About Palace on Wheels
Palace on wheels is a journey worthy of Kings. No wonder the experience is labelled
the Palace on Wheels. With its cream saloons, with a border of flowers, chug
through Rajasthan on a journey through the former royal kingdom of this state.
Once ruled by kings whose presence lingers on its forbidding fortress, and fairytale
palaces, now converted into museums and hotels, and restaurants where retainers
serve truly royal repasts.
Newly
assembled at the coach factory in Madras, it is fully vestibuled and centrally
airconditioned, truely a palace on wheels.
Each Coach named after the former princely states, has 4 twin bedded chambers,
thoughtfully decorated in ethnic Rajasthani décor. Channel Music, Intercom,
Attached washrooms with hot & cold water 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.
These Coaches include:
Alwar Saloon:
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
of forests and deep valleys. Alwar is home to several species of flora and fauna.
The ceiling of the Alwar Saloon lounge has been done aesthetically in mix-media
of cone work, and oils in relief, depicting a hunting scene. The royal emblem
and a miniature adorn the lounge. Subtle tones of pink enhance the romantic
ambience of the lounge..
Bharatpur Saloon:
Maharaja Suraj Mal, the valiant Rajput King who was admired for his chivalry
and courage, had his abode here, in Bharatpur. Once a fortified township, Bharatpur
is now an ornithologist paradise, and well known for the Bharatpur water-bird
sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to over 376 avian species. Echoing the vividness
of nature's gift to Bharatpur the relief work on this Saloon depicts various
species of birds on the tree of life. A replica of the royal crest of Bharatpur
adorns the valance of the blind. 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.
Bikaner Saloon:
The state of Bikaner came into being 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 of 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 oil painting on canvas depicting the legendary lovers Dhola & Maru on
Camel back. The artwork in the lounge belongs to the Mughal influenced Bikaner
School of Art styles.
Bundi Saloon:
The quaint little state of Bundi lies cradled on the hills, east of Mewar. The
palace complex of Bundi towers above the township. An imposing structure; it
is approached by 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 famed and mounted
art pieces and also serves as the basis for the colour scheme and overall décor,
including a delightfully frescoed ceiling
Dholpur Saloon:
Dholpur
is known for its locally quarried sandstone used for building palaces and for
latticework extensively used in balcony railings. The rails in the Saloon are
made in teak ply to depict the fine craftsmanship as done in stone. The Dholpur
crest decorates the valance in zardozi work.
Dungarpur Saloon:
Dungarpur meaning "Hill Town" is wild and rugged and know 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.
Jaisalmer Saloon:
Founded by Rao Jaisal in 1156 AD, this remote desert city is famous for the
Jaisalmer fort, epitomized by Satyajit Ray, the famous film-maker in the 'Shonar
Kella' (The Golden Fortress), an epic celluloid saga. The city is also famous
for its havelis, cobbled streets, ancient Jain temples and a festive gaiety
that reverberates across the shimmering with conspicuous facades served as the
inspiration for the intricately carved jharokhas on the lounge ceiling. It is
done on teakwood with a mirror backing. The famous Jawahar Niwas facade has
been depicted in the state lounge-using cone, metal, copper and silver medium.
The royal insignia adorns the valance of the blind. The colour scheme reflects
the beige of the desert sands.
Jaipur Saloon:
Known the world over as the Pink City, Jaipur was founded by Maharaja Sawai
jai Singh II in 1727 A.D. The architect Vidhyadhar, under the instructions of
the Maharaja planned the city. 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 hoards of visitors every. 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 is worked out in Zardozi work on the
valance. The walls have been decorated with miniature paintings of the famous
Jaipur style of painting. The ceilings have painted frescoes, done in complimentary
colours, reflecting the state's colour scheme of blue & gold.
Jhalawar Saloon:
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 folklores abound in this region. Jhalawar
also has some beautiful temples and ancient Buddha caves. The ceiling has been
worked out in a medium used by the local inhabitants of Jhalawar to decorate
their home. 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 tabletops of the state lounge.
Jodhpur Saloon:
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
Meharangarh fort, which dominates the city of Jodhpur, is a fascination arcade
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 along with
the miniature paintings in the lounge, which is typical of the Jodhpur School
of art.
Kishangarh Saloon:
The Banio 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 window with the Kishangarh School of Art highlighted
in an artwork on the wall of the state lounge.
Kota Saloon:
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 Kota school
of design. These elements have served as the basis for designing the décor
of this Saloon. 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.
Sirohi Saloon:
This erstwhile state has earned an enviable reputation the world over for its
gold fort and with coloured glass work that is done near Pratapgarh. 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 styles through the framed works of art done. The ambience and
colour scheme has also been designed in keeping with this school of Art. The
Gold foil and glasswork 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 décor.
Udaipur Saloon:
Lazing on the edge of the lake Pichola, 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 suits 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 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 alluring zardozi work is set on
the valance of the blinds.
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