Our Trips - Royal Train Tours - Royal Orient

The luxurious lounge, central air-conditioning, library, television and video entertainment, running hot and cold water and showers, soft channel music, the `Watering Hole` - the well stocked bar, restaurant cars with delicious Indian and Continental cuisine and friendly attendants, all assure you, that your epic voyage is as the Royal Orient itself.


The Royal Orient is an extravaganza of an epoch of grandeur. Indulge yourself in the luxury of this fascinating train. The Royal Orient departs every Wednesday from Delhi.


The Journey

India… a symphony of thousand different cultures, one of the world's oldest civilizations and home to some of the most glorious dynasties. Welcome to an enchanted journey that takes you through this land and its rich history. Explore the bewitching beauty of Gujarat and Rajasthan, and relive their event-filled past. To make your journey memorable, we invite you aboard the Royal Orient - the world's most extraordinary experience on rails. The one week you spend on board, will recapture the resplendence of the days of kings and queens and make you feel like royalty.


Day 1 Exciting Wednesday
1500 hrs. Departure from Delhi cantonment railway station
Evening tea and dinner onboard.
Spend the evening savouring the luxurious ambience aboard the Royal Orient while you embark on your journey through one of the world's oldest civilizations, its mystic cultures and colourful customs will overwhelm you and transport you into a different era.

Day 2 Romantic Thursday
0530 hrs. Arrival at Chittaurgarh railway station.
0630 hrs. Visit Chittaurgarh Fort.
0900 hrs. Depart for Udaipur. Breakfast onboard.
1215 hrs. On arrival, transfer to hotel for lunch. Post lunch sightseeing in Udaipur.
1750 hrs. Depart for Mehsana. Dinner onboard.

Chittaur
Visit Chittaur, once the pride of the Rajputs has Rajasthan's noblest yet tragic history. At Chittaur, you will visit the Chittaur Fort built in the 7th century, sprawling over 700 acres. The nine-storied watchtower, the 12th century tower of fame and sculptures of the Jain Pantheon, the Rana Kumbha Palace are all part of the complex at Chittaur. You will set foot in the cellar where Rani Padmini and other ladies of the court committed Jauhar (mass suicide). Visit Zanana Mahal where a mirror reflection of her famed beauty was shown to Allaudin Khilji, setting off a tragic invasion that razed Chittaur to the ground. Other historic destinations you will visit are :
Meera & Kumbha Shyam Temple - A temple dedicated to the mystic poetess Meerabai.
The Kalika Mata Temple dedicated to Kali, the fiery goddess of power. The Jaimal and the Patta palaces.

Udaipur
After Chittaur, you will visit Udaipur, the City of Dawn, set amidst an amphitheatre of low lying mountains, flanked by three lakes and far-flung plains. Udaipur's streets are lined with gardens, temples esplanades and palaces, every feature mirrored in the placid waters of Lake Picchola.
Breathe in Udaipur's ancient splendour, as you stroll among its Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) Mor Chowk (Peacock Square) and Saheliyon Ki Bari (Garden of the royal maids).

Day 3 Historic Friday
0645 hrs. Arrive at Mehsana.
Visit the Sun Temple at Modhera.
Visit Rani-ki Vav and the Patola weaving centre at Patan.
1115 hrs. Depart for Ahmedabad.
1245 hrs. On arrival transfer to hotel for lunch.
Sightseeing of local attractions like Adalaj Vav, Gandhi Ashram, Calico Textile.
Museum, Sidi Sayyad Mosque and shopping.
Dinner on board.
2015 hrs. Depart for Sasangir.
Ahmedabad
Today you will enter Gujarat. Visit Ahmedabad, the capital of the state and one of the most colourful and exciting destinations in India. In Ahmedabad, visit the Jumma Masjid, built in 1423, described as the most beautiful mosques in the East and the Siddi Sayyad Mosque (1571) with its exquisite windows of pierced stone tracery, an architectural delight. Visit the Rani Roopmati Mosque, the Sarkhej Rauza and the Hateesingh Jain Temple built in pure white marble.

Modhera:
The famous Sun Temple stands on a lotus. Built in 1026 AD, the sun temple at Modhera is one such rare edifice of the Solanki era. The temple is an imposing structure and is counted among the best specimens of Indian art and architecture. The main shrine faces the east and is built so that the rays of the rising sun at equinoxes would fill the sanctum sanctorum, creating a divine ambience. It is indeed a feast to the eyes where one can spend hours taking delight in the beauty of its carvings.

Patan
Patan once saw the rise and fall of the great Solanki Rajput dynasty. It is the home of the famous Patola silk sarees. The greatest reminder of the golden period of Gujarat under the Solanki kings is the queen's step well, Raniki Vav, the oldest and grandest step well of all the 120 step wells built in Gujarat in 1050 AD. Each step is a procession of marvellous sculptures; layer after layer created by the master craftsmen of the bygone era at the height of their creativity.

Day 04 Adventurous Saturday
0800 hrs. Arrive at Sasangir. Breakfast onboard.
Visit the lion sanctuary at Sasangir, optional sightseeing of Somnath Temple
1115 hrs. Depart to Delwada.
1430 hrs. Arrival at Delwada.
Visit Ahmedpur Mandvi beach.
Excursion to Diu Fort and St. Paul's Cathedral.
2000 hrs. Depart for Palitana.
Sasan Gir Forest
Gir Forest is not only one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in India, but also the only place in the world outside Africa where the majestic Asiatic lion can be seen in its natural habitat.

The lion population had dwindled to a mere 15 at the turn of the century when protection came in the most unexpected way. In 1900 the Nawab of Junagadh in whose territory most of Gir forest lay invited Lord Curzon , the viceroy of India for a lion Safari. The viceroy's impending hunting trip provoked an animal lover to send an indignant letter to the newspaper. Taking note of this, Lord Curzon not only cancelled the safari but also advised the Nawab to take measures to protect the Gir Lion.

Today there are 312 lions in Gir. It also harbours a variety of animals and birds i.e.Panthers, hyena, Indian Sambar, Chital (spotted deer), Nilgai, Chinkara and the rare Chowsingha (four horned antelope).

A crocodile farm has also been developed in Gir, which is one of the few remaining forests that comprise divergent habitats. With open scrub areas, dry deciduous and tropical thorn forests, and an evergreen corridor along the riversides, Gir will truly take your breath away.

Ahmedpur Mandvi
Unwind at the resort at Ahmedpur Mandvi with luxurious amenities at your disposal complemented by warmth and hospitality. Located 12 kms from the resort is a beautiful virgin beach. There are also a host of water sports facilities.

Diu
Across, Ahmedpur Mandvi is the island of Diu, - one of the country's finest beaches. Another popular place to visit is the Fort of Diu- an imposing statement of power. It was built over six years from 1535 AD, following a defence alliance between Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat and the Portuguese when the former was attacked by Humayun, the Mughal emperor. The deep canals flanking the fort, the giant watch tower (now converted into lighthouse) the gaol, the cannon, will take you back on to a different era

Day 5 Spiritual Sunday
Breakfast onboard.
0745 hrs. Arrival at Palitana.
Visit 863 exquisitely carved Jain temples on the Shatrunjaya Hills.
1300 hrs. Depart for Sarkhej. Lunch onboard.
1900 hrs. At Sarkhej. Visit Vishalla village.
Dinner at hotel.
2230 hrs. Depart for Udaipur

Palitana
It is known as the temple city. It is probably India's most picturesque pilgrim centre of the Jain faith with more than 863 temples built over a period of 900 years. Poets have likened these temples exquisitely carved in marble to prayers in stone At Palitana you will visit temples such as The Adinatha, the Chaumukh, the Kumarpal. With special permission from the temple authorities, you can also view the fabulous collection of jewels at the oldest temple built by Kumarpal Solanki.

Sarkhej
At Sarkhej, you will visit a village that still lives in the medieval age. With every tradition, every custom kept intact. You will enjoy the medieval folk art and visit the utensils museum, a repository of medieval lifestyle in the region.

Day 6 Nostalgic Monday
Breakfast onboard.
0715 hrs. Arrive at Udaipur. Visit Ranakpur Jain temple.
Lunch at hotel. Post lunch, return to Udaipur.
2000 hrs. Depart for Jaipur. Dinner onboard.
Ranankpur
Located 96 kms from Udaipur, Ranankpur is one of one of the five main holy places of the Jains. These 500 year old temples are well preserved till date in almost perfect condition. There are 29 halls, 80 domes, 1444 pillars with intricate carvings The graceful pillars and the domes of different heights with flat ceiling combine to produce an excellent effect.


Day 7 Sensuous Tuesday
Breakfast onboard.
0750 hrs. Arrival at Jaipur. Visit Aamer Fort.
Elephant ride via Hawa Mahal.
Post lunch, visit Jaipur's City Palace and Jantar Mantar (observatory).
2155 hrs Depart for Delhi. Dinner onboard.
Jaipur
Jaipur is one of the most colourful cities that makes the tapestry of medieval India mesmerizing to the traveler and the historian

Visit the City Palace, a historical and architectural landmark renowned for its rich carvings, in-house museum of Rajasthani dresses and Mughal and Rajput armoury, art gallery featuring rare astronomical works in Arabic, Persian. Visit the Jantar Mantar, a fascinating medieval observatory built by tits founder King Sawai Jaising II. The Hawa Mahal is the most strikingly designed monument in Jaipur. The five-storied royal complex was built by the poet king Sawai Pratap Singh to give the royal ladies a vantage view of the royal processions passing below, while remaining unseen by the public eye. You will also visit Aamer Palace, and the Shila Mata Temple while riding on elephants like the Maharajas of a regal era giving you a taste of the days gone by.

Day 8 Reluctant Wednesday
Journey back to Delhi
0700 hrs. Arrival at Delhi Cantonement.



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