To help in the growth of tourism in India, the Indian Railways offer some of the best tour packages available in the country. The splendid railway tours include tours onboard the best known luxury trains of India. Following is a brief description of the most luxurious and famous Railway tours offered by the Indian Railways.

The Palace on wheels –
14 coaches belonging to the erstwhile royal families of the various princely states of India have been brought together to make up this grand train that was started in 1982. The palace on wheels has been a major success since then. Tourists from all over the world are eager to experience this royal railway journey. Inside the train excellent facilities and services are provided to the passengers, reminding them of the lifestyle of the royalty of India. The lavish interiors and personalized services offered by the attendant make the experience truly royal. The train has two restaurant cars, lounge, and a library. Starting from Delhi, the train covers famous tourist destinations of Northern India, like Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Sawai Madhopur, Chittor, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. Sightseeing and overnights stays in the train along with excellent dinner services are included in the tariff. The duration of the tour is 7 nights and 8 days.

Deccan Odyssey –
The Deccan Odyssey can be best described as a five star hotel on wheels. Starting operations in 2004, this train is the result of a joint venture undertaken by Indian Railways, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, and the Taj Group of hotels. There are 21 coaches in the train, colored peacock blue, and reflecting the grandeur of the interiors on the exterior as well. The cars provide supreme luxury and comfort, and include a car dedicated for conference and one for pa services. The tour includes visits to one of the renowned tourist attractions of Maharashtra and Goa, including - Ganapatipule, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Pune, Aurangabad, Ajanta - Ellora, and Nashik before returning to Mumbai’s Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the starting point of the train.

Fairy Queen –
The name of the train is derived from its steam locomotive, which has been acknowledged to be the oldest inn operation in the world. The engine was christened the Fairy Queen in 1895, having started regular services from 1855. Finally the engine was overhauled in 1996, and the Fairy Queen began its second innings in 1997, drawing two coaches from Delhi to Alwar. The air-conditioned chair car accommodates 50 people, taking them to the erstwhile state of Alwar, passing through beautiful rugged terrain. The tour includes overnight stay in Sariska Palace hotel, and visit to the Sariska Tiger Reserve, apart from the historic spots of Delhi and Alwar.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway ( DHR ):
UNESCO has given this railway world Heritage status. The route was started in 1881, and has been a major tourist draw since then. 13 steam locomotives and 4 diesel locomotives take tourists to Darjeeling from New Jalpaiguri. The three routes operated by the DHR can easily be counted among the most enjoyable railway tours of India. The narrow gauge trains, popularly known as toy trains, are also available as part of the chartered services and special holiday packages. This railway has the distinction of having the highest railway station in Asia, at Ghum.

There are many other special trains that offer the very best of railway tours in the country. Among the trains plying in the hilly regions, the Nilgiri Toy Train, the Neral Matheran Toy train, and the Kalka to Shimla Train are notable. The railway tours are also offered by way of joint collaboration between the railways and state tourism authorities. An example of this is the Araku Valley package tour which includes a fantastic train ride in the hills of Andhra Pradesh.

Touristplacesinindia.com offers online information about the tour packages offered by the Indian Railways.

• Palace on Wheels
• Royal Orient Express
• The Fairy Queen