Maharajas Express -Treasures of India

Delhi, India’s capital, is a compelling mix of the ancient and modern. It holds the vestiges of at least seven great centres, with crumbling Afghan mausolea adorning traffic roundabouts; millennia-old fort walls stand next to eight-lane expressways; and Sufi shrines the huddle beside concrete flyovers.

More impressive still is the fact that so many cultural transmissions from Delhi’s past eras endure. Five-star hotels host recitals by ghazal singers, sarod players and kathak dancers whose arts have been painstakingly preserved since the days of the Mughals. Echoes of the British Raj abound, too, from the 1930s elegance of the Imperial Hotel to the uniforms of the sentries strutting down Raj Path.

The most evocative place to get one’s bearings has to be the Jama Masjid, the magnificent sandstone and white-marble ‘Friday Mosque’ constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan in Old Delhi. Climb one of its minarets for a matchless view over the surrounding roofscape to the ramparts of the Red Fort, where the Mughals held court in a hidden world of cusp-arched pavilions and pillared audience halls. You may want to make the most of the city’s clean, efficient metro to travel across town to the National Museum, with its priceless collection of antiquities, or go onto Delhi’s southern fringes, where the exquisitely carved Qutub Minar has dominated the skyline since 1202 AD.

Arriving at Agra Station, you disembark for a city tour in the company of a local specialist guide. The tour will focus on the Taj Mahal, the Jewel of India and one of the world's great architectural wonders.  Among the first to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, the mausoleum was built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved wife of Emperor Shah Jahan, in 1632. Crafted entirely of white marble and decorated in elaborate geometric forms, screens cut out of solid marble and delicate pietre dure inlay work showcasing elaborate plants, flowers and fruit, so admired by the Empress, the Taj Mahal is so perfect in its geometry and artistically accomplished that it took 22 years and over 20,000 craftsmen to complete.

Ranthambore National Park was created in the 1970s to spearhead 'The Save the Tiger Project' and remains a shining example of conservation. As a result of this and several subsequent National Parks, India's Tiger population in the wild has grown from under 1000 in 1970 to over 4,500 today.   

The park lies on the margins of the Aravalli range of hills amid a tract of dry deciduous forests and grassland and offers the perfect terrain for these magnificent animals. Close to the park entrance sits a long flight of stone steps that winds up to the ramparts of a medieval fort, affording fine views over the reserve and its much-photographed lake. On your search for the Tiger, you will also get to see several other animals, including Sambar deer, Chital, Hyena and wild Boar and the elusive Nilgai, a blue-hued cow.  Around eighty Tigers currently survive in reserve, and your chances of spotting one here are better than average.

On return to the train, you enjoy a sumptuous brunch as the train travels towards Emperor Akbar's spectacular former capital, which he abandoned shortly after, as local wells ran dry.  It remains beautifully preserved, in much the same condition that it was over 300 years ago.

On arrival in The Pink City of Jaipur, you will be driven to the Amber Fort, on the outskirts of the city, where the vast fortress rises from a craggy escarpment. The ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of Rajput fortress palaces encompasses a wonderland of sumptuously decorated halls, pavilions, ornamental entranceways and gardens, all enlivened by intricate mirrorwork and mosaic. Built-in red sandstone and white marble by Raja Man Singh I in 1592 and completed by Mirja Raja Jai Singh, the rugged forbidding exterior belies an inner paradise with a beautiful fusion of art and architecture.

A short jeep ride takes you up to the fort, where you will enjoy a tour of the royal apartments and striking views of the gorge below. Step back into the Mughal era as you enter the Chamber of Mirrors (Sheesh Mahal) and the Hall of Victory. Before leaving the Fort, our guide will help you explore the village below the fort, where an ancient, beautiful old stepwell offers a worthwhile detour or the nearby stands Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, where you can admire fine antique fabrics and watch block printers in action.

The day ends with a sumptuous dinner at the world-famous Rambagh Palace Hotel. Built in 1835, the place remained the official residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur until 1957, when it was converted into a luxury hotel. Even today, it retains much of its original royal splendour and showcases the living style of the Maharaja at its most elegant.

Overnight on board the train.