“India has some of the best trains; the list has quite a few from the sub-continent,” Eleanor Flagler Hardy, president of the Society of International Railway Travelers said.
Mumbai’s Deccan Odyssey and the Maharaja’s Express have found themselves among world’s best 25 trains in a list compiled by a US-based global rail travel society for being some of the “most luxurious” with courteous staff and best cuisine.
“India has some of the best trains; the list has quite a few from the sub-continent,” Eleanor Flagler Hardy, president of the Society of International Railway Travelers said.
A joint venture of MTDC and Indian Railways, Deccan Odyssey was launched in 2009. It traverses Mumbai, Sindhudurg, Goa, Vasco, Kolhapur, Aurangabad and Nashik. It has been short-listed for its chartered trips covering some iconic landmarks, including Unesco world heritage sites — Taj Mahal, Agra fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Jantar Mantar observatory, Ajanta & Ellora Caves, and CST.
“The Deccan Odyssey’s cars, built in 2003, have been upgraded with new carpet and bedspreads recently, according to our ground suppliers. These improvements, which we had recommended last year, bring this train up to ‘luxury’ status, because its staff, service, amenities and food were already superb,” says a member of the society.
The Maharaja’s Express (Mumbai-Delhi as well as the one that travels within Delhi) is another latest entrant in the list. It is operated by Royale Indian Rail Tours Ltd, and organises an eight-day tour that covers cities with rich royal history, such as Vadodara, Udaipur, Bikaner, Jaipur and Jodhpur. The tour offers meals at top-notch five-star properties, such as the Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur. The train also operates a seven-day classical India tour of northern states.
“All cabins have large windows, LCD televisions, wi-fi access, individual temperature control and full en-suite bathroom. There is one presidential suite which comprises a full train car — the largest suite available on any train in the world,” the member says.
From India, the other trains in the list are Palace on Wheels and the steam-driven Darjeeling Himalayan Toy Train.
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