Palace On Wheels to get a new lease of life with a Gujarat link

The Palace on Wheels used to be a prestigious train for foreign tourists coming to India because while on board this luxurious train, one could feel like a Maharaja. It is a part of Rajasthan tourism but, of late, it was not able to attract tourists. Hence, it has been rented out to a firm in Ahmedabad and the Palace would now originate from Gujarat.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 3 June 2015.

The train will now be seen in an Indian avatar – it will be converted to host board meetings, product launches apart from marriage parties on the move. The new version would provide a new experience to the travelers.
A Gujarat-based travel company has concluded an agreement with the Rajasthan state tourism department and Indian Railways to bring the Palace on Wheels to Gujarat. The company would run the train, which includes finalizing its itinerary as per bookings.
The Palace on Wheels would make a new beginning in August when it would carry its first marriage party on board. The train has been booked initially for a year. The itinerary would be as per the needs of the clientele. The tentative plan is to begin from Ahmedabad, and head to Udaipur, Jaipur, Savai Madhavpur, Delhi and, finally, to Agra. There are also plans to host dinner for the passengers on the lawns near Taj Mahal, subject to permission being granted.
The company has indicated that even though the train will originate from Ahmedabad, it would have to market Rajasthan state tourism and, therefore, the guests would be booked into hotels run by the Rajasthan tourism department. (Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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