Luxury Trains India
Four luxury trains.
India has four best-known luxury tourist trains, each a week-long trip with your cabin, meals and sightseeing on one ticket. This page is a neutral comparison — who runs each train, where it goes, when it runs and how to book it on the operator’s own channel. We do not sell these tickets; we plan the days before and after.
- 4 trains run by Indian Railways' IRCTC and state tourism bodies
- About a week most journeys; one or two shorter ones
- Winter the running season, roughly October to March/April
- Checked 6 Nov 2026
What are the luxury trains in India, and how do you book them?
India’s four best-known luxury trains are the Maharajas’ Express (IRCTC), Palace on Wheels (Rajasthan), Golden Chariot (Karnataka, with IRCTC) and Deccan Odyssey (Maharashtra). Most journeys last about a week, with cabin, meals and sightseeing included, and run in the cooler months. Book only through the operator’s official website, IRCTC offices or an authorised IRCTC agent.
Talk to a real person: our team in Himachal answers 9 am–9 pm IST (UTC+5:30), usually within 2 hours. Message us on WhatsApp +91 70874 88961 or email info@suzutravels.com.
The four luxury trains at a glance
Who runs each train, where it goes and when it runs — taken from each operator’s own pages on 6 November 2026. Routes and dates change from season to season, so confirm them with the operator before you plan around them.
| Train | Run by | Main journeys | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maharajas’ Express | IRCTC, the Indian Railways’ tourism company | Three 6-night journeys (Delhi or Mumbai start, mostly Rajasthan + Agra; one via Khajuraho and Varanasi) and a 3-night Delhi–Agra–Ranthambore–Jaipur loop | Departures October to April |
| Palace on Wheels | Rajasthan Tourism (RTDC) | One week from New Delhi: Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore), Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur, Agra, back to Delhi | Wednesday-night departures; ask RTDC for this season’s dates |
| Golden Chariot | Karnataka State Tourism (KSTDC) with IRCTC | Pride of Karnataka (Bengaluru, Mysore, Hampi, Goa), Jewels of South (adds Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, Kochi, Kumarakom), a 3-night Glimpses of Karnataka | Fixed departure dates — see the official site |
| Deccan Odyssey | Maharashtra Tourism (MTDC) | Historically 7 nights from Mumbai: Konkan coast, Goa, Kolhapur, Pune, Ellora, Ajanta, Nashik | Historically October to March — check MTDC for current routes and dates |
Sources: the-maharajas.com (IRCTC), Rajasthan Tourism and RTDC, Karnataka Tourism, goldenchariot.org, Indian Railways and MTDC — listed at the end of this page.
Maharajas' Express: IRCTC's flagship train
The official site calls it “the flagship luxury train of IRCTC”, and lists four journeys, all with departures from October to April:
Heritage of India · 6 nights
Mumbai – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Bikaner – Jaipur – Ranthambore and Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Delhi.
The Indian Splendour · 6 nights
The reverse direction: Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Bikaner – Jodhpur – Udaipur – Mumbai.
Indian Panorama · 6 nights
Delhi – Jaipur – Ranthambore and Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Orchha and Khajuraho – Varanasi – Delhi.
Treasures of India · 3 nights
Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Delhi. The short option if your trip is under two weeks.
What the official site lists as included
Meals, house wines, spirits and beers, sightseeing with entrance fees, a tour director, air-conditioned transfers and a paramedic on board.
How booking works
Through the official website, IRCTC offices or authorised IRCTC agents. The site asks for a 25% advance, with the balance 30 days before departure (60 days if you book through an agent).
Palace on Wheels: a week around Rajasthan
Rajasthan Tourism describes the Palace on Wheels leaving Safdarjung station in New Delhi every Wednesday night on a week-long run, and returning to Delhi after Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur (for Ranthambore National Park), Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur (for Keoladeo National Park) and Agra for the Taj Mahal.
RTDC’s own itinerary page starts the day with a 4.00 pm welcome at Safdarjung and a 6.30 pm departure for Jaipur, dinner on board. The train has 14 saloons, each with four twin-bedded chambers with attached bathrooms, two restaurant cars and a spa. Ask RTDC, or an authorised agent, for this season’s departure dates before you book flights.
If you like the route but want more time in fewer places, the same cities work well by private car — see our Rajasthan tour.
Golden Chariot and Deccan Odyssey: the south and west
Two trains for travellers who have already seen the north, or want temples, palaces and coast instead of desert forts:
Golden Chariot — Karnataka and the south
Presented by Karnataka State Tourism and IRCTC. Pride of Karnataka runs Bengaluru – Bandipur – Mysore – Halebidu – Chikmagaluru – Hampi – Pattadakal and Aihole – Goa – Bengaluru; Jewels of South adds Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur and Chettinad, Kochi and Kumarakom; Glimpses of Karnataka is a 3-night loop.
Golden Chariot — cabins and booking
Karnataka Tourism lists 13 double cabins, 30 twin cabins and one cabin for guests with disabilities. Book on goldenchariot.org, at IRCTC offices or through an authorised IRCTC agent; the site asks for a 20% advance. The official pages differ on whether the long journeys are 6 or 7 nights — check the current itinerary.
Deccan Odyssey — Maharashtra
Run in association with Maharashtra Tourism (MTDC). The Indian Railways page describes a 7-night loop from Mumbai along the Konkan coast to Goa, then Kolhapur, Pune, Ellora, Ajanta and Nashik, running October to March. That page is old, and MTDC’s current page lists no dates — ask MTDC what runs this season.
Book on the official site — and watch for look-alikes
Search for any of these trains and you will find many websites using the train’s name. Some are authorised agents, some are not. Before you pay:
- Start from the operatorUse the booking links on IRCTC’s own pages, Rajasthan Tourism / RTDC, Karnataka Tourism or MTDC — the official sites linked in our sources below.
- If you use an agent, ask if it is authorisedIRCTC lets you book through its offices and authorised IRCTC agents. Ask the agent to confirm it is authorised, and check before you pay.
- Read the advance and balance datesThe official sites ask for an advance (25% on the Maharajas’ Express, 20% on the Golden Chariot) and the balance 30 days before departure, or 60 days through an agent.
- Get the e-ticket or travel voucherBoth IRCTC trains send a confirmation email and an e-ticket / travel voucher. Keep it with your passport.
- Book flights lastDeparture dates are fixed and some journeys run only a few times a season. Confirm the train first, then your flights.
What we do — and what we don't
We do not sell luxury-train tickets. Book your journey directly with the operator’s official website, IRCTC offices or an authorised IRCTC agent. What we do is plan the days around it: airport pick-up in Delhi or Mumbai, nights before boarding, and the trip after you step off — the hills of Himachal, Rishikesh, or more time in the places the train only touches for a day.
Before and after the train: ideas we often plan
Most luxury-train journeys start and end in Delhi or Mumbai and fill one week. If you have two or three weeks in India, here is how guests usually use the rest:
Arrive a day early
International flights land at night and departures are fixed — a hotel night and a calm day in Delhi first. See our Delhi tour.
Add the mountains
The trains stay in the plains. A week in Shimla, Manali or Dharamshala by private car is the natural second half — see the best time to visit Himachal.
Or skip the train
The Golden Triangle and Rajasthan by private car and driver let you choose your own pace, hotels and stops — see our 7-day Golden Triangle.
Your car, your driver
For the road days, one car and driver from arrival to departure: private driver in India. Your driver’s name, photo and car number are shared before the trip.
Questions travellers ask
Which is the most famous luxury train in India?
The Maharajas’ Express (run by IRCTC) and the Palace on Wheels (Rajasthan Tourism) are the two names most visitors know. Both focus on Rajasthan and Agra; the Golden Chariot covers Karnataka and the south, and the Deccan Odyssey Maharashtra.
What is the difference between the Maharajas' Express and the Palace on Wheels?
The Maharajas’ Express is IRCTC’s train with three week-long journeys (via Mumbai, or Khajuraho and Varanasi) and a 3-night loop, departing October to April. The Palace on Wheels is Rajasthan Tourism’s train: one week-long Rajasthan circuit from New Delhi, leaving on Wednesday nights.
How do I book a luxury train in India from abroad?
Book on the operator’s official website, at IRCTC offices or through an authorised IRCTC agent. The official sites take an advance online and the balance 30 days before departure (60 days through an agent). Watch for look-alike websites that use the train’s name.
When do India's luxury trains run?
In the cooler months. The Maharajas’ Express lists departures from October to April; the Deccan Odyssey has historically run October to March. Departure dates are fixed and published by each operator — check them before booking flights.
How long is a luxury train journey in India?
Most journeys are about a week (6 or 7 nights). The Maharajas’ Express also has a 3-night Treasures of India loop, and the Golden Chariot a 3-night Glimpses of Karnataka.
What is included on India's luxury trains?
Your cabin, meals and sightseeing on the route. The Maharajas’ Express site also lists house drinks, entrance fees, a tour director, transfers and a paramedic on board. Check each operator’s current list before you book.
Can Suzu Travels book the train for me?
No — we do not sell luxury-train tickets. Book with the operator or an authorised IRCTC agent. We plan everything around it: airport pick-up, hotels before and after, and a private car and driver for the rest of your trip.
Booked a luxury train? We'll plan the rest of India around it
Tell us your train, its dates, how many of you and what else you’d like to see. We send a day-by-day plan for the days before and after — airport pick-up, hotels, a private car and driver, the Himalaya if you like — with a US-dollar quote from our office in Himachal.
We usually reply within 2 hours, 9 am–9 pm IST (UTC+5:30). Email info@suzutravels.com if you don’t use WhatsApp.
Booking: A 20% deposit locks your dates and price. Full refund if you cancel within 48 hours of paying. Pay by card (Razorpay, international cards accepted) or PayPal; the balance is due before the trip.
Your message goes only to the Suzu Travels team in Himachal and is used only to answer your enquiry — we do not sell or share it. Privacy policy.
Keep exploring
Sources
- Maharajas' Express — official site (IRCTC): journeys, departure months, inclusions, booking
- Maharajas' Express — Heritage of India journey (IRCTC)
- Rajasthan Tourism — Palace on Wheels (route, Wednesday departures, saloons)
- RTDC — Palace on Wheels itinerary
- Karnataka Tourism — Golden Chariot (operators, journeys, cabins; reviewed 4 Nov 2026)
- Golden Chariot — official booking site
- Indian Railways — Deccan Odyssey tour details (older page)
- MTDC — Deccan Odyssey
Written by the Suzu Travels team in Himachal Pradesh, India. Facts checked 6 Nov 2026. Prices, visa rules and road conditions change — we re-check this page regularly; ask us before you book.
