Blue Train: Luxury Train Journeys in India and Beyond
When people talk about the Blue Train, a world-famous luxury rail service known for its opulence and scenic routes. Also known as Palace on Wheels, it isn’t actually called the Blue Train—but confusion comes from how global luxury trains get mixed up online. In India, the real star is the Palace on Wheels, a royal-era train that offers private suites, fine dining, and guided tours of Rajasthan’s palaces. This isn’t just transportation. It’s a moving heritage experience.
The Palace on Wheels, often mistaken for the Blue Train due to its similar prestige runs through desert forts, tiger reserves, and ancient temples. You don’t just see India—you live inside its history. The train’s cabins have marble bathrooms, butlers, and curated meals. Stops include Jaipur’s Amber Fort, Jaisalmer’s golden dunes, and Agra’s Taj Mahal—all visited before sunrise, when crowds are gone. This is what luxury train travel in India really means: no rushed tours, no shared bathrooms, no tourist traps. It’s curated, calm, and completely private.
People also mix it up with the Orient Express, a European icon known for its Art Deco interiors and romantic appeal. But while the Orient Express glides through the Alps, the Palace on Wheels rolls through the Thar Desert. One is about European elegance; the other is about Indian royalty revived. And then there’s the Golden Chariot, South India’s answer to luxury rail, connecting Mysore’s palaces with Hampi’s ruins. These aren’t just trains—they’re mobile five-star hotels with wheels.
If you’ve ever wondered why someone would spend thousands on a train ride, it’s because you’re not paying for a seat. You’re paying for access. Access to places tourists can’t reach. Access to meals cooked by royal chefs. Access to guides who’ve lived near these sites for generations. The Blue Train myth persists because people crave that kind of experience—something slow, rich, and deeply personal. India delivers it better than anywhere else.
Below, you’ll find real stories from travelers who took these trains, tips on what to pack, how to book without overpaying, and why some of the most unforgettable moments in India happen not at a temple or beach—but on a train at dawn, watching the desert light up outside your window.
