Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

A GREAT DESTINATION

PALACE ON WHEELS

Introduction Luxury. A magical blend of past and present.

13 travelling palaces. Of a fashion that carried royal passengers on bridal journeys, state visits and grand hunt- ing parties. Each saloon, a combination of 4 twin-bed chambers. A plush lounge, two toilets, even a kitchenette. Pick up one of thirteen as your exclusive domain. And revel in the opulence perfected by complete air-condition- ing, TV-VCR channel music, telephones and an electric bell to summon your own 'Khidmatgar' or attendant, the picture of smiling courtliness in ethnic coat and trousers and a flowing turban. The Bedchambers. Your opulent retreat. Ornate ceilings, embossed with motifs of green and gold. Silken curtains. And once you extinguish the lights, there's the opulence of brocades and velvets and the gentle motion of the Palace On Wheels to lull you into a royal slumber. Bathrooms for a royal toilet Pad across the plush carpeting to your salmon pink retreat. There to linger in the flow of hot and cold running

Tariff for 1992-93

Off-season season (Sept'92-Apr'93) (Oct'92-Mar'93) Normal

Twin bedded cabin a) Two

Jaipur : Capital of the Kachchwaha Rajputs, Jaipur was built by the astronomer prince Sawai Jai Singh, who en- visaged it as the capital of a united Rajputana. The city follows the architectural principles of the Shilp Shas- tara and is guarded by a crenellated wall, studded with seven gates. Always favouring pink sandstone, Jaipur went pink all over to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1876. The pink city the Palace On Wheels rolls up to is a dazzling carnival of past and present. Its welcome is pure tradition — elephants, tilak, garlands and shehnai. After which a luxury coach departs on a sightseeing tour. Leave Jaipur carrying memories of its teeming ba- zaars, the priceless treasures of its City Palace, its five storey fantasy in pink sandstone lace — the Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds — the imposing fort of Amber and the mighty fire eaters of Nahargarh.

persons USD 175/-

*

USD 200/- *

occupancy b)

Three persons

USD 150/- *

USD 175/-*

occupancy c) Single person

USD 300/- *

USD 350/- *

occupancy * Per person & per night

water and shower to soft channel music. A leisure chamber in green and gold.

{Indian passengers will pay in Rupees (equivalent amount) at the exchange rate prevalent at the time of payment}

The lounge. With specially designed sofas, Rajasthani painting and a wide ranging collection of video entertain- ment

Agra : The Taj Mahal city A perfect climax to a week of enchantment.

Pull out of the ancient Mughal capital, rich with vivid images of a splendid empire and the works of master craftsmen.

Jaisalmer : A ceremonial Rajasthani welcome to the 'Rock of Jaisal.' The ancient desert capital of the Bhatti Rajputs, built at the counsel of an or- acle hermit. The oracle's prophecy, that the mammoth sand castle would be sacked two and a halftimes, was ful- filled — but the fortress kept rising out of the dust — as indomitable as the Bhatti honour. A golden fortress. Jailsalmeri music. The thrill of a camel ride at sunset. A bonfire and an evening of Rajasthani folk music and dance.

Jodhpur : Founded in the fifteenth century by the Rajput prince Jodha, Jodhpur is the city of the im- pregnable Meherangarh fort. And the Jaswant Thada — a white marble cenotaph built in the memory of Maharaja Jaswanth Singh II. A leisurely swim and lunch at the Umaid Bhawan Palace hotel makes a per- fect end to your visit to*This ancient city. Udaipur : The new capital of the Sisodia kings, Udaipur — city of pleasures — was born of the mis- fortunes of battle scarred Chittor. A fairy tale city of lush gardens, fountains and sparkling lakes, sa- vouring Udaipur takes two enchanting days. Days heady with shopping, with excursions to the Manek Mahal, the Fateh sagar lake, the Sahelion - ke - bari, garden of the maids, and a buffet lunch at the world famous Hotel Lake Palace.

Bharatpur : Home to the Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Originally, a shooting preserve for the Mahara- jas of Bharatpur, it is now a 52 sq. km. water bird sanc- tuary. Besides the indigenous breed - including painted storks, spoonbills, purple herons and egret- you may glimpse the exotic winter migrants from Central Asia, Tibet, China, the Arctic and Siberia. Fatehpur Sikri : A 22 km drive away from Bharatpur stands a deserted red sandstone city. Built as his new capital by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, Fatehpur Sikri was s.oon deserted because of lack of water. Tie a thread at the mausoleum of Sheikh Salim Chisti - a saint who fulfilled Akbar's desire for a son. His Dargah is a revered shrine where all wishes are be- lieved to be granted.

Chittorgarh : Its impregnable walls, the ageless symbol of Rajput sacrifice and honour. On a two- hour excursion through the Chittor fort, relive the awesome story of the beauteous Rani Padmini. How, smitten by her legendary beauty, Allauddin Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, launched a massive offensive against the Sisodias of Chittor. And how the Queen, brave as she was beautiful, led the women of Chittor into a blazing pyre. And the honour of Chittorgarh re- mained untouched.