Heritage Tours Of Agra: When Love Lures Tourists

Care to join the royal guests of the Maharajas’ Express? Yes, there are no passengers on board the train, only royal guests. Each has a personal butler for round the clock service. Each “owns” a plush suite or cabin for a week. Each has, at his or her disposal, two royal dining cars, a mini library, a bar, and a boutique. What more can one ask for when traveling in a train?

This is what luxury tours are made of…and the Maharaja train is one step ahead in luxury. The unmatched staff hospitality, the on-board water filtration plant, the on-board paramedic service, the air ambulance service, and differently-themed dining cars and suites of the train make it different from other luxury trains. 

The train’s Presidential Suite is the striking feature of the train. Spanning one whole carriage, the suite is the gem of all suites. No wonder it is called Navratna or Nine Gems! 

A smart choice

People interested in heritage tours to Agra and other places can choose to book a suite or cabin in the Maharaja train. It operates between October and April and this is a great time to roam around North India. It is winter in India…and the country’s winter is rather pleasant. With the warm winter sun soothing your body from head to toe, you can head to various forts, palaces, gardens, and other places of interest. 

The train’s tours are meticulously planned. The idea is to let royal guests catch a glimpse of what the real India is. It is not as impoverished and dirty as shown by the world media. India has many faces, one of them being the royal side that can make many of the world’s riches bow to it. 

Star attraction

Tourism in Agra is booming thanks to the Taj Mahal. One of the Seven Wonders of the World is situated here and has put the city on the global tourist map. Apart from this, the city boasts of a magnificent Agra Fort, an intriguing Fatehpur Sikri, and lots of other spell-binding places. 

All North Indian tour itineraries of the Maharajas’ Express include a trip to Agra. If you have been to North India and not being to the Taj Mahal, you have not actually being to India! 

There are places on the Earth wherein India is synonymous with this marbled structure of love. It is almost impossible to miss such an important tourist attraction. No wonder all heritage tours of Agra include a trip to the Taj Mahal.

You must see the Taj Mahal at night under the full moon. It transforms into a heavenly structure. The saga of love comes alive and touches the hearts of onlookers. One of the tour itineraries of the Maharaja train gives its travelers an opportunity to dine atop Taj Khema, which features the Taj Mahal at the backdrop. This truly makes a unique dining experience. 

Interested in seeing the symbol of love? Do so like a king or a queen…by traveling in the Maharajas’ Express. After all, the structure depicts the tale of love between a king and a queen.

Maharaja Express Train: There’s Nothing Like It

There is no doubt that the Maharaja Express train offers an unforgettable train journey in India. Inside the train is a world of royalty and sheer pamper. Red carpet welcome, high teas, royal dining, round the clock personal butlers, royal transportation, champagne breakfasts, and more – this is what makes a Maharaja tour.

The train helps you discover India’s bygone era of regality, romance, and opulence. There is a stark contrast in this Asian country. On one hand, you can see chaotic platforms, sleeper class of trains, and overcrowded compartments with common lives struggling to breathe. On the other hand, you could be in the Maharaja train and see the most luxurious side of India.

India’s pride on wheels

The Maharajas’ Express has many awards to its credit.

• It has won the “World Travel Award” in the category of “World’s Leading Luxury Train” for 5 consecutive years – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

• It was labeled as the “Best Luxury Train” in 2010 at the CNBC Awaaz Travel Award ceremony.

• It was presented by the Seven Stars award in 2015 and in 2016 in the category of “Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Awards.”

• It won the First Runner Up award in the category of “Specialist Train Operators” in 2011 at the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Travel Award ceremony.

Monsoon Special tours

From September 2017, Maharajas’ Express will travel to South India too. Before that, the train is offering people a unique opportunity to explore the mystic land of the south through its two Monsoon Special tours.

• Southern Sojourn tour commences on June 24, 2017. The tour will begin from Mumbai and end in Trivandrum. It will cover Goa, Mysore, Cochin, Hampi, and Alleppey.

•  Southern Jewels tour commences on July 1, 2017. The tour will begin in Trivandrum and end in Mumbai. It will cover Goa, Hampi, Mysore, Chettinad, and Mahabalipuram.

Both tours are of 8 days and 7 nights.

The train is providing a fantastic offer that allows you to bring along a companion free of cost - pay only your fare! Another offer is the early bird offer, which is valid for selected departures.

A unique experience on board the Maharaja

The moment you step inside the train, you shed your “ordinary” feel and become the king or the queen. Now, this is your kingdom. You can relax in your plush suite or cabin. The Presidential Suite called Navratna is the most opulent of all. It covers on whole carriage of the train.

The train features 23 carriages. It has two dining cars named Mayur Mahal and Rang Mahal. It has a lounge called Rajah Club and a bar called Safari Bar. It also features a mini library and a souvenir shop. The train has an in-built water filtration plant. It is well connected with telephone lines and Wi-Fi. Each suite and cabin features a climate control system. Each passenger gets a personal butler, who is at your service 24x7.

It does not feel like you are in a train. The train’s excellent suspension system featuring advanced technology ensures a smooth and silent ride. Every inch of the train is draped with regal décor. They bring to life the bygone era of emperors and their lavish lifestyles.

Staff of the Maharaja Express train is well trained in hospitality. They are dedicated to making the tour a memorable experience for passengers. Their warm welcome of passengers in Indian traditional style on the red carpet at the platform leaves a long lasting impression on travelers. As you embark on one of your most enriching journeys of life, you cannot help but thank God you are in India!

MICE Tourism: A New Feather In India’s Cap

MICE tourism is growing at a rapid rate. MICE is an acronym for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions. Millions of people travel across the globe for business. They organize exhibitions to showcase their business; attend seminars and meetings; hold business events and conferences; and even organize tours to exotic places to impress their clients. The last one is where the tourism industry can intervene to provide businesspeople a wonderful environment to do business.

Suppose you are on a 2-day business tour to Jaipur. Your meeting with the client is scheduled for mornings. You are free the rest of the days. What do you do? That’s where MICE tourism steps in.

The specialty of MICE tours is that they are planned in a manner that you get ample time to do business and ample time to sightsee. The meetings are organized deliberately in tourist cities or near significant tourist spots.

Say, you could have a meeting with your client at Taj Khema. Entertain them with a lavish champagne breakfast with the magnificent Taj Mahal at the backdrop. Isn’t this great? Discuss your business amidst the monumental beauty and the marvels of one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

To put it in simple words, MICE helps people create a terrific blend of business and pleasure. This is an intelligent approach. You do business with a foreign client and, at the same time, show him or her your beautiful and culturally rich country. It influences business decisions and may tilt them towards the positive.

Power of MICE

MICE tours in India can convert boring business conventions and usual trade exhibitions into something extraordinary. This becomes easier when you let your clients travel in a luxury train. The beauty of these trains is that their tours are planned meticulously. They allow businesspeople to do their own thing and, yet, make them travel to culturally rich and historically astonishing places around the country.

India in the MICE scene

India has still a long way to go in promoting MICE-related tourism, yet the country has taken its initial steps beautifully. Because of this, the country has become one of the most preferred MICE destinations of the world.

Luxury trains of India serve as icing on the cake. Trains like the Maharajas’ Express have made India proud by receiving several national and global awards for their hospitality, tours, and neat journeys. They chug across breath taking locations of the country, giving people a chance to see India like they have never seen before.

India is a hot tourist country. It has lots of temples, palaces, forts, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, one of the Seven Wonders of the World (Taj Mahal), hill stations, deserts, coast lines, beaches, rainforest, wildlife parks, rivers, holy places, and more.

India exhibits a stark contrast in its city life and country life. This is one of the features that fascinate tourists from across the world. India offers a wide scope for foreign businesspeople to come to this land and mix business with pleasure. No wonder MICE tours in India are a rage.

Travel In India Aboard Worlds Luxurious Train

Luxury is not for everyone – only the choicest few can truly savor it. And why not? They have earned it, every single comfort of it. Millions upon millions of people travel every single year, some to far-off, exotic destinations, some for business purposes, and some to meet family or friends.

Travel in style

Those who travel for fun or sightseeing mostly plan well in advance. Among these too, there are some that seek to enhance the experience of their travel by traveling in style and glamor. Many of them may save up for months to splurge it all on that trip. Have you ever wondered what makes them do so?

It is the thrill of the regal experience that they will have that makes them do it. They seek to enjoy every bit, every second of the trip.

A trip to India

Many tourists are drawn to the enchanting land of India. Called the “Golden Sparrow” in ancient times, this intoxicating country is unlike any other. It has huge swathes of land that have untouched natural beauty. Many people consider it the most beautiful and serene country in the entire world.

This gorgeous country is truly magnificent in every way – right from the snow-capped, white mountains of Kashmir in the north to the majestic convergence point where three oceans meet with each other at Kanya Kumari in the south. And in between, you will find landscapes and vistas of all kinds, teeming with warm, hospitable people who will make you feel welcome in this enchanting land.

Natural beauty is not the only thing that calls out to travelers like a siren’s song, the stately architectural gems too are what some travelers want to feast their eyes on. Over centuries altogether, India was ruled by invaders and encroachers of different races. They brought along their own cultures and architectural styles that were slowly adopted by the people. The monuments, temples, mosques, etc. here are true wonders of various building styles. The monument of love, the Taj Mahal, is famous the world over for its beauty. Most tourists to India have this glorious testament to love on their tour itineraries.

Luxury Trains

To make traveling even more attractive to both Indian and foreign tourists, there are several luxury trains that run on various tourist circuits, encompassing the most fascinating travel destinations. All these trains are built in a captivating manner and furnished in regal styles. Any passenger aboard these luxurious trains would feel as if they are royalty themselves.

Not only are the old world charms present in these trains, they are also fully equipped with all the modern amenities the guests of today wouldn’t simply be able to do without. The food presented on-board is prepared by reputed chefs and both Indian as well as international cuisines are served. The attendant service is warm and non-intrusive.

The Maharajas’ Express is considered as Worlds Luxurious Train. Guests have described their experience aboard this lavish train as one they would cherish forever.

Luxury South India Tours – The Best Way To View The Splendors Of South India

Most tourists to India go the well-trodden path of traveling in its northern parts. The majestic Taj Mahal is on almost every tourist’s itinerary. But the truly discerning travelers go the extra mile and search for the hidden gems – the untrammeled paths of India.

The lush green lands of the south are a major contrast to the lofty peaks and undulating plains of the north. Many travelers are drawn to the verdant scenery and the peace and tranquility that beckon to the soul. If chaos is not your typical scene, how about visiting the south of India to experience its rich culture and charm?

Old ‘n new

There is a quaint mix of new-age sophistication and old-age customs in the southern cities. While it does appear that most of South India is moving towards the 21st century, they still have roots that are deeply anchored in the previous centuries. And maybe that’s why they are just so appealing to the traveler that does not want to gawk at the in-your-face attractions of the north, and is more interested in the laidback landscapes of the south.

The landscape of the south is luscious indeed. There are literally thousands of kilometers of lush greenery and soft, rolling hills that soothe the eyes like a cold balm. Many travelers claim that the greenery seen in the south is more vibrant than anywhere else on earth – maybe it is the effect of the double-barreled monsoons this area faces.

Other attractions

This place is heaven for fauna lovers too. Several protected wild forests are haven to wild animals ranging from elephants to sloth bears to tigers.
And the food! South Indian food is scrumptious in every way possible. The dishes here are powered, though delicately, by the use of coconut. There is an overwhelming mélange of delicious foods here, right from the paper-thin dosas to white, soft idlis.

The architecture too is a curious amalgam of various influences – right from the Dravidian dynasties to the Mughal styles, with Buddhist rock-cut shrines, and just so much more. Not just for pilgrimage, every single temple here is a work of art with its colorful images of deities and animals. And the forts… each ruin has a story to tell. It indeed is history coming live in the south of India.

There’s no better way to see this splendiferous land than going on one of the many Luxury South India Tours. There are several tour operators that offer brilliant South India Tours packages that cover all the major tourist attractions. These trips are through train travel. All the trains are luxury trains that offer the most lavish and comfortable experience ever to their guests. Not only are they extremely beautifully made, they are equipped with all the modern amenities the traveler of today finds it difficult to do without.

Maharajas Express Tariff Won’t Empty Your Pockets

If traveling in the Orient Express of Europe was always your dream, you can make it come true right here in India. The country boasts of one of the most luxurious trains, regarded as the “Orient Express” of the East. The name is Maharajas’ Express.

The train started in March 2010. It crosses royal destinations of North West and Central India. The train offers 5 distinct tour itineraries that wrap its passengers in sheer delight and pamper throughout the journey. Even after the tour, you are left with pleasant memories that linger with you for life.

Drench yourselves in luxury and nostalgia

The Maharajas Express tariff is such that most people can travel in this train. This is no privilege of only the super rich. The train offers special tariffs and offers like 50 per cent discount for an accompaniment and early bird offers. These offers have made the distant dream of luxury traveling more reachable to the common masses.

The train transports its passengers to an era where luxury traveling was the norm for maharajas and maharanis. Romance and opulence of Indian kings come to life on board the train. As you travel through various important spots across the northern part of India, you realize the country has a rich heritage to offer.

Royal guests of the train

The train can accommodate 84 passengers at a time in royally decorated suites and cabins. Its Presidential Suite is the much talked about suite. It spans one entire carriage of the train. The suite is called Navratna.

Passengers of Maharajas Express rail are called ‘royal guests.’ They are treated like king or queen during the entire tour. Each guest has a personal butler, who does not interfere in their privacy, but at once shows his appearance when called.

Do you know each royal guest of the train is welcomed with a traditional “teeka” and garland right at the platform before they step inside the train? Such is the hospitality of the staff…and this marks only the beginning. After the red carpet, royal style welcome at the platform each guest is escorted to his or her suite or cabin and then starts the raga of sheer regality and “your majesty.”

Dine like king or queen

The train features two lavish dining cars. One is called Mayur Mahal, which is named after India’s national bird peacock, also known as “mayur” in Hindi. The other one is Rang Mahal, which is called Palace of Colors. Its ceiling is strikingly decorated with hand painted frescos. Both restaurants offer a variety of cuisines. The set up of each dining car features tables for two on one side for those who wish for a private meal. On the other side, you can find tables that seat four persons, allowing them to socialize over their meals.

Everything inside the train is so dream-like! If you have been thinking of traveling in style and luxury, now is your chance. Maharajas Express tariff of this season suits different pockets. You can also book online. 

MICE Tourism, India, And Luxury Trains

Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions – MICE is a part of the tourism industry. Mixing business and pleasure has always been the style of ambitious entrepreneurs. India is a hot MICE destination. The country displays an interesting mix of cultures, heritage, food habits, attire, and folklores, coupled with fascinating history, monuments, and breathtaking landscapes. No wonder MICE tourism in India is booming.

Luxury trains are icing on the cake

Luxury trains play a significant role in the booming tourism industry of India. They paint a pretty picture of Indian railways. They help tourists from India and abroad see the royally rich side of India. With 5 well planned tours to its credit, the train not only provides an opportunity for mixing business with pleasure, but also renders educative tours to those seeking a better perspective of the country.

Of the many luxury trains in India, the Maharajas Express gets the most votes. This half a mile long sleek train transforms ordinary people into kings and queens. The sheer luxury and pamper on board the train is unmatched. The train features various suites and cabins that have different fares. You can choose one according to your budget.

The two dining cars of the train are a sheer culinary delight. First, their royal decoration mesmerizes. Second, their mouth-watering food gives your taste buds a trip to the heaven. The dining cars are named Mayur Mahal and Rang Mahal. Each has a different ambience.

The train also features a lounge and a bar, along with a mini library. The Presidential Suite of the train is its most striking feature. It spans one whole carriage and features twin rooms.

Gems of the tourism industry

Luxury trains like these are “gems” for the tourism industry. They help to attract tourists from across the world. The Maharaja train has received several prestigious awards, both on the domestic level and on the international level. This gives it a high global reputation. The train is also said to provide a fine platform for business people to schedule their meetings in the train, as it chugs through spectacular landscapes of the country.

The Maharaja train is special for two reasons: it has several awards to its credit and it transports its passengers to the royal era.

The train operates between October and April every year. This is also the best time to tour across North and central India. The weather is good, although it is winter, yet the warm winter sun provides ample opportunity to stroll through the bustling street markets, gardens, parks, and monuments.

An important part of MICE tourism in India, the Maharaja stands true to its word – it provides a maharaja-like experience to people traveling in this train. Your royal travel begins with a red carpet welcome that involves putting a red “teeka” on the forehead of passengers and a garland around their necks right at the platform. Who would want to miss such a beautiful experience? It is time to make a booking and start packing your bags.