Palace On Wheels Vs. Maharajas’ Express – A Comparison Of Luxury Trains

When it comes to luxuriously exploring India, the options are very clear. If you are looking for a regal experience, you obviously should try the luxury trains of the country. When it comes to choosing a luxury train to choose, people always stick with the best two options, the Palace on Wheels and the Maharajas Express. 

Back to the topic, which one should you choose? Is it better to stick with the pioneer Palace on Wheels or choose the new train on the tracks, Maharajas’ Express? This is not a simple answer to just say the name of one train.

Here is a detailed comparison between the Palace On Wheels and Maharajas' Express trains, which will allow you to make an informed decision.

Pioneer Vs Modern

Palace on Wheels:
Launched in 1982, the Palace on Wheels is the pioneer of luxury trains in India. With decades of successful journeys, it has created lasting memories for millions of tourists. Despite its legacy, the train is well-equipped with modern amenities and updated technology to ensure comfortable travel.

Maharajas’ Express:
Started in 2010, the Maharajas’ Express is India’s most recent luxury train. An initiative of Indian Railways, it was designed to offer a more modern and advanced luxury travel experience.

Itineraries

Palace on Wheels Itinerary: 

The Palace on Wheels is famous for a 7 Night/8 Days trip in Rajasthan, which begins and ends in Delhi. It includes:

• Jaipur, the Pink City
• Sawai Madhopur for Tiger Safari in Ranthambore
• Chittorgarh, with its giant hill fortress
• Udaipur: The City of Lakes
• Jaisalmer, The Golden Desert City
• Jodhpur, the Blue City
• Bharatpur, site of a renowned bird sanctuary

Maharajas’ Express Itineraries:

Maharajas’ Express offers several routes ranging from 3 to 6 nights with quite wide variations: 

• Indian Panorama (6N/7D): Delhi, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi , Delhi.
• Indian Splendour (6N/7D) : Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore , Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur,  Mumbai
• Heritage of India ( 6N/7D) : Mumbai , Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ranthambore/Fatehpur Sikri, Agra , Delhi
• Treasure of India: short 3-night Golden Triangle tour with Ranthambore: Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur - Delhi

Cost

Palace on Wheels:
The Palace on Wheels is the more economical option among the two luxury trains. The fare for its 8-day journey is approximately USD 3,500, making it the less expensive choice overall.

Maharajas’ Express:
The Maharajas’ Express offers shorter itineraries, which can help reduce costs. However, ticket prices vary depending on the month of travel, accommodation type, and optional tours. The starting fare for a 3-night, 4-day journey is around USD 2,910 per person.

Styles Of Accommodation

The Palace on Wheels has only two types of accommodations. The Deluxe Cabin is the least luxurious one, and the Super Deluxe is the most luxurious one. 

Maharajas’ Express has four types of accommodations. The Presidential Suite is the most luxurious one, and it is followed by Suites Cabins, Junior Suites and Deluxe Cabins.

Amenities And Facilities

Palace on Wheels:
The Palace on Wheels offers all essential luxury amenities, including a restaurant, bar, lounge, butler and porter services, TV, well-equipped bathrooms, laundry service, electronic safe, and more. Its facilities are comparable to those offered on other luxury trains in India.

Maharajas’ Express:
Along with all the basic luxury amenities found on the Palace on Wheels, the Maharajas’ Express features additional premium facilities. These include pneumatic suspension for a smoother sleep, RFID door locks, CCTV cameras for enhanced safety, an onboard water filter plant, Swarovski crystal glassware, and gold-plated cutlery.

Awards And Recognition

Palace on Wheels:
The Palace on Wheels was recognized as the fourth-best luxury train by Condé Nast Magazine. It has received several PATA awards for heritage and culture and has been featured in documentaries by renowned media such as BBC, National Geographic, MTV, and others.

Maharajas’ Express: 
Although it has received less media exposure than the Palace on Wheels, the Maharajas’ Express has earned significant accolades. It has won the World Travel Award continuously for six years since 2012 and is regarded as one of the most luxurious trains in the world.

Start And End Destination

Palace on Wheels tour starts and ends only at Delhi railway station. Tourists are expected to be at the station on time to board the train.

Maharajas' Express train’s tours start either in Delhi or Mumbai. Thus, some people find Maharajas’ Express to be a little flexible than Palace on Wheels.

Passenger Capacity

Palace on Wheels can accommodate 82 passengers per trip, and Maharajas’ Express can accommodate only 88 passengers per trip. Still, the demand for both trains is sky-high and it is best to book the tickets at least three months in prior of the departure date.

Child Policy

Children below the age of 5 can travel with a 10% charge on the ticket in Palace on Wheels.

Children below the age of 5 can travel free of charge in Maharajas’ Express when accompanied by an adult.

Children between ages 5 and 12 are charged 50% of the ticket fare in both trains.

Cancellation Fee

In Palace on Wheels, 10% of the ticket is deducted is cancelled before 90 days. 20% of the cost is deducted if cancelled between 89 and 35 days and if cancelled less than 34 days, no refund is provided.

In Maharajas' Express, if the tickets are cancelled 60 days before the departure date, 25% of the cost is taken as penalty. If cancelled between 59 days and 45 days, 50% of the ticket is deducted. If cancelled less than 44 days from departure date, no refund is provided.

Verdit

No one would argue that Palace on Wheels and Maharajas’ Express are very similar to each other. Both are two different, very unique trains, which could show India from a different angle, entirely.

However, it is difficult to express one train as inferior or superior to another in the general clause. Based on your budget, time of travel, style of vacation, requirements of amenities and others, the choice varies. It is up to you to make an informed decision.

Right before you take any decision, it is important to read about terms and conditions, inclusion of tariff and exclusion, booking conditions, cancellation policy and other terms of each train travel. 

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