Delhi, Rajasthan and northern India

Maharajas' ExpressFour to seven nights, one train, many royal cities

Maharajas' Express links Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Varanasi and Mumbai on routes through Rajasthan and central and northern India. Days go to forts, palaces and heritage sites by road with a guide; nights are spent moving. You keep the same cabin the whole way.

Journeys start from Delhi, Mumbai or another named city, depending on the product, and run through Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and northern India. The stops belong to a specific itinerary rather than to the train.

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PlaceNorth and central India

TypeLuxury sleeper train

SuitsFirst trip to India

Stay4–7 nights

Forts, palaces and the Ganges by night train

Delhi, Rajasthan and northern India — Luxury sleeper train.

A fixed cabin carries you between Indian cities. Days go to the road, with a vehicle and a guide working through heritage sites; nights go to moving. Across a route of several cities that removes most of the daily hotel change. One unpacking, several cities.

Delhi, Mumbai and the different royal-city combinations each come as their own route. The Taj Mahal, a wildlife sanctuary and Varanasi do not all appear on every departure, so start from what you want to see and then find the dates that include it. Dates decide the rest.

It suits a first trip to India, an interest in palace architecture, and anyone who wants one line to organise several cities. The official site and its authorised sellers carry similar names, so confirm the operator, what is included and the cancellation terms. None of that is visible on a brochure.

A suite interior with a made bed, warm wood panelling on the walls and a small lamp on a side table — A suite with a bed and warm wood panelling

Waiters in uniform moving between tables in a dining car, white cloths and glassware set along the carriage — Staff at work in the dining car

A red carriage with its name painted on the side, standing at a platform with luggage trolleys alongside

One train, several royal cities

Forts, palaces, old towns and wildlife reserves sit on the same route, joined by track laid overnight. You wake near the next one instead of packing for a dawn departure. Which of them you reach depends on the itinerary you choose rather than on the brand.

Passengers and crew standing in small groups on a platform beside a red and gold train, marigold garlands on the rail

Suites and a dining car, bags left alone

Cabin grades differ in bed size and living space, and meals and the bar are handled on board. On a multi-city route, that is what keeps the days from dissolving into check-in queues. On a long trip, weigh the cabin size against how many of you share it.

A red train lit from within at night, windows glowing and the carriage sides reflecting the platform lamps

The guide and car at every stop

At each stop a vehicle and a guide take you to the main heritage sites, so the rail is the frame rather than the whole trip. If one city deserves more time, add land days before or after the train rather than expecting the stop to cover it.

A station platform in blue evening light, carriages drawn up at the edge and lamps along the roofline

Route

A four-to-seven-night core with soft edges

The main route runs four to seven nights and stands on its own. Add hotel nights in Delhi, Mumbai or Varanasi at either end, and on a first visit to India hold two extra nights as buffer, so a flight delay cannot eat into the boarding.

Fitting a four-to-seven-night route into India

The rail route is short enough to sit inside a longer trip. Confirm the departure, then build the city nights around it.

Stay

The main route usually runs four to seven days, depending on the name and the season. Add hotel nights at either end rather than arriving on the boarding day.

Getting there

You gather at a named station or hotel, with luggage and transfers handled as part of the itinerary. International flights should land a day before.

Season

The train runs mainly in the cooler season, with routes and dates set by the current year's timetable. Check the year you travel, not an older brochure.

Watch out

The official site and its authorised sellers carry similar names. Confirm the operator, what is included and the cancellation terms for your specific departure.

Plan this into a journey

The route decides which cities you see. The two nights before it, and where you go afterwards, are the parts a workable plan settles.

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