, Rashtrakuta,
Ganga, Chalukya, Bahamani, Adil Shahi, Sangama, Satavahana,
Yadukula and Vijayanagar. It also has two restaurants, a lounge bar,
and conference, gym and spa facilities. It is the only train in India to
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have onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, and satellite antennae providing live
television service in the cabins.
High Speed Trains:
The Duronto Express is a category of long distance trains run by
the Indian Railways. The special feature of these trains is that they run
non-stop from source to destination, barring technical halts. All Duronto
Express trains can be easily recognized by the characteristic yellow-
green livery of their passenger coaches. Several Duronto Express
services connect the metros and major state capitals of India. The
Duronto Express trains are projected to be the fastest trains between
the particular pair of cities they serve, although this is not necessarily
true for all services. The Duronto Expresses are one of the fastest trains
in India. These trains run faster than Rajdhani Express trains which hold
the record of the fastest long-distance trains in India. This has been
made possible as these trains, unlike the Rajdhani Express, will have
no intermediate stoppages and run in much the same speed clocked by
Rajdhani. For example, the new bi-weekly non-stop train between New
Delhi and Sealdah will take 16 hours to cover the journey, as against 17
hours taken by Rajdhani Express. The trains will, however, have
technical stoppages at a few stations for facilitating staff and loco
change but the transit time will come down drastically. The trains will
adhere to the speed limit of 110 km/h {non- stop}. The Chennai and
Pune Duronto run at a speed of 130 km/h.
The Rajdhani Express is a passenger train service in India
connecting New Delhi with other important destinations, especially state
capitals. Rajdhani means "The Capital" in Hindi and other Indian
Languages. Rajdhani Express was introduced in 1969, for providing fast
connections (up to 140 km/h/87 mph, speed varies depending upon the
particular track section) from various railway stations in the capital city
of New Delhi to the capital cities of various states in India (or, in certain
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cases, prominent cities within the state the train serves). The first
Rajdhani Express left New Delhi station for Howrah station to cover a
distance of 1,445 km in 16 hours 55mins. These trains get the highest
priority on the Indian railway network. They are fully air-conditioned.
Passengers are served complimentary meals during the journey.
Depending on the duration and timings of the journey, these could
include lunch, high tea, dinner, morning tea and breakfast. Almost all
Rajdhani trains offer three classes of accommodation: First Class AC
with 2- or 4-berth lockable bedrooms, AC 2-tier with open berths (bays
of 4 berths + 2 berths on the other side of the corridor) with curtains for
privacy, and AC 3-tier (bays of 6 berths + 2 berths on the side) with
curtains for privacy.
The Shatabdi Express trains are a series of fast (called superfast
in India) passenger trains operated by Indian Railways to connect Metro
cities with other cities important for tourism, pilgrimage or business.
Shatabdi Express is day-trains and they return to the station of origin
the same day. The word "Shatabdi" means centenary in Sanskrit, Hindi
and several Indian languages. The first Shatabdi train was started in
1988 to commemorate the centenary of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru's
Birthday (the First Prime Minister of India) by Madhav Rao Scindia,
minister for railways. It operated from New Delhi to Jhansi, later
extended to Bhopal. It is now known as the Bhopal Shatabdi Express.
The Bhopal Shatabdi is the fastest train in India and it runs at an
average speed of around 93.05 km/h (57.82 mph) between the origin
and the destination though it runs at speeds at 160 km/h (99 mph) on
some stretches between Agra and New Delhi stations. These trains are
now using latest L.H.B. Rakes to provide extra comfort in the train. The
Lucknow - Delhi Shatabdi has a recorded speed of 145 km/h (90 mph)
although it lingers in the neighborhood of 130 km/h (81 mph) for most of
the cruising distance.
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Preserving Railway’s Heritage:
Indian Railways has a glorious history spanning over 150 years.
To bring alive the romance of train journey and to serve as the
repository of India‘s railway history, Rail Museum have been set up in
many regions to showcase Indian Railway‘s rich heritage. National Rail
Museum, houses an interesting collection of history, heritage, romance
and nostalgia of India‘s rail heritage through its life size exhibits in the
open area ranging from 1855 vintage Fairy Queen to Royal Saloons,
Patiala State Monorail Trainways, antique benches, clocks etc., and the
indoor gallery with static and working models, signalling equipment,
block instruments, tracks, track fittings, historical texts and photographs.
The Rail Archives unfolds the evolution and expansion of the Railways
in India. A large Auditorium in the museum complex provides facilities.
Fairy Queen, the world’s oldest steam loco in operation for holding
conferences, film projections and stage shows and is also open for
bookings on hire. Encouraged by its success, Indian Railways is now
setting up Rail Museums in each region of the country. Three such rail
museums are located at Chennai, Nagpur and Kolkata. Also, there are
mini Rail Museums at Mysore and Ghum.
The Museum is equipped with multi-media kiosks, joy-
train/monorail train rides, rafting/boating, island cafeteria and special
facilities for the physically handicapped. A special section ‗Aakanksha‘
has been started for the visually impaired visitors with miniature models
of a steam and a diesel loco and a brief history of the evolution of IR
written in Braille script. The Souvenir Shop at the Museum has a good
collection of attractive souvenir items like books, key-chains, glass
ware, T-shirts, tie etc. The Museum attracts on an average 1000 visitors
a day. A state-of-the-art Rail Auditorium with a capacity of 194 seats
provide facilities for holding conferences, film projections and stage
shows and is open for bookings on hire.
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The Indian Railway is also taking initiatives on heritage railway
projects such as the Fairy Queen, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway,
Mumbai C.S.T. Building (earlier Bombay V.T.), Nilgiri Mountain Railway
etc. dating over 100 years back. Considering the heritage value of
various structures, bridges, rolling stock, plant and machinery,
documents, etc. and to preserve and maintain heritage on various Zonal
Railways, an apex committee known as Heritage Committee has been
formed under the Chairmanship of the Secretary, Railway Board. The
Zonal Railways are expected to form a small core group for
preservation and maintenance of the identified structures etc. which are
of heritage value. Besides the National Rail Museum at New Delhi, IR
has Regional Rail Museums at Nagpur, Chennai and Kolkata and mini
museums at Mysore, Sukna and Ghum (near Darjeeling). A ―Heritage
Cell‖ has been established in Railway Board, headed by the Executive
Director (Heritage) to look after all aspects of the heritage of Indian
Railway .
There are three World Heritage sites on IR. These include
i) Mumbai CST: In recognition to the architectural value, Mumbai CST
building has been inscribed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO,
ii) Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, iii) Nilgiri Mountain Railway has been
inscribed World Heritage under the Mountain Railway series. Indian
Railway has a long history and a rich heritage. In order to showcase its
colourful past, the National Rail Museum was set up at New Delhi in
1977. The Museum houses many display galleries and has a large open
display yard. The display area has a rich collection of real-life exhibits
showing vintage steam, diesel and electric locomotives, coaches,
saloons, wagons and cranes dating as far back as 1855. The collection
includes the beautiful ‗Fairy Queen‘ steam locomotive of 1855 (entered
in the ‗Guinness Book of World Records‘ as the oldest steam
locomotive still in working order), steam locomotive ‗Ramgotty‘ of 1862,
priceless saloons of royalty, the unique ‗Patiala State Monorail Train‘ of
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1907, a ‗Fireless Locomotive‘ and the ‗Morris Fire Engine‘ of 1914. The
air-conditioned indoor gallery has a vast collection of working and
stationary models, miniature train systems and railway equipment of
historical importance. The Rail Archives of the Museum has a vast
collection of documents on Railways, some of which are as old as 150
years. The video library with a range of exciting films is also widely
appreciated.
National Rail Museum is a museum in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi
which focuses on the rail heritage of India it opened on the 1 February
1977. It is located in over 10 acres (40,000 m2) of land with both indoor
and outdoor exhibits. A toy train offers rides around that site on regular
days.
The Railway Museum was established in 1979 by Indian
Railways, the second such museum after the National Railway Museum
in Delhi. The museum is opposite the Central Food Technology and
Research Institute on Krishnaraja Sagar Road. It has locomotives and a
gallery of photographs and paintings depicting the growth of railways in
India. Railway signals and lights are also displayed. The museum has a
battery-operated mini-train giving a short ride for children on the
grounds. This museum is located near the Mysore Railway station and
is the second one of its kind established in India after the one at Delhi.
This museum exhibits ancient locomotives and carriages some of which
are still in working condition. Photographs and books related to railway
are also present. A striking feature of the museum is the Chamundi
Gallery that showcases a distinctive and interesting collection of
photographs and paintings portraying the growth of the railways.
Another unique feature of the museum is the Sri Ranga Pavilion
that houses two royal coaches. These coaches belonged to the
Maharaja of Mysore and give you an idea about the grand fashion in
which the royalty traveled. Another interesting exhibit in the Rail
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Museum is the Maharani's saloon carriage that has a kitchen, dining car
unit and royal toilet dating back to 1899. Most of the exhibits in the
museum were once housed in Mysore Palace. The first steam engine
that was built is exhibited here and has been preserved very well.
Among the other things exhibited here are steam engines, signals etc.
The museum also has a battery-operated mini-train that takes you on a
ride around the grounds of the museum. This toy train is the main
attraction for small children.
Patiala State Monorail Trainways: This unique steam monorail
was built in 1907. This unusual train is based on the "Ewing System",
and connected Bassi with Sirhind (approximate 6 miles). This was
designed by Col. Bowles. The unique train system consists of a track of
single rail. This mono track, the load-carrying wheel is run while one big
iron wheel at other side to balance it and to keep the train upright. This
train as built by Orenstein & Koppel of Berlin. This train ran till October
1927. In 1927 the line was closed with advent of better and faster
modes of transportation such as cars and buses. Somehow, an engine
and Chief Engineer's inspection car escaped being sold as scrap and
remained in railway's scrap yard. In 1962, the remains of Patiala State
Monorail Trainways were discovered by a railroad historian Mr. Mike
Satow. Thereafter, one engine was restored to full working order by the
Northern Railway Workshops at Amritsar. They also reconstructed the
Chief Engineer's private inspection car on an old under frame. The two
are now in running condition after being restored and are on display at
National Rail Museum, New Delhi. Fairy Queen, the world's oldest
working steam locomotive in operational service.
Fire Engine: Morris Fire Engine was built by the famous fire
engineers M/s. John Morris and Sons Ltd of Salford, Manchester in
1914. Only two Morris-Belsize fire-engines are known to exist in world
today. Apart from the one with National Rail Museum, New Delhi, a
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1912 model is preserved by the Enfield and District Veteran Vehicle.
The fire engine preserved at the Enfield and District Veteran Vehicle,
White ebbs Museum of Transport, Clay Hill, London, has been
converted to use pneumatic tyres by Dennis Bros. Thus, the fire engine
at National Rail Museum is the only one left in the world running on
solid rubber tyres.
Saloon of Prince of Wales: this saloon was built for Prince of
Wales (later King Edward VII) for his visit to India.
Saloon of Maharaja of Indore: This is saloon of Holkar
Maharaja of Indore.
Saloon of Maharaja of Mysore: This is personal saloon of
Maharaja of Mysore. The saloon is designed using teak, gold, ivory, etc.
Electric Locomotive Sir Leslie Wilson: This WCG-1 locomotive
belonged to the Great Indian Peninsular Railway (presently Central
Railway). It is one of India's first generation electric locomotives.
Railway employees fondly remember this locomotives as "khekdas"
(crabs) since they make a curious moaning sound when at rest and
while on the run an unusual swishing sound from the link motion can be
heard. Its unusual features included an articulated body, which made
them ideal for use in heavily curved ghat sections. They were in
operation as shunting locomotives until 1994 at Mumbai Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus.
Electric Locomotive Sir Roger Lumley: This WCP-1 engine
has wheel arrangements which are not seen these days. The locos
were supplied from the Vulcan Foundry, UK in 1930. It was an electric
locomotive which operated under 1500 Volts Direct Traction. It is
famous for hauling the Mumbai—Pune Deccan Queen Express in the
early years when it was launched. A prototype of this locomotive has
been placed at the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai for public viewing.
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Indian Railways offers a wide range of tourist products and
services which include special trains, tourist trains, rail museums, steam
locomotives, mountain rails, north-east frontier rails, romancing trains,
Fairy Queen, Palace on Wheels, Mahaparinivaran Express, Maharaja
Express, etc. Besides Indian Railways has initiated two packages to
Indian and foreign tourists, and is providing transport, accommodation,
cab, catering and other hospitality services to the train passengers and
tourists. There is wide scope of developing rail tourism in near future as
Government of India is planning to enhance investment on tourism
promotion through Indian Railways.