Maharajas Express- Fortified as the Worlds Leading Luxury Train Yet Again at the World Travel Awards

“On December 7, 2014, the grand final gala ceremony of the prestigious World Travel Awards was held in the exquisite Caribbean island of Anguilla. The Holy Grail of all luxury train awards, the World’s Leading Luxury Train award, was presented to Maharajas Express, which is a premium luxury train operating in the northern-western & central part of India. In fact, this was the third consecutive World’s Leading Luxury Train award bagged by Maharajas Express at the World Travel Awards, fortifying its position as the best luxury train in the world.
The nominees for this distinguished award included renowned names like The Blue Train (South Africa), Venice Simplon Orient-Express (Europe), Rovos Rail (Southern Africa), Rocky Mountaineer – GoldLeaf Service (Canada), Andean Explorer (Peru), Eastern & Oriental Express (South-east Asia), Tren Crucero (Ecuador) and many more. All of these luxury trains are highly acclaimed for their excellent services and unique travel experience.
World Travel Awards commenced in the year 1993 to honour & recognize the leading contributors in various sectors of the travel industry. It is recognized all over the world for setting the benchmark for excellence in travel industry. Last year, more than 5, 00,000 votes were cast by travel professionals and high-end tourism consumers to decide the winners in different categories.
Maharajas Express is owned and operated by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) which is a subsidiary of the Indian Railways. There are five different itineraries (journeys) offered by Maharajas Express that encompass major historical and tourist destinations in northern western and central India. These journeys are operated between the months of October and April.
As its name implies, it recreates the grandeur and hedonistic lifestyle of Maharajas and treat every guest as royalty. Its grandiosity could be determined by its 23 cars of which 14 are designated as passenger cars. These passenger cars are divided into four different types of cabins: Presidential Suite, Suite, Junior Suite, and Deluxe Cabin. These cabins are quite capacious and are equipped with world-class amenities that are nearly inimitable.
It has two fine dining restaurants, Mayur Mahal & Rang Mahal, that can accommodate 42 guests each in one sitting. The gilded fresco ceilings of these restaurants exhibit an intricate Indian art style that lends a surreal ambience to the entire dining experience. Guests can revel in an excellent assortment of international and indigenous cuisines that are gastronomical delights. There is also an impressive collection of wines available onboard to compliment various delicacies.
There are two bars available onboard, The Rajah Club (Lounge Bar) and Safari Bar (Thematic Bar), that offer a unique opportunity for guests to socialize with other guests or go solo while enjoying an exquisite collection of opulent wines & spirits.
Two of the five journeys of Maharajas’ Express namely Gems of India and Treasures of India are 3 nights /4 days long journeys. Whereas, Indian Panorama, Indian Splendour and Heritage of India journeys are 7 nights/8 days long journeys. All of these itineraries, in addition to a plethora of historically & culturally important places, cover the famous Golden Triangle of India that includes Delhi, Agra & Jaipur.
Since its inception in March 2010, Maharajas’ Express has been an epitome of exceptional services that others have found difficult to replicate. The affluent aristocratic experience onboard and riveting off-train excursions to world heritage sites, historical museums, wildlife sanctuary, and royal dining at colossal palaces in Rajasthan have placed Maharajas’ Express in a league of its own.”