You'll
be delighted you chose to see Rajasthan by the Palace-on-Wheels. On board,
you'll feel like an erstwhile monarch, traveling in regal splendour. Each
Coach named after the erstwhile princely state has 4 twin-bedded chambers,
thoughtfully decorated in ethnic Rajasthani décor. Channel music,
intercom, attached toilets, running hot & cold water, shower and
wall-to-wall carpeting are some of the facilities to make you feel at home.
Each saloon has personal attendants or Khidmatgars, who are at your beck and
call to extend a courteous helping hand, should you need anything.
The 14 Coaches are …
1. ALWAR Located strategically, Alwar is the gateway to Rajasthan
from Delhi. With a turbulent history spanning back to the medieval era,
Alwar has been an important place of trade and commerce. Bestowed by nature
with a unique habitat comprising forests and deep valleys, Alwar is home to
several species of flora and fauna. The ceiling of the Alwar coach lounge
has been done aesthetically in a delightful mix of cone work and oils in
relief, depicting a hunting scene. The royal emblem and a miniature painting
adorn the lounge. Subtle tones of pink enhance the romantic ambience of the
lounge.
2. BHARATPUR Maharaja Suraj
Mal, the valiant Jat king, who was admired for his chivalry and courage, had
his abode here. Once a fortified township, Bharatpur is now an
ornighologist's paradise and well known for the Keoladeo Ghana bird
sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to over 376 avaian species. Echoing the
vividity to nature's gift to Bharatpur, the relief work on this coach
depicts various species of birds on the tree of life. A replica of the royal
crest of Bharatpur adorns the valance of the blinds. The 'nature' theme is
further endorsed by the white cedar inlay work depicting birds and painted
peacocks, sitting on a haveli worked on a mirror. The colour scheme, with
its profusion of beige and aqua green, is a vivid reminder of lush green
forests of Bharatpur and Ghana.
3. BIKANER
Bikaner came into being in 1486 A.D. when Rao Bika set out to carve a
separate kingdom for himself. The colour scheme of the lounge has been
motivated by the opulent coronation rooms in burning red and gold fo the
Anup Mahal and Padam Mahal of the Junagarh fort. The royal state crest is
placed on the valance along with some handicrafts of Rajasthan. The ceiling
is done up in relief work and an oil painting on canvas, depicting the
legendary lovers Dhola & Maru on camelback. The artwork in the lounge is
in the Mughal-influenced style of the Bikaner School of Art.
4. BUNDI The quaint little state of Bundi lies cradled in the
hills, east of Mewar. The palace complex of Bundi towers above the township.
An imposing structure, it is approached by a long paved ramp that ascends to
the Hathi Pol, and is depicted in water colour work in one of the bedrooms.
The famous Ragmala also called Rag Ragini, paintings of Bundi have been
highlighted through oil paintings on canvas and are placed on the ceilings.
The royal crest is highlighted on the valance. The famous Bundi school of
painting is depicted in the framed and mounted art pieces and also serves as
the basis of the colour scheme and overall décor, including a
delightfully frescoed ceiling.
5. DHOLPUR
Dholpur is known for its locally quarried sandstone used for building
palaces and for lattice work extensively used for balcony railings. The
rails in the coach are made of teak ply and depict the fine craftsmanship
originally done in stone. The Dholpur crest decorates the valance in zardozi
work.
6. DUNGARPUR Dungarpur meaning
'Hill Town' is wild and rugged and known for its architecture and the Bhil
tribals. The ceiling is done up in a mixture of relief and mirror work in
line with the 'lep' work done by the tribals on the walls of their houses.
The royal state crest, in intricate zardozi work, appears on the valance of
the blinds.
7. JAISALMER Founded by Rao
Jaisal in 1156 AD, this remote desert city is famous for the Jaisalmer fort,
epitomized by Satyajit Ray in the 'Shonar Kella' (The Golden Fortress), an
epic celluloid saga. The city is also famous for its havelies, cobbled
streets, ancient Jain temples and a festive gaiety that reverberates across
the shimmering sands of the Thar desert. The intricately latticed havelies
with conspicuous facades served as the inspiration for the intricately
carved jharokhas on the lounge ceiling. It is done on teak wood with a
mirror backing. The famous Jawahar Niwas facade has been depicted in the
state lounge using cone, metal, copper and silver mediums. The royal
insignia adorns the valance of the blinds. The colour scheme reflects the
beige of the desert sands.
8. JAIPUR
Known the world over as the Pink City, Jaipur was founded by Maharaja Sawai
jai Singh in 1727 A.D. The city was planned by the architect Vidhyadhar,
under the instructions of the Maharaja. The King was an astronomer and a
connoisseur of arts. And his taste is conspicuous in the beautiful city
constructed by him. A fascinating land, Jaipur has innumerable palaces,
monuments & gardens that attract hordes of visitors every year. Fairs
and festivals reflect the exuberant charm of the people here. The cheerful
nature of the local inhabitants is reflected in the vibrant colours &
captivating music that enliven their spirits, even in this arid desert land.
The ceiling of the state lounge has been created using the famed 'Phad' or
foil work, depicting festivals like Teej, Gangaur, Holi, Diwali etc. The
royal emblem of the state, in Zardozi work, graces the valance. The walls
have been decorated with miniature paintings of the famous Jaipur style of
painting. The ceilings have painted frescoes, done in complementary colours,
reflecting the state's colour scheme of Blue & Gold.
9. JHALAWAR This powerful kingdom of the Jhalas, a clan of valiant
Rajputs, was created in the year 1838 A.D. It is a charming land with
immense natural beauty. Tales of valour and chivalry and numerous folklore
abound in this region. Jhalawar also has some beautiful temples and ancient
Buddhist caves. The ceiling has been worked out in a medium used by the
local inhabitants of Jhalawar to decorate their homes. A play of colours and
mirror work has been used in the medium of plaster of paris to create a
unique ambience. The royal insignia of the erstwhile state in Zardozi work
is seen on the valance along with handicrafts supporting the table tops of
the state lounge.
10. JODHPUR This
capital of the Marwar kingdom lies on the tip of the Thar desert and was the
seat of a formidable dynasty of rulers from the 15th century onwards. The
Mehrangarh Fort which dominates the city of Jodhpur is fascinating with its
cusped arcades and the Mughal influenced designs of the Moti Mahal recreated
in mother-of-pearl work on the ceiling. The royal crest is highlighted on
the valance alongwith the miniature paintings in the lounge which is typical
of the Jodhpur School of Art.
11. KISHANGARH The Bani Thani paintings of the state with their
exaggerated features like eyes and long fingers, are well-known. One of
these famous paintings is recreated on the ceiling in acrylic, painted with
enamel and foil. The crest appears in zardozi work on the blinds of the
windows with an artwork of the Kishangarh School of Art highlighted on the
wall of the state lounge.
12. KOTA Once a prosperous Rajput state, Kota is picturesquely
located beside the Chambal river, surrounded by verdant forests and picnic
gardens. The City Palace is a grand structure. The entry to the palace is
through the Hathi Pol, which is brightly painted with figures of elephants.
Kota is well known for the Kota school of design. These elements have served
as the basis for designing the decor of this coach. The distinctive features
of the Kota school of art can be seen in the oil paintings titled "Raja
aur Praja" (The Monarch and his Subjects) on the ceiling. It depicts
Raja Ram Singh II (1826-66) of Kota amidst a royal procession.
13. SIROHI This erstwhile state has earned an enviable reputation
the world over for its gold fort, near Pratapgarh. Especially the coloured
glass work within it is remarkable. The style of work has a typically
Indo-European flavour as European influence is quite conspicuous. The rooms
highlight this style through the framed works of art done in the same style.
The ambience and colour scheme has also been designed in keeping with this
School of Art. The gold foil and glass work also has semi-precious stones
embedded in it, and has been done in a mix media created from cone and paint
embossed particle boards. The royal insignia has been placed prominently.
Mounted miniatures done in the Sirohi school style lend a unique character
to the decor.
14. UDAIPUR Lazing on the edge of the lake Pichhola, Udaipur was
the capital of the Sisodia Rajputs after they moved from Chittaur.
The
City Palace in Udaipur is a complex of reception halls, residential suites
and internal courts from which the state lounge and bedrooms take their
colour schemes-dominant blue and white. The most fascinating of the inner
courts is the Peacock Court where Peacocks have been modeled in high relief
and faced with coloured glass mosaic. The lounge décor is influenced
by the 'Mor Chowk' or the Peacock Court. The medium used is a combination of
relief work and Patra or oxidized white metal work. The royal crest of the
state, in a alluring zardozi work, is set on the valance of the blinds.
