The Hindu : Royal train gets royal passengers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 15, 2002

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Royal train gets royal passengers

By Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI DEC. 14. A new chapter is being added to the two-decade-long history of the country's most luxurious train "Palace-on-Wheel'', these days: it has a royal family aboard on a weeklong sojourn.

The event is significant as it is being seen as a sign of revival of this special train's fortunes which suffered a setback in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attack in New York last year. And the ticket sales this year have been very encouraging.

It was only a week ago that employees of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation at Bikaner House here in New Delhi got a letter from Jaipur informing them of the travel plans of Bhutan's royal family on Palace-on-Wheels and directing that proper protocol be followed during the visit.

So finally the 16-member VVIP entourage comprising Queen Mother Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuck boarded the Palace-on-Wheels on December 11 at Delhi Cantonment station.

The guests of honour have been given three exclusive coaches -- Jaisalmer, Jhalawar and Jodhpur -- named after Rajasthan's erstwhile princely States having four twin-bedded chambers thoughtfully decorated in ethnic Rajasthani decor.

These saloons are next to two lavish restaurants - "The Maharaja'' and "The Maharani'' -- where Continental, Chinese, Indian and Rajasthani cuisines are served. "It was the visitors' wish to get their saloons booked close to restaurants. Everything is fine and care is being taken that the royal guests get the best treatment,'' said an RTDC official.

A joint project of the Union Ministry of Railways and RTDC, the concept of Palace-on-Wheels was derived from the royal background of coaches which were originally meant to be personal saloons of erstwhile rulers of princely States of Rajputana, Gujarat, the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Viceroy of British India.

The train will take the guests to Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur; Ranthambhor National Park, Chittaurgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Fatehpur Sikri and the Taj Mahal in Agra.

``Though we have the honour of serving several ambassadors and other high-profile foreign guests, it is for the first time that a royal family has graced this one-of-its-kind train in the world,'' says the Deputy Director of Information, G.N. Bhatt, adding that throughout the visit care is being taken to ensure that welcome and departure ceremonies are as per protocol.

Noting that this year the season for the train has been good with around 50 per cent bookings already, Mr. Bhatt said bookings were going up and travel queries pouring in at the RTDC office here.

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