Udaipur: Travel Tips for Rajasthan Tours

Udaipur, also known as the city of lakes is home to some beautiful lakes which include LakePichola, Fatah Sagar Lake, Udai Sagar and Swaroop Sagar. The city is a popular destination among tourists owing to its royal attractions reflecting the glory of erstwhile kings of Rajasthan. Udaipur was founded by Rana Udai Singh as the capital city of Mewar in 1559. Legend says that while hunting in the foothills of Aravali hills, Rana Udai Singh came upon a hermit who guided him to build his fort on the same place, assuring that it will be well-protected from enemies.

Attractions in Udaipur 

Udaipur is a renowned destination owing to its lakes, palaces, temples and culture which attracts thousands of domestic and international tourists. Some of the famous attractions in Udaipur are as follows:

City Palace 

City Palace in Udaipur

Among the major attractions in Udaipur, City Palace deserves a special mention. The palace was built by Maharaja Udai Singh as the site of his new capital, Udaipur. The palace is a beautiful palatial structure standing on the east bank of Lake Pichola. The palace displays a unique blend of Rajasthani, Mughal, European and Chinese architecture. The City Place houses many big and small palaces, museums and gardens which include Amar Vilas, Badi Mahal, Durbar hall, Krishna Vilas, Manak Mahal, Mor Chowk, Zenana Mahal, Rang Bhawan and Sheesh Mahal etc.

Lake Palace

Lake Palace in Udaipur

One of the most astonishing palaces in the world, Lake Palace is a landmark of Udaipur. Once the abode of the royal family of Udaipur, the lake palace has now been converted into a luxury heritage hotel. The palace was built by Maharaja Jagat Singh in 1743 and was named after him as Jag Niwas. Set amidst Lake Pichola, the palace is a sheer poetry in white marble.

Saheliyon Ki Badi

Saheliyon Ki Bari :The Most Beautiful Gardens in Udaipur

Saheliyon ki Badi is a famous garden which was designed by Maharana Pratap in honor of 48 maid attendants who accompanied a princess to Udaipur as a part of her dowry. The garden is dotted with lotus pools, marble pavilions and elephant shaped fountains. There is also a small  museum inside the garden.

Cultural Fairs and Festivals in Udaipur

Celebrates fairs and festivals,Udaipur

The city of Udaipur celebrates all fairs and festivals with utmost zeal. The Mewar festival is celebrated to welcome the arrival of spring season. It coincides with the famous Gangaur festival in Udaipur. The women dress up in their best clothes and participate in this festival. They gather to dress the idols of Isar (Lord Shiva) and Gangaur (Goddess Parvati) and carry them in a traditional possession to different parts of the city. The events also showcases many cultural programs such as songs, dances etc. The festival concludes with an amazing fireworks display.

Things to do in Udaipur
The entertainment and leisure activities in Udaipur are according to the ethnic and imperial charm of Rajasthan state. Horse-riding in Udaipur is a perfect way of escaping from the hustle-bustle of this royal city. The highlight of horse-riding is a thrilling overnight safari to Jaismand along with a lifetime experience in a Luxurious safari camp near the Jaismand Lake. Camel safari is a common activity which you will find nearly in every state of Rajasthan. The camel safari will acquire your one whole day. The safari offers you an opportunity to meet the tribal people on your palace on wheels journey.

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Palace on Wheels Train will initiate from September 2012

India’s premier luxury train, Palace on Wheels, is scheduled to run its first course of the season on September 5, 2012. The train is the flagship luxury sojourn of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) and takes its guests on a scenic 8 day tour of the kingly Indian state of Rajasthan, with 1 day excursions to the wonderful Taj Mahal and Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary scheduled. The train is quite popular with both international and local guests and gets sold out a couple of months prior to the beginning of the season. The destinations of the tour include Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Udaipur, Jaywalker, Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Agra.

Palace on Wheels Train : Best Rail Journeys in the World

The train is a true ambassador of luxury travel and offers quality services and luxury facilities such as personal services of a butler, electronic safes, separate spa cars, souvenir shops, a separate lounge car and on-train entertainment. A salient feature of the train is varying ranges in tariffs to accommodate high and mid-range budgets. It is advisable for would-be guests to make prior booking on this luxury sojourn to avoid any last minute disappointments.

How to book it:
Indian Luxury Trains
http://www.indianluxurytrains.com/journeys/palace-on-wheels.html
Indian Luxury Trains is India's first and only luxury train travel portal. Details of upcoming schedule and booking of the Palace on Wheels train tour packages along with post and pre tour arrangement, air ticket booking could be done at the Indian Luxury Trains website.

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Golden Chariot First Journey of the Season to Begin from 1st October, 2012

Operators of the Golden Chariot train, Karnataka State Tourism and Development Corporation (KSTDC) have announced the departure date for the first seasonal journey of this Indian luxury train. The luxury train will chug its way from Bangalore to Goa on 1st October 2012. The departure schedule for the upcoming run season is given on the website of Indian luxury trains. 

Golden Chariot : Luxury Train in India

The Golden Chariot with its two itineraries-Prides of the South and Splendor of the South- takes guests on an enchanting voyage through sublime terrains of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Goa. The Pride of the South itinerary by Golden Chariot is 8 days and 7 night’s journey that covers Bangalore, Kabini, Mysore, Hassan, Hospet, Badami and Goa. The weeklong journey encompasses ancient temples, World Heritage Sites, churches & cathedrals and wildlife treasure troves.  

Built on the lines of famous Palace on Wheels, the Golden Chariot is India’s first disabled friendly luxury train. The train constitutes of 44 well appointed cabins which include 25 twin bed cabins, 18 double bed cabins and 1 cabin for physically challenged. Each cabin represents the architectural esthetics of erstwhile south Indian dynasties in their interior décor and maintains modern refinement through state of the art amenities such as LCD television, individual temperature control, electronic safe and Wi-Fi internet among others.

For more information on train facilities, itineraries, schedules and facilities, you may like to visit the website of the - http://www.indianluxurytrains.com/journeys/the-golden-chariot.html

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Golden Chariot Train Pride of the South : Discover Myriad Facets of Karnataka

“Water changes at every mile and language changes at every three miles”. The varied topography, cultural mix, religious tolerance and multi-lingual populace of India certainly mount up to the aforementioned statement. When it comes to southern region of India, there could be no way better than Golden Chariot train to unearth the natural and cultural treasures of this region.

The Golden Chariot Train Ariel View

Fondly referred to as South India’s very own Palace on Wheels, this Indian luxury train was launched to showcase the rich heritage of Karnataka in an opulent manner. On 10th March, 2008, Golden Chariot embarked on its maiden voyage from Bangalore to Goa. During the course of its 8 days and 7 nights’ journey, this Indian luxury train encompasses various historically prominent and naturally rich destinations which include Mysore, Kabini, Hassan, Hospet, Badami and Goa. From ancient temples to stunning palaces and from wildlife treasure troves to colonial edifices, this tastefully crafted itinerary aboard the Golden Chariot train offer different strokes to different folks.

Each day of Pride of the South journey lets you discover a different aspect of tourism in this state. The 2nd day marks the entry of Golden Chariot into the rustic hinterland of Kabini. A delectable lunch in jungle lodge enveloped with luxuriant greens followed by a game safari to enjoy the call of the wild is what scheduled for the 2nd day.

Moving on the 3rd day of this itinerary, the train will chug into the erstwhile realm of Tipu Sultan - Mysore. Beautiful gardens, stunning temples, magnificent palaces and local markets of this south Indian princely state will surely leave you spellbound. The sightseeing excursion will reach its crescendo in the cultural program organized at Lalitha Mahal Palace.

Apart from exploring wildlife treasures and imperial heritage of Mysore, this Indian luxury train brings you face to face with the rich Dravidian heritage of south India. The 4th, 5th and 6th day on board Pride of the South journey will take you to Hassan, Hospet and Badami, each of which is sprinkled with scores of religious edifices and monuments built during medieval age.

On the penultimate day of this rail tour, the luxury train enters the beach paradise ‘Goa’. The sightseeing tour of the day includes exploration of churches and Sola Souto Manor, a Portuguese house dating back to 16th century, in Old Goa.

Some points to be remembered while making reservations for Golden Chariot train:

• If reservation is made for individual travelling, you have to pay 20% of the ticket value at the time of booking confirmation. Rest 80% is to be paid 60 days prior to departure.
•  If reservation is made for a group tour, you are required to pay 50% of the ticket value at the time of booking confirmation. Rest 80% is to be paid 60 days prior to departure.

The destinations covered by Golden Chariot during the course of Pride of the South journey offers peak into the rich history and cultural heritage of Karnataka. Right from exploring rich Dravidian heritage to wildlife rendezvous in Bandipur National Park, the journey explores many worlds of Karnataka.

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Luxury Train in India - The Buzzword for Luxury Travel

Indian luxury trains are the most sought after by connoisseurs of luxury travel around the world. Unlike Blue train and Orient Express that dominate the luxury rail segment in west, much of the contribution has come from India with 6 luxury trains operating in current scenario.  Luxury train tours are a booming travel trend for those who are not afraid of shelling out moolah for attaining the experience of royal pampering and elegant living.

The history of luxury train travelling traces its roots to the era of erstwhile Indian maharajas who were believed to have travelled in overtly luxurious rail carriages. Taking cue from the personal rail carriages of erstwhile Indian monarchs, Rajasthan Tourism and Development Corporation in association with Indian railways launched Palace on Wheels train in 1982. The train has been designed with replica carriages of erstwhile Rajput princes, Nizams of Hyderabad and Viceroys of India and traverses the course of former princely states of Rajasthan during the course of its 8 days and 7 nights journey.

The seamless fusion of Rajputana décor, state of the art amenities and traditional India hospitality is apparent in every aspect of the train. The weeklong journey on board Palace on Wheels train whisks you into the Rajputana heartland and let you discover the royal and cultural facet of Rajasthan along with the exploration of wildlife treasure troves.

Following the overwhelming success of Palace on Wheels, many state tourism boards followed in the footsteps of Rajasthan Tourism and Development Corporation and came up with their own version of Palace on Wheels train. The popularity of this luxury tourist train reached the corridors of private players too which resulted in chartering of Deccan Odyssey train by Travel Corporation of India (TCI).

Besides Rajasthan, luxury trains in India allow guests to explore the natural and cultural treasure troves of western and southern region of India. While Deccan Odyssey offers jaunt into Maratha heartland with two days halt in Goa, Golden Chariot with its two journeys- Pride of the South and Splendor of the South- offers whirlwind tour across historically significant and naturally rich destinations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The two itineraries of Indian Maharaja train- Delhi to Mumbai and Mumbai to Delhi- are a medley of vibrant colors of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. 

Although the six luxury trains operating in India differ in terms of destinations but all of them strive hard towards meeting a similar goal. The goal is to provide elegant stay with sightseeing of some of the best tourist destinations in India. Hence it would not be an overstatement to say that a new age of opulent and elegant train travelling has arrived in India with the rise of luxury rail tour segment.

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