Most Luxurious Trains of India Ranked

There is something romantically anachronistic about traveling by luxury train. In a world of six-hour flights and instant arrivals, choosing to spend three days crossing Rajasthan in a gilded carriage—watching landscapes transform through your window while waiters serve champagne in crystal glasses—is a deliberate act of temporal rebellion. You're not trying to get somewhere fast. You're choosing the journey itself as the destination.

India, with its epic geography, staggering cultural diversity, and rich history of royal travel, offers luxury train experiences that rank among the world's finest. These aren't merely comfortable trains—they're moving palaces, rolling museums, and mobile five-star hotels that combine the romance of rail travel with hospitality that would satisfy maharajas who once traveled these very routes in their private railway carriages.

The modern luxury train industry in India began when those actual maharaja carriages—some dating to the 1880s—were restored, refurbished, and combined into complete luxury train experiences. Over decades, more trains have entered the market, routes have expanded, and the standard of service has risen to compete with the world's finest luxury trains anywhere.

Here is the definitive ranking of India's most luxurious trains, with everything you need to know about what makes each special, where they travel, what they cost, and who should board them.

How We Ranked Them

Ranking luxury trains requires evaluating multiple dimensions: accommodation quality and authenticity, dining sophistication, service standard, destinations visited, cultural immersion depth, value for money, and overall experience uniqueness. Price alone doesn't determine luxury—a cheaper train offering extraordinary authentic experiences can rank higher than an expensive one delivering generic luxury.

1. Palace on Wheels — The Original Maharaja Experience

Route: Delhi → Jaipur → Jaisalmer → Jodhpur → Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore) → Chittorgarh → Udaipur → Bharatpur → Agra → Delhi (8 days/7 nights)

Cost: Approximately $450-650 per person per night (Super Deluxe Cabin), $550-800 (Deluxe Suite), depending on season

Why It Ranks First:

The Palace on Wheels didn't just set the standard for luxury rail travel in India—it invented the category. Launched in 1982 by Rajasthan Tourism, it was assembled from actual royal coaches that once served the maharajas of Rajputana and the Nizam of Hyderabad. This history isn't decorative—it's structural. When you sleep in a Palace on Wheels cabin, you're sleeping in railway carriages that served actual royalty.

The Train:

Fourteen saloons (carriages), each named after a former princely state of Rajasthan. Each saloon contains four cabins and two suites, all decorated in the traditional style of the state it's named for—distinct color palettes, specific textile patterns, regional art and craftsmanship. Your cabin in the Jodhpur saloon looks nothing like your friend's cabin in the Mewar saloon.

The Cabins:

Super Deluxe Cabins offer twin or double beds (convertible), private bathroom with shower, individual temperature control, writing desk, wardrobe, and wall-to-wall carpet. Comfortable but intimate—these are train cabins, not hotel rooms. The charm lies in their refined coziness and historical authenticity.

Deluxe Suites offer more space with sitting areas, slightly larger bathrooms, and enhanced furnishings—better for couples or those wanting more luxury-hotel-adjacent comfort.

Dining:

Two dining cars—Maharaja and Maharani—serving a rotating menu of Rajasthani specialties, Indian cuisine, and international options. Multicuisine breakfast includes Indian (poha, paratha, idli) and continental options. Lunch and dinner rotate through regional specialties—dal baati churma one night, Rajasthani thali the next, international favorites for those less adventurous with spice.

The Bar Car serves cocktails, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages in a club-car atmosphere. Evening drinks while watching the Rajasthan landscape transition from sunset to darkness, accompanied by live music on some evenings, is precisely the experience luxury train travel promises.

The Itinerary:

Eight days, seven nights covering the absolute cream of Rajasthan's experiences: Amber Fort in Jaipur, desert camping and camel safaris in Jaisalmer, the blue city of Jodhpur and its dramatic Mehrangarh Fort, tiger safaris at Ranthambore, the romantic lake city of Udaipur, Chittorgarh's haunting fort ruins, Bharatpur's bird sanctuary, and of course the Taj Mahal at Agra.

Each destination receives dedicated excursion time—not rushed 45-minute photo stops but half-day or full-day explorations with guides, private vehicle transfers, and time to actually experience places rather than merely see them.

Who Should Book:

First-time luxury India travelers, Rajasthan enthusiasts wanting comprehensive coverage, history lovers, and anyone who appreciates the romance of genuinely historical railway carriages.

Verdict: The Palace on Wheels earns its first-place ranking through historical authenticity, iconic route, and the fact that it essentially defined luxury Indian rail travel. It's not the most expensive option, but it delivers the most balanced combination of history, luxury, destinations, and value.

2. Maharajas' Express — India's Most Expensive Luxury Train

Routes (Five Itineraries):

• Indian Panorama (7 nights)
• Indian Splendor (4 nights)
• Heritage of India (7 nights)
• Gems of India (7 nights)
• Treasures of India (4 nights)

Cost: $800-$1,800 per person per night depending on cabin category and season

Why It Ranks Second:

The Maharajas' Express consistently ranks among the world's top luxury trains by international travel publications—alongside Orient Express and Blue Train of South Africa. It's India's most expensive and arguably most opulent train experience, offering hotel-standard luxury in a moving environment.

The Train:

Inaugurated in 2010 by Indian Railways (IRCTC), the Maharajas' Express was designed from scratch for luxury tourism rather than being converted from existing royal carriages. This means the cabins are more spacious and hotel-like but lack the Palace on Wheels' historical authenticity.

23 coaches carrying a maximum of 88 passengers with a staff-to-passenger ratio that enables genuinely personalized service.

The Cabins — Four Categories:

Deluxe Cabin: The entry-level, still very comfortable with twin/double configuration, private bathroom, and all modern amenities. But in a train at this price point, the Deluxe Cabin is the starting point rather than the selling proposition.

Junior Suite: More spacious with sitting area, larger bathroom, and enhanced furnishings. Most popular category for solo travelers and couples seeking comfortable luxury without maximum spend.

Suite: Significantly larger, with separate sitting and sleeping areas, premium linens, enhanced bathroom with better fixtures, and generally hotel-suite quality.

Presidential Suite: Two Presidential Suites on the entire train. Each is approximately 8 meters long—massive by any train standard—with a private lounge, separate bedroom, full-size bathroom with shower and bathtub, personal butler service, private bar, and custom furnishings. The cost is genuinely eye-watering but the experience is unmatched on any train in Asia.

Dining:

Two restaurants—Rang Mahal (Indian/Mughal cuisine) and Mayur Mahal (international/continental). The kitchen quality is exceptional—using fresh ingredients sourced at each destination, trained chefs producing restaurant-quality meals. Dining car atmosphere with formal table settings, crystal glasses, silver service.

Special dinners at iconic locations—private dinner at a palace, candlelit dinner beneath the stars in a desert camp—are included in the itinerary, elevating dining beyond the train itself.

Service:

Personal butler assigned to each cabin, available around the clock. The service standard is the most consistently praised element—attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable about destinations, proactive about preferences.

Destinations:

The five itineraries collectively cover India's greatest highlights—Rajasthan's forts and palaces, Agra's Taj Mahal, Varanasi's spiritual intensity, Khajuraho's temples, Ranthambore's tigers, and more. Different itineraries allow travelers to choose their focus.

The Limitation:

At these prices, expectations are extremely high—and some travelers feel the train doesn't quite deliver the cultural immersion or historical authenticity that the price implies. It's luxury hotel that happens to move rather than a travel experience rooted in India's railway heritage.

Who Should Book:

Travelers who prioritize absolute luxury standards, those celebrating special occasions willing to pay for exclusivity, international luxury travelers comparing directly to Orient Express standards.

3. Deccan Odyssey — Western India's Crown Jewel

Routes (Multiple Itineraries):

• Maharashtra Splendor
• Indian Odyssey
• Jewels of the Deccan
• Glimpses of Rajasthan
• Hidden Treasures of Gujarat

Cost: Approximately $350-600 per person per night

Why It Ranks Third:

The Deccan Odyssey earns distinction by focusing on Western India—particularly Maharashtra—that other luxury trains ignore entirely. While competitors compete for Rajasthan, the Deccan Odyssey offers extraordinary alternative itineraries: Mumbai's colonial architecture, Ajanta and Ellora's ancient cave temples, Goa's Portuguese heritage, and the Konkan coastline. It covers India's equally spectacular but less-touristed west.

The Train:

21 coaches serving 88 passengers maximum. Interior design draws on Maharashtra's Maratha heritage—warli folk art patterns, colonial-era influences, Deccan sultanate aesthetics. The balance between regional authenticity and luxury standard is well-executed.

The Cabins:

Deluxe Cabin: Twin configuration with convertible options, private bathroom, all modern amenities, tastefully decorated in regional motifs.

Presidential Suite: Top-of-line accommodation with separate sitting room, enhanced bathroom, and superior furnishings. Not quite Maharajas' Express Presidential standard but excellent.

Spa Car: The Deccan Odyssey's unique feature—an onboard spa offering massages, Ayurvedic treatments, and wellness services while the train moves. No other Indian luxury train offers this.

Dining:

Restaurant car serving contemporary Indian cuisine with Maharashtrian specialties—varan bhat, puran poli, modak, fresh coastal seafood when along the Konkan coast. The kitchen quality is consistently praised, with particular strength in regional cuisine versus the more generic pan-Indian menus on some competitors.

The Itinerary Advantage:

Ajanta and Ellora Caves—some of humanity's greatest ancient art, carved into rock faces over 700 years—are among India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites that receive far fewer tourists than they deserve. The Deccan Odyssey makes them centerpieces rather than afterthoughts.

Who Should Book:

Return India visitors who've already done Rajasthan, history lovers interested in the Deccan's rich heritage, Goa visitors who want context beyond beaches, Western India enthusiasts.

4. Golden Chariot — South India's Royal Ambassador

Route (Two Itineraries):

• Pride of the South: Bengaluru → Mysuru → Kabini → Hassan (Belur/Halebid) → Hampi → Badami → Goa → Bengaluru (7 nights)
• Splendor of the South: Bengaluru → Mysuru → Hampi → Goa → Kochi → Bengaluru (7 nights)

Cost: Approximately $400-700 per person per night

Why It Ranks Fourth:

The Golden Chariot is the only luxury train dedicated entirely to South India—Karnataka, Kerala, and Goa—providing access to some of India's most spectacular but less-accessible heritage sites. Hampi's UNESCO-listed ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire, Hassan's Hoysala temple sculptures, Badami's cave temples, Pattadakal—sites that typically require elaborate private logistics become accessible and comfortable through the Golden Chariot's itinerary.

The Train:

19 coaches, 84 passengers maximum. Design draws on the Hoysala and Chalukya architectural traditions of Karnataka—intricate carved motifs, dark wood panels, warm color palettes inspired by temple interiors and local textiles. The aesthetic is South Indian in a way most other luxury trains (inevitably Rajput-influenced) are not.

The Cabins:

Inspired by historical Karnataka palaces, the cabins use local rosewood elements, traditional bronze sculptures, and textile art from Mysore's silk-weaving traditions. Private bathrooms, individual temperature control, and comfortable furnishings throughout.

Dining:

Restaurant car Ruchi (meaning "taste") serving South Indian cuisine—Mysore cuisine, Coorgi pork specialties, Goan seafood, Kerala's coconut-based preparations. The cuisine is a genuine highlight—South Indian food is among India's finest regional cuisines, and the Golden Chariot showcases it properly.

Special Experience:

Private yoga and meditation sessions on train terraces at sunrise. South India has deeper, more continuous yoga tradition than anywhere else—experiencing it as early morning practice while passing Karnataka's landscapes is extraordinary.

Who Should Book:

South India specialists, temple architecture enthusiasts, UNESCO heritage site collectors, travelers wanting the road less traveled compared to Rajasthan-focused competitors.

5. Royal Rajasthan on Wheels — The Hidden Gem

Route: Delhi → Jaipur → Jodhpur → Jaisalmer → Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore) → Chittorgarh → Udaipur → Agra → Delhi (7 nights)

Cost: Approximately $300-500 per person per night

Why It Ranks Fifth:

The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is frequently overlooked by luxury travelers who default to the Palace on Wheels or Maharajas' Express—and this oversight is their loss. At lower price points than either competitor, it delivers exceptional Rajasthan coverage, comfortable accommodation, and quality service that represents perhaps the best value proposition in Indian luxury rail travel.

The Train:

Operated by Rajasthan Tourism (same entity behind Palace on Wheels), the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels offers similar destinations with slightly more modern execution. Cabins are contemporary rather than historically authentic—cleaner lines, less ornamentation, more efficient use of space.

The Cabins:

Well-appointed cabins with comfortable beds, functional private bathrooms, and pleasant décor. Not as characterful as the Palace on Wheels' heritage carriages but consistently clean, comfortable, and functional.

Dining:

Two dining cars serving Rajasthani and Indian multicuisine. Quality is good without reaching the heights of Maharajas' Express or Deccan Odyssey.

The Value Argument:

For travelers whose priority is seeing Rajasthan's highlights comfortably rather than experiencing maximum luxury, the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels delivers genuine satisfaction at noticeably lower costs. The places visited—Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ranthambore—are identical to pricier competitors.

Who Should Book:

Budget-conscious luxury travelers, families finding other trains prohibitively expensive, Rajasthan visitors primarily interested in destinations over train luxury.

6. Fairy Queen — The World's Oldest Working Steam Locomotive

Route: Delhi → Alwar → Delhi (2 days/1 night weekend excursion)

Cost: Approximately $200-300 per person

Why It's Special:

The Fairy Queen earns its place on this list not through luxury but through sheer historical and experiential uniqueness. The locomotive hauling this train entered service in 1855—making it the world's oldest working steam locomotive, recognized by the Guinness World Records and listed as a UNESCO heritage item.

The Experience:

Nothing prepares you for the sensory experience of traveling behind a 170-year-old steam engine. The coal smoke smell, the rhythmic chugging, the visible steam, the mechanical sounds of Victorian engineering under your feet, the slower pace—it's time travel, not transport.

The carriages are heritage replicas rather than genuine antiques, comfortable enough for the short journey. The train runs weekend excursions to Alwar, a short trip but long enough to experience the locomotive properly.

Dining:

Basic food service rather than the fine dining of longer luxury trains—appropriate for the weekend excursion format.

Who Should Book:

Railway history enthusiasts, steam locomotive fans, families with children captivated by historic trains, heritage travelers wanting unique experiences over pure luxury.

7. Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train

Route: New Delhi → Gaya (Bodhgaya) → Rajgir/Nalanda → Varanasi/Sarnath → Lumbini (Nepal connection) → Kushinagar → Sravasti → Agra → New Delhi (7 nights)

Cost: Approximately $150-250 per person per night

Why It's Unique:

The Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train serves a specific purpose with exceptional effectiveness—connecting Buddhism's most sacred sites in India and Nepal in a single coherent journey. Bodhgaya (where Buddha achieved enlightenment), Sarnath (where he gave his first teaching), Kushinagar (where he passed into Parinirvana), Lumbini (his birthplace in Nepal), Rajgir and Nalanda (where he taught extensively)—these sites scattered across eastern India are difficult to connect efficiently by other means.

The Service:

Not the highest luxury standard—comfortable but without the design investment of top-tier trains. The value lies entirely in the itinerary's coherence and the convenience it provides.

Who Should Book:

Buddhist pilgrims and practitioners, Buddhist heritage travelers, meditation teachers leading group pilgrimages, Japanese/Thai/Sri Lankan tour groups visiting sacred sites.

Practical Booking Information

When to Book:

Most luxury trains operate September through March—India's pleasant travel season. Summer months (April-June) are avoided due to extreme heat across the routes. Book 3-6 months in advance for peak season (October-February) when trains sell out.

The Booking Process:

Palace on Wheels and Royal Rajasthan on Wheels: Book through Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) website or authorized travel agents.

Maharajas' Express: Book through IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) or international luxury travel agencies.

Deccan Odyssey: Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation or authorized agents.

Golden Chariot: Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation or authorized agents.

What's Included:

Most luxury trains include:

• All meals onboard
• All excursions and entry fees
• Guide services at destinations
• Entertainment and cultural programs
• Some include airport transfers

What's Extra:

• Alcoholic beverages (most trains)
• Laundry
• Spa treatments (Deccan Odyssey)
• Personal shopping
• Gratuities (guidelines usually provided)

Visa Requirements:

International travelers require standard Indian tourist visa. The Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train's Lumbini extension requires Nepal visa (available on arrival for most nationalities).

Choosing the Right Luxury Train

Choose Palace on Wheels if:

• First luxury train experience in India
• Want historical authenticity and iconic route
• Seeking best balance of price and experience
• Specifically interested in Rajasthan

Choose Maharajas' Express if:

• Maximum luxury standard is your priority
• Budget is unlimited
• Celebrating major special occasion
• Comparing to Orient Express level standards

Choose Deccan Odyssey if:

• Previously experienced Rajasthan-focused trains
• Interested in Ajanta/Ellora caves
• Maharashtra/Goa itinerary appeals more than Rajasthan
• Want onboard spa services

Choose Golden Chariot if:

• South India is your interest
• Temple architecture enthusiast
• Kerala/Karnataka/Goa specific interest
• Prefer off-beaten-path over iconic Rajasthan circuit

Choose Royal Rajasthan on Wheels if:

• Rajasthan coverage with better value
• Family travel requiring multiple cabins
• Similar destinations to Palace on Wheels at lower price

The Broader Picture: Luxury Trains vs. Other Travel

The Case For:

Luxury trains eliminate the logistical complexity of multi-destination India travel—no booking multiple hotels, arranging transfers between cities, negotiating with different guides. Everything is handled. You wake up in a new location each morning having traveled while sleeping.

The social experience is rich—approximately 80-100 passengers traveling together creates community across multiple days, with fellow travelers often becoming memorable parts of the journey.

The landscapes between destinations are themselves spectacular—watching India transition between desert, agricultural plains, river systems, and hill terrain from a moving train provides perspective no flight or car journey offers.

The Case Against:

Luxury trains provide a rarefied, somewhat hermetically sealed India experience—insulated from the complexity and chaos that characterizes authentic Indian travel. You're seeing India through glass, literally. The immersion limitations disappoint travelers seeking direct cultural engagement.

The cabin confinement—particularly the smaller spaces on heritage trains like Palace on Wheels—challenges travelers who need physical space and privacy.

The Bottom Line

India's luxury trains collectively offer one of the world's great travel experiences. They represent a specific type of journey—simultaneously comfortable and adventurous, luxurious and authentic, efficient and unhurried—that genuinely can't be replicated by any combination of hotels and private cars.

The Palace on Wheels leads our ranking for embodying everything luxury Indian rail travel should be: genuine historical carriages, iconic destinations, quality service, cultural immersion, and pricing that while still premium is accessible to affluent travelers without requiring unlimited budgets.

But the right luxury train depends entirely on you—your destinations, priorities, budget, and what kind of journey you're seeking. Whether you're celebrating something extraordinary, fulfilling a lifelong ambition to see India's royal heritage, or simply understanding that getting there is often better than arriving, India's luxury trains deliver experiences worth the considerable investment.

Board one, and understand immediately why travelers return—sometimes booking years in advance to ensure their next journey begins the moment the current one ends.

The tracks ahead are always more beautiful than the ones behind.