This amazing trip kept me very busy, as I did so many things and saw so much beauty; Palace On Wheels was far beyond what I imagined. I explored the breathtaking land of majestic Rajasthan and at the same time rejoiced in the glory of royal luxuries.

My First Stop
Popularly known as the Pink City, Jaipur was the first stop of the Palace On Wheels. After having breakfast on board, I along with my fellow passengers embarked on the deluxe bus to explore every corner of Jaipur.

I got an in-depth information while touring Jaipur. It was built by a sovereign, somewhere around eighteenth century. Apart from the beautifully laid out gardens and parks, attractive monuments and marvelous heritage hotels, Jaipur's colorful bazaars(market) delighted me with its timeless beauty. I was specially attracted towards the wide variety of Rajasthani hand looms and trinkets, not to mention the ambling camels and cheerful people in multi colored outfits.

After having our lunch at Rambagh Palace, we further went to discover places such as Hawa Mahal, Amber fort and many others, which were silent witness of a glorious era. At the end of this hectic day, the luxury train was ready to take us to yet another glorious destination, Jaisalmer.

Jaisalmer
On Friday, the third day, Palace-On-Wheels arrived at Jaisalmer. The name Jaisalmer, still evokes in my mind, an intense memory of the brilliant Thar desert. I was totally enamored by the golden rays of the setting sun. I was amazed at the extensively designed forts with their elaborate facades and was smitten by the beauty and complex designs of the jewelry, crafts and architecture of this place.

How can I forget the exhilarating experience of a camel ride on the golden sand dunes at Sam, followed by evening tea. I visited to almost all the places of Jaisalmer, but the surprise package of this visit was unfolded during the night. We were served a safari dinner under the stars, at a campsite and the cuisine consisted of some of the world's best delicacies. After our sumptuous dinner, we came back to the train to resume our journey to the next destination, Jodhpur.

Jodhpur
Jodhpur turned out to be a very distinctive place, with its impressive battlegrounds, various forts, especially the insurmountable Mehrangarh Fort. We had our lunch at the largest art-deco residence in the world, Umaid Bhawan Palace. After relaxing a bit at Umaid Bhawan Palace, we departed from this lovely place to yet another destination.

Sawai Madhopur
I remember the thrill, I was acquainted with, when I had my first site of Sawai Madhopur. After breakfast, we had a chance to visit the world renowned Ranthambhor National Park, located amidst the imposing ruins of a 10th century fort. I was extremely attracted towards the lakes and many perennial streams, criss-crossing the entire park. I was just wandering here & there, when suddenly I saw one of the most amazing animal on this earth, Tiger. After enjoying a jeep safari and the ethnic flavor of local cuisine, we returned back to Palace On Wheels.

Udaipur
At the time I reached Udaipur, I had become a pretty good photographer, as I captured everything that came on my way. We were informed on the train that our next destination was very beautiful & is famously known as the "City of Palaces". So, my expectation new no bound,and I prepared myself to watch all those beautiful palaces and lakes. The most enchanting spots that I enjoyed in Udaipur were the marble palaces that seemed to float in the middle of lake. It was certainly a perfect day.

Bharatpur, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra
My next destination was one of the finest bird parks in the world, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. I had one in a lifetime chance to watch unique migratory birds of several species including cranes, pelicans, geese, ducks, etc. Apart from birds, I also watched some interesting animals such as Sambar, Nilgai and boar. After Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary we visited the place which most of the foreign travelers perceives synonymous with India. Its none other than Agra, the city of magnificent Taj Mahal. The moment I saw Taj Mahal, its magnificence and aesthetic beauty left me speechless. No doubt, this majestic construction is invariably included in the list of the world's foremost wonders.

We then visited Fatehpur Sikri, the imperial city of the Mughal dynasty. It is very difficult to express the architectural grandeur of this city as one can only experience the aura of these forts. As this was the last destination, it was the end of a splendid and enchanting journey. When we reached back to Delhi, it was a time to say goodbye to all my fellow passengers and return back to the world of reality.