Visit the religious sites of the "Palace on Wheels"
The iconic Palace on Wheels (POW) luxury train has proven to be useful for the Rajasthan government during the off-season to attract more religious pilgrims. The POW epitomizes luxury travel, ferrying tourists to famous destinations in the state.
Typically, in May and June, the wheels of the train come to a halt as tourist traffic dwindles. However, this year, the state government chose this time to utilize the grandeur of the revered train to transport affluent pilgrims to Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura, and Vrindavan. This initiative was reported by newindianexpress.com.
The needs of the pilgrims were carefully attended to: alcohol was prohibited, and only vegetarian food was served onboard. It is said that this decision was influenced by the current public sentiment surrounding the consecration of the Sri Ram Mandir temple in Ayodhya.
The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) has handed over the operation of POW to a private company from Gujarat. Previously, POW was solely managed by the RTDC, but now, for the next seven years, it will be overseen by Cube Construction Company Pvt Ltd.
A private operator will commence offering religious tourism services in May, featuring a six-day itinerary starting from Delhi. The tour will include visits to Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura, and Vrindavan.
Pradeep Bohra, the director of Palace on Wheels, confirmed that the religious tours will refrain from offering the typical non-vegetarian and alcoholic beverages commonly found on regular trips. Moreover, the menu will exclude onions and garlic, and passengers will be serenaded throughout the journey, echoing the spirit of Rama and Krishna.
Previously, POW operated for eight months a year but is now prepared to expand its services year-round under the management of a Gujarat-based company. While the religious tours are initially scheduled for a two-month period, efforts are underway to attract local tourists by providing flexible itineraries and discounts for specific destinations.
"The Palace on Wheels is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. It features luxurious coaches with bedrooms, lounges, storage rooms, kitchens, dining cars, and personalized services, including a bar offering beverages. The cost of travel per night ranges from 70,000 to 95,000 euros, depending on the maximum number of passengers—46. Launched on January 26, 1982, the train continues to redefine luxury travel with each subsequent modernization, and now Cube Construction will be handling it."