Eternal India Encyclopedia

A GREAT DESTINATION

PALACE ON WHEELS

Eternal India

encyclopedia

Introduction

Luxury.

A magical blend of past and present.

13 travelling palaces. Of a fashion that carried royal

passengers on bridal journeys, state visits and grand hunt-

ing parties.

Each saloon, a combination of 4 twin-bed chambers. A

plush lounge, two toilets, even a kitchenette.

Pick up one of thirteen as your exclusive domain. And

revel in the opulence perfected by complete air-condition-

ing, TV-VCR channel music, telephones and an electric

bell to summon your own 'Khidmatgar' or attendant, the

picture of smiling courtliness in ethnic coat and trousers

and a flowing turban.

The Bedchambers. Your opulent retreat.

Ornate ceilings, embossed with motifs of green and

gold. Silken curtains. And once you extinguish the lights,

there's the opulence of brocades and velvets and the gentle

motion of the Palace On Wheels to lull you into a royal

slumber.

Bathrooms for a royal toilet

Pad across the plush carpeting to your salmon pink

retreat. There to linger in the flow of hot and cold running

water and shower to soft channel music.

A leisure chamber in green and gold.

The lounge. With specially designed sofas, Rajasthani

painting and a wide ranging collection of video entertain-

ment

Jaisalmer :

A ceremonial Rajasthani

welcome to the 'Rock of Jaisal.' The

ancient desert capital of the Bhatti

Rajputs, built at the counsel of an or-

acle hermit. The oracle's prophecy, that

the mammoth sand castle would be

sacked two and a halftimes, was ful-

filled — but the fortress kept rising out

of the dust — as indomitable as the

Bhatti honour. A golden fortress.

Jailsalmeri music. The thrill of a camel

ride at sunset. A bonfire and an evening

of Rajasthani folk music and dance.

Jaipur

: Capital of the Kachchwaha Rajputs, Jaipur was

built by the astronomer prince Sawai Jai Singh, who en-

visaged it as the capital of a united Rajputana. The city

follows the architectural principles of the Shilp Shas-

tara and is guarded by a crenellated wall, studded with

seven gates. Always favouring pink sandstone, Jaipur

went pink all over to welcome the Prince of Wales in

1876.

The pink city the Palace On Wheels rolls up to is a

dazzling carnival of past and present. Its welcome is

pure tradition — elephants, tilak, garlands and shehnai.

After which a luxury coach departs on a sightseeing

tour. Leave Jaipur carrying memories of its teeming ba-

zaars, the priceless treasures of its City Palace, its five

storey fantasy in pink sandstone lace — the Hawa Mahal

or the Palace of Winds — the imposing fort of Amber and

the mighty fire eaters of Nahargarh.

Tariff for 1992-93

Off-season

Normal

season

(Sept'92-Apr'93) (Oct'92-Mar'93)

Twin bedded cabin

Two

persons USD 175/-

USD 200/- *

occupancy

Three persons

USD 150/- *

USD 175/-*

occupancy

Single person

USD 300/- *

USD 350/- *

occupancy

* Per person & per night

{Indian passengers will pay in Rupees (equivalent amount)

at the exchange rate prevalent at the time of payment}

Agra

: The Taj Mahal city

A perfect climax to a week of enchantment.

Pull out of the ancient Mughal capital, rich with

vivid images of a splendid empire and the works of

master craftsmen.

Jodhpur :

Founded in the fifteenth century by the

Rajput prince Jodha, Jodhpur is the city of the im-

pregnable Meherangarh fort. And the Jaswant Thada

— a white marble cenotaph built in the memory of

Maharaja Jaswanth Singh II. A leisurely swim and

lunch at the Umaid Bhawan Palace hotel makes a per-

fect end to your visit to*This ancient city.

Udaipur :

The new capital of the Sisodia kings,

Udaipur — city of pleasures — was born of the mis-

fortunes of battle scarred Chittor. A fairy tale city

of lush gardens, fountains and sparkling lakes, sa-

vouring Udaipur takes two enchanting days. Days

heady with shopping, with excursions to the Manek

Mahal, the Fateh sagar lake, the Sahelion - ke - bari,

garden of the maids, and a buffet lunch at the world

famous Hotel Lake Palace.

Chittorgarh

: Its impregnable walls, the ageless

symbol of Rajput sacrifice and honour. On a two-

hour excursion through the Chittor fort, relive the

awesome story of the beauteous Rani Padmini. How,

smitten by her legendary beauty, Allauddin Khilji,

Sultan of Delhi, launched a massive offensive against

the Sisodias of Chittor. And how the Queen, brave as

she was beautiful, led the women of Chittor into a

blazing pyre. And the honour of Chittorgarh re-

mained untouched.

Bharatpur

: Home to the Keoladeo Ghana National

Park. Originally, a shooting preserve for the Mahara-

jas of Bharatpur, it is now a 52 sq. km. water bird sanc-

tuary. Besides the indigenous breed - including

painted storks, spoonbills, purple herons and egret-

you may glimpse the exotic winter migrants from

Central Asia, Tibet, China, the Arctic and Siberia.

Fatehpur Sikri :

A 22 km drive away from

Bharatpur stands a deserted red sandstone city. Built

as his new capital by the Mughal Emperor Akbar,

Fatehpur Sikri was s.oon deserted because of lack of

water. Tie a thread at the mausoleum of Sheikh Salim

Chisti - a saint who fulfilled Akbar's desire for a son.

His Dargah is a revered shrine where all wishes are be-

lieved to be granted.