One of the Indian luxury trains, the Indian Maharaja has announced its schedule update for the year 2013 for its journeys. The train offers 2 week-long journeys for guests to make a choice- Delhi to Mumbai and Mumbai to Delhi. The former one begins from the Safdarjung railway Station in New Delhi, the latter one starts its journey from the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai. Here is the departure schedule of the Indian Maharaja for the season starting from February 2013:

The Indian Maharaja Schedule 2013

February 2013     Wed, 6th               Mumbai to Delhi

February 2013     Wed, 20th             Mumbai to Delhi

February 2013     Wed, 13th             Delhi to Mumbai

February 2013     Wed, 27th             Delhi to Mumbai

March 2013         Wed, 6th               Mumbai to Delhi

April 2013           Wed, 3rd               Mumbai to Delhi

April 2013           Wed, 10th             Delhi to Mumbai

The Indian Maharaja took its first journey on 18th  September, 2009 and has had many successful journeys till date. While on-board, the traveler gets a chance to visit some of the amazing destinations of the country- Mumbai, Udaipur, Samai Madhopur, Jaipur, Delhi, Agra and more. The décor of the train and the cabins is luxurious where you can enjoy various modern world-class facilities like Wi-Fi, LCD TV, AC, 2 multi-cuisine restaurants, bar, sitting lounge, conference car and much more. All this makes your journey an unforgettable experience.Read More.............

Maharajas Express - Republic Day Special Offer

With 2013 on the verge of arrival, IRCTC,  the operators of Maharajas’ Express train, have come up with a ‘Republic Day Special Promo Offer’ for journeying aboard this luxury tourist train. The offer is valid from  20th December, 2012 to 26th January, 2013. 

As per this ‘Republic Day Special Promo Offer’, all the bookings made before 26th January, 2013 for the five Maharajas’ Express tour itineraries- Gems of India, Heritage of India, Treasures of India, Indian Splendor and Indian Panorama- will include a pre & post 1 night complimentary stay at a five star hotel in Delhi/Mumbai. The offer is valid for all the departures from 20th December, 2012 till April, 2013. 

Often compared with the Venice Simplon Orient Express for its facilities & services, Maharajas’ Express stands equivalent to a five star hotel in terms of luxury. It boasts of 43 guest cabins equipped with  state of the art amenities such as individual temperature control, CCD cameras, LCD TV with DVD player, channel music and attached bathroom. There are two fine dining restaurants which serve a wide range of Indian and international delicacies. The train also has pneumatic hydraulic suspension, water filtration system and a boutique for shopping thrifts.

Source : http://www.forpressrelease.com/forpressrelease-92427-special-deal-for-maharajas-express-with-republic-day-special-promo-offer.html

One of the premier luxury trains in India, the Deccan Odyssey, has announced revised departure dates for the remaining of the season. This luxury train will run for 4 more times before completing its 2012-13 season in April 2013. Dubbed India’s Blue Train, the Deccan Odyssey offer weeklong journey starting from Mumbai and covers destinations like Goa, Sindhudurg and Ajanta Caves.

This move by the train operators has come in the wake of global slowdown as lesser and lesser overseas travelers are opting for this ultra-luxe mode of travel. The journeys on board Deccan Odyssey comes at a hefty price of US $2975. In order to woo more clients there are special discounts on offer. Indian Luxury Trains (ILT), India’s first and only luxury train travel portal, a venture of Indian Holiday Pvt. Ltd has announced heavy discounts to its client. For all journeys remaining for this season, Indian Luxury Trains will offer a guaranteed discount of 10% on the tariff. This is not all, ILT has also promised additional discounts depending on the volume of query and dates of departure. Read More

Maharajas Express Train

Washington - India's famed Maharajas' Express is making select stops on the US West Coast to showcase its luxurious amenities to North American travellers who want to experience Incredible India by stepping back into time.

The Indian Railways Catering Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), which owns and operates the luxury train is hosting special events in Los Angeles (Nov 26), San Francisco (Nov 30), and Las Vegas to showcase Maharajas' Express, according to a media release.

Awarded 'Best Luxury Train' by CNBC Travel in 2010 and named 1st runner up in the Readers Choice Award for Conde Nast Traveler in 2011, the train offers a range of five incredible itineraries between the months of September and April.

"The train is designed to transport guests into a more gracious age of train travelling," said Rakesh Kumar Tandon, managing director, IRCTC.

"Interiors suffused with nostalgia, state−of−the−art amenities, a tastefully−crafted itinerary, and impeccable hospitality enable Maharajas' Express to present India in a way never seen before."

Each train carries 14 guest carriages, including one truly classic presidential suite that stretches the length of an entire carriage. Every cabin has large windows, designed so that guests can savour every bit of magnificent India.

All passenger cars come with independent, cabin−controlled air conditioning, online water filtration systems, environmentally−friendly toilets, pneumatic suspension, live television, Wi−Fi Internet, CCTV cameras, hair dryers, electronic safe deposit boxes, bath tubs in suites and the presidential suite − almost everything one could imagine to travel in luxury.

The Maharajas' Express features two fine−dining restaurants that each seat 42 people, and everyone on board dines together. For added zest, there is an exotic Safari bar and Rajah Club, with the choicest collection of complimentary, house brand spirits. Each train comfortably fits a total of 88 passengers.

Source: http://india.nydailynews.com/

Deccan Odyssey

The Deccan Odyssey luxury train service, operated by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, resumed operations in a new look today.

The Tourism Minister, Mr Chhagan Bhujbal, joined passengers on the maiden journey of the renovated luxury train from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus here.

The train was launched in January 2004 and travelled mostly within the State, catering mainly to foreign tourists. However, after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, the bookings dwindled.

“After the terror attacks, we had around 1,000 to 1,200 bookings cancelled,” the MTDC Joint Managing Director, Mr Avinash Dhakne, told PTI. Today, it carried about 80 passengers, including tourists from the US, Britain, Switzerland, Holland and Australia.

The train today embarked on a week-long journey to New Delhi, where another batch of tourists will board the train for the return journey.

The MTDC decided to fully renovate the train and re-launch it on a pan-India basis.

The train boasts regal interiors, the best of food and drinks, conference rooms, televisions in each suite, dining rooms, lounges, a fully-equipped gym with massage and spa, a library, and the full range of executive services.

Besides the Mumbai-New Delhi-Mumbai trip, which would take a fortnight, the train will also ply within the State.

“We are eyeing destinations such as Shirdi and are planning a special package for it,” Mr Dhakne said.

Source-http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/