NEW DELHI: In what could rake in extra mullah for IRCTC, the occupancy of Maharajas Express, most luxurious train in India, doubled this year compared to 2014 with the railway PSU receiving booking payment for 606 passengers so far while the number was 315 last year.
Started in 2010, the Maharajas Express offers five fascinating journeys crisscrossing some of the most vibrant destinations, significant attractions and offering a vista of breathtaking landscape, culture and heritage.
Interestingly, its occupants have been mainly foreign tourists and NRIs, who come in large groups to enjoy the five-star luxury on wheels. Designed to recreate the elegance and pageantry of the personal carriages of erstwhile maharajas, the interiors of this luxury train in India is suffused with nostalgia.
According to latest IRCTC data, it received 927 bookings and 606 payments from passengers while figures for booking stood at 698 while payment was received from 315 in 2014.
“There has been a 100 percent jump in bookings this year which is welcome as this means good business for us,” said sources in IRCTC. The booking is done in advance and the schedule up to April 2017 is already on the website and interested passengers can do advance bookings.
The journeys of Maharajas Express have even been compared to that of legendary Orient Express of the West in refinement and luxury. From every modern amenity which money can buy to eco-friendly technologies and services, every aspect of an elegant train journey has been looked into with meticulous diligence.
A truly world class train journey is promised in each of the 5 itineraries offered by the train. With each destination as vivid as the confounding colors of India and tours encompassing palaces, fortresses, World Heritage Sites, cultural sightseeing and spirituality of India, the royal colors of India and its rich heritage sprinkled across vast geography do come alive in each of these pre-crafted journeys.