 |
 |
Day 1 - ARRIVE DELHI
|
| Flight to Delhi.
|
| Day 2 - DELHI |
Arrive at the IGI Airport Delhi. Upon arrival Transfer to your hotel. Option of staying in a Railway Coach at the Tivoli Garden Resort, in Chhattarpur.
Besides normal sightseeing tours following additional activities can be incorporated.
Visit to the National Railway Museum
- Excursion to the Steam Shed at Rewari (83 kms)
- A visit to the Railway Stations of Delhi city
- On Wednesdays visit to the Delhi Cantt station for viewing the Palace on Wheels.
- Visit to the New Delhi Station from the State Entry road to view the Reserved Carriages with a direct access from the Connaught Place
- The New Delhi Metro (photography is not permitted on the New Delhi Metro.)
|
|
| It is also possible to arrange guest lectures by senior railway officials and / or rail fans. Slideshows on specific subjects, trips and the history of the Indian Railways can be arranged. It is also possible to invite some rail fans for an interaction with the group members and have an opportunity to hear their experiences of journeys through the country as well as some of the most memorable footplating experiences. |
|
|
|
|
| Day 3 D ELHI - AGRA |
Transfer to New Delhi Station for Shatabdi Express to Agra Cantt. The Journey aboard the Shatabdi Express is the fastest ride in the country today. The train sports modern LHB rakes and is powered by a WAP-5 locomotive.
Breakfast is served on board and train arrives at Agra Cantt at 0755 am.
(This service is available daily except Fridays. Taj remains closed on Friday and the Shatabdi service on Fridays uses a conventional rake with different schedule of 0600 - 0810 hrs.)
Upon arrival you are met by our representative and transferred to the hotel.
A visit of the Taj city including the Red Fort and the majestic Taj Mahal - an eternal monument dedicated to love.
|
|
| Day 4 AGRA - JAIPUR |
|
Morning option of a sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal to capture the changing moods and shades on this marble structure.
Afternoon free for own activities. In the evening transfer to the Railway Station to board the Agra - Jaipur.
|
|
| Day 5 JAIPUR |
Full day tour of the Pink City : Beginning with the visit to the majestic Amber Fort v ia Wind Palace & Water Palace here you have the elephant ride to the top of the fort (Subject to availability).
Afterwards return to Jaipur for a tour of the Kachhwaha Capital including the City Palace, Observatory & the glittering bazaars of Jaipur.
Return to your hotel in the evening and overnight stay.
|
|
| Day 6 JAIPUR - JODHPUR |
 |
Later in the afternoon transfer to the Railway station to board Train for Jodhpur. The route traverses through the largest salt pans in the country at Sambhar Lake near Phulera Jn presenting a spectacular view.
Jodhpur - the second largest city of Rajasthan and the erstwhile capital of Marwar, sprawls around the massively impressive cliff top Meherangarh Fort. Upon arrival check-in to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel. |
|
| Day 7 JODHPUR - DEOGARH |
| Morning : Jodhpur city tour. The stronghold of the fierce Rathore clan was founded in 1459 by Prince Jodha. Visit the Mehrangarh Fort, situated on a low sandstone hill. Within the fort, visit Moti- Mahal and Phool Mahal. Also visit Jaswant Thada, an imposing marble cenotaph, built in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh in around 1899.
In the afternoon drive to Deogarh. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Enjoy your stay at the wonderful Deogarh palace. |
 |
|
| Day 8 DEOGARH - PHULAD - RANAKPUR |
After breakfast drive to the railway station and board the local train upto Phulad.
The entire route has steel ties, except for the ghat stretch, which has mostly wooden ones. Speeds are quite low; with the section from Marwar to Khamblighat allowing 40 km/h. It's a gentle climb up all the way, amid rolling landscape. A couple of times one even gets to feel (and hear) the dynamic brakes in action when the train had to be hurriedly slowed down.
Soon you are at Khamblighat, from where the steep descent begins. The line climbs down about 500 metres in a distance of about 22 kms, necessitating a speed limit of 19 km/h on this stretch. At this station the loco behind powered the train on. The usual train does not require any extra brake power on it's descent, though banking is always provided in the upward journey.
The scenery by now turns very charming with mountains all around, as the train snakes its way through the gaps, the rails squealing in protest as the loco used it's brakes amid the curving lines. The drivers maintain a peak of19 km/h, totally concentrating on their job. From the midway station of Goramghat then to the next station of Phulad, was a similar journey, but at one point one could look out at the plains of Marwar down below. One felt literally at the top of the world, even though the line does not reach any great heights. The ghat section has a couple of tunnels, neither very long. For reasons of safety, four catch sidings are provided.
Before departing from Khamblighat, the driver is handed a large silver coloured key, which he would use on the catch siding locks. The turnouts are always set towards the catch sidings. A few metres before each of these, there is a signal, which is always set at danger. The train has to stop at that point, and the assistant detrains, uses the key provided at the interlock box. This in turn notifies the signalman who is positioned at the catch siding turnout, who sets the track towards the main line, and sets the signal to clear, giving the train authority to proceed, this ensures that if there is a runaway train, it would always find it's way up the catch siding. |
| As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end at some stage and this is where the train reaches Phulad Jn ending a most interesting trip through Rajasthan state.
On arrival we will proceed to Ranakpur. The approximate distance from Phulad to Ranakpur is 60 Kms and the drive will take approx 2 hrs. Later visit the wonderful three temples of the Jain sect at Ranakpur dating back to the 14 th /15 th century.
Overnight stay in Ranakpur. |
 |
|
|
|
| Day 9 RANAKPUR - UDAIPUR |
 |
After breakfast drive to Udaipur, is the city considered to be a romantic city - with its lakes, gardens, temples and palaces - an Oasis in the Thar Desert. On arrival check in at the hotel.
Afternoon enjoy public boat ride on the Pichola Lake.
Overnight at the hotel. |
|
| Day 10 UDAIPUR - AHMEDABAD
|
| Breakfast at the hotel.
Udaipur city tour in the morning visiting the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, drive around Fatehsagar Lake, Shaelion Ki Bari (queen's resort for her friends) and Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandir (folk art museum).
In the afternoon drive to Ahmedabad. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. |
| Day 11 AHMEDABAD |
| Ahmedabad city tour. OPTIONAL Excursion to Viramgam Jn. It is also possible to take a short train ride on the main line towards Vadodara whose Gaekwad rulers set up many railway projects and laid narrow gauge lines in the erstwhile state.
Return to Ahmedabad in the evening for an overnight stay. |
| |
| Day 12 AHMEDABAD - MUMBAI |
|
Morning free at Ahmedabad.
In the evening transfer to the Ahmedabad jn railway station to board the Gujarat Mail to Mumbai Central.
Overnight on board the train.
|
|
| Day 13 MUMBAI |
Early morning arrival at Mumbai Central Railway Station and transfer to the hotel.
The first passenger train service in India operated from Mumbai to thane in 1853.
Afternoon tour of Mumbai city.
Among the principal Railway related activities that can be undertaken in Mumbai are :-
. A visit to the Chhatrapati shivaji Terminus (Mumbai VT) station which is also rated as a World Heritage site.
. See the The Deccan Odyssey rake at Mumbai VT (departs every Wednesday at 1600 hrs)
Visit to the suburban Terminus at Dadar Central which is among the busiest Railway stations in the country.
|
| Day 14 MUMBAI - BHUSAVAL JN - AURANGABAD |
Depart for Bhusaval Jn on the Main Mumbai - Howrah and Mumbai - Delhi Central Railway routes. Bhusaval is among the busiest junctions in Central India and is the most convenient gateway to the Ajanta Caves ( approx 70 kms) - the site of 2000 years Old World famous colossal rock-cut temples of Ajanta. There are 30 caves consisting of Buddhist monasteries, and temples. The tempera technique has been used in these paintings belonging to the most beautiful rock paintings in the world. These Jataka paintings relate to the Buddha's previous births - showing progress of the soul
After a visit to the Caves continue on to Aurangabad city.
On arrival transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.
|
| Day 15 AURANGABAD |
|
Overnight at the hotel.
|
| |
|
| IMP: ELLORA IS CLOSED ON TUESDAY |
After breakfast, we proceed for an excursion to Ellora caves (30 km). These are carved in the volcanic rocks & are among the finest in India. There are 34 caves - 12 Buddhist created (600-800 AD), 17 Hindu (600-900 AD), 5 Jain (600-1100 AD).
Return to the Daulatabad Fort which rises to a height of over 600 ft above the Deccan plains. Once known as Devgiri, this fort served as the head quarters of the powerful Yadava rulers. In the 13th century, Mohammed bin Tughlak, the Sultan of Delhi, made it his capital and renamed it Daulatabad, or City of Fortune.
One of the world's best preserved forts of medieval times, surviving virtually unaltered, Daulatabad still displays many of the internal contrivances that made it invincible. A series of secret, quizzical subterranean passages lie amidst the fort. Its defense systems comprised fortifications of double and even triple rows of massive walls. A fortress conquered only by treachery!
The most notable structures at Daulatabad are the Chand Minar, Jami Masjid and royal palaces. The tapering 30-metre high tower of the Chand Minar is divided into four storeys, and was faced with glazed tiles and carved motifs. The Minar probably served as a prayer hall or a victory monument in its time. The Jami Masjid was a mosque built by the Khilji ruler of Delhi, Qutubuddin Mubarak. The palaces consist of spacious halls, pavilions and courtyards.
Return to Aurangabad for overnight stay.
|
| |
|
| Day 16 AURANGABAD - MUMBAI |
Morning free for individual program.
Later in the afternoon transfer to the airport to connect flight (IC 888 1720 / 1805 hrs) to Bombay. On arrival, transfer to the hotel for dinner before continuing on to the international airport for return flight back home.
|
| Or those who just wish to spend an entire morning by the poolside trying to catch up on their reading of the latest in fiction.. and those who like to let their hair down and take a dip in the sea. |
| |
|
| Day 17 MUMBAI - RETURN FLIGHT. |
Flight back home.
|
| |
|
 |
|
