The need to showcase India through the medium of tourism led to the foundation of luxury trains. The government of India has launched four luxury trains to date.

• Golden Chariot
• Maharajas Express
• Palace on Wheels
• The Deccan Odyssey

The tough competition is seen between Palace on Wheels & Maharajas Express Train. Although both equally provide the same luxury, one is lagging due to the following differences.

Awards & Recognition

Palace on Wheels train is voted as the 4th most luxurious train in the world, whereas the Maharajas Express is voted as the most expensive train in the world.

Palace on Wheels received the PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) award in 1987, within few years of its inception. Maharajas Express is voted as the world’s leading luxury train five times consecutively from the year 2012 to 2016.

Maharajas Express Train is judiciously awarded as the best luxury train at CNBC Travel Awards 2010, also was the 1st runner up in the specialist train operator category at Conde Nast Traveller's Reader’s Choice Awards 2011.

Maharajas Express is widely appreciated & recognised as compared to Palace on Wheels, which is lagging.

Comfort & convenience

For smoother rides, a pneumatic suspension system is introduced in the Maharajas Express. Especially for tourists from overseas, tremulous train rides make difficult for them to have a good sleep.

Facilities like Wi-Fi, live television, and attached bathrooms are common in both the rail services, apart from the additional spa facility on Palace on Wheels, which is not available on Maharajas Express.

In Maharajas Express, the drinks are served in Swarovski crystals & food in golden-plated cutlery. Again, Maharajas Express is taking the lead by ensuring a way better royal experience than Palace on Wheels in terms of comfort & convenience.

Palace on Wheels Information

• Fares of Palace on Wheels
• Departure Dates of Palace on Wheels
• Booking of Palace on Wheels
• Terms and Conditions of Palace on Wheels

Itinerary

Palace on Wheels consists of one itinerary, whereas Maharajas Express has 5 itineraries. The only itinerary offered by Palace on Wheels provides the journey in bulk, which revolves around the destinations in Rajasthan, the stories of valor, chivalry & romance, the land of Rajput warriors and princes of yore.

Moreover, there are resplendent forts & magnificent palaces, myriad colours & countless traditions. However, the entire journey structure represents the identity of the state.

Now coming to the Maharajas Express, it offers more varieties, as more destinations are covered in the five itineraries, of which two golden triangles (Delhi, Jaipur & Agra) are included. The entire tour spans over four days.

The destinations covered by the Maharajas Express Train service are Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Mumbai, Ajanta, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Udaipur, Balsinor, Gwalior, Orchha, Varanasi & Lucknow.

Maharaja Express Itineraries

• The Heritage of India (6 Nights 7 Days)
• The Indian Splendour (6 Nights 7 Days)
• The Indian Panorama (6 Nights 7 Days)
• Treasures of India (3 Nights 4 Days)

Conclusion

Maharajas Express is considered to be an all-time favourite by most of the passengers, because it scores much more points ahead than Palace on Wheels in terms of features, safety, space, facilities & hospitality.

But still Palace on Wheels is also preferred on top by some of the tourists if they wish to experience the personal coaches of the erstwhile  Maharajas, Nizams of Hyderabad & viceroys of India and also for couples who wish to experience the romance & elegance of the bygone era.