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The Art of Indian Luxury Train Journeys

I think India should be experienced through its rhythm, which travels along railway tracks at a gentle pace. The train’s smooth motion across different landscapes produces a poetic sound which transforms distance into exploration.

Category

Luxury Trains

Words by

Zekeriya Şen

Published

October 23, 2025

The primary focus of Indian luxury train travel lies in experiencing the journey rather than reaching the destination quickly. The experience requires you to give in to natural landscapes, the changing light moods and the conversations that develop as the train wheels create their musical rhythm beneath your feet.
Each luxury train journey, including Maharajas’ Express, Palace on Wheels and Deccan Odyssey, presents its own unique rhythm of cultural elegance and priceless heritage.
The experience of luxury train travel in India extends time rather than compresses it like air travel does. Through the expansive train windows, I have witnessed Rajasthan’s desert landscapes transform into royal palace structures while Varanasi ghats received their first light of day, and Goa’s coconut trees experienced the peaceful evening descent.
From the moment you step into the corridor of the Deccan Odyssey train, time takes on a quieter rhythm, silk carpets whisper beneath your feet, walls adorned with Indian art glow softly, and contemporary design weaves tradition into every elegant detail.
The moving theatre of the journey presents itself through sensory elements, which include visual textures and scents and brief moments of everyday life passing by outside the windows.

The definition of luxury in this context focuses on meaningful experiences rather than excessive displays of wealth. The train's movement through the countryside brings crisp linen to your breakfast table while brass handles shine from years of maintenance, and the reading lounge remains peaceful during the outside world's fast pace.

Every corridor hums with nostalgia. The combination of traditional porters, distant train whistles and jasmine fragrance in your compartment creates a journey through time as well as space.
During the Deccan Odyssey’s journey through the Chambal Valley, I observed the sunset fade into the plain dust while standing by the window. The peaceful atmosphere emerged from the perfect union of moving and stationary elements.
The different routes of these trains present a carefully selected collection of experiences that showcase the essence of India. The Palace on Wheels takes passengers through desert royal territories, which include Jaipur’s rose-coloured buildings, Udaipur’s reflective water bodies and Jaisalmer’s sun-kissed sand dunes. The Deccan Odyssey travels through Maharashtra’s wine-producing regions and historic sites and coastal towns that smell of spices.
Luxurious cabins with spacious interiors and large windows make every moment on the train a serene, indulgent stay.
Savour a curated selection of Indian cuisine, from regional delicacies to the chef’s signature dishes.
The dining experience on the train presents itself as a narrative sequence of local dishes with premium wines and extended evening conversations that blend with the train’s rhythmic motion. The staff members who have worked on the trains for multiple decades create an experience through their refined yet unobtrusive service approach.
The afternoon schedule includes visits to historic forts, cave temples and secret bazaars. The experience reaches its completion when you return to the train’s comfort and see your compartment shine like a protective shell during twilight hours.

I have learned to view these trains as vehicles that go beyond hotel accommodations. These trains function as time machines which transport you through India's historical layers while maintaining your connection to the current moment. The essence of luxury exists in being present in the moment rather than in fast travel or grand displays. The experience of slowing down allows landscapes to show themselves naturally as they wish to be seen.

The train’s soft humming through the dark countryside makes you understand that your actual adventure takes place inside your own self. The combination of train rhythm, eternal views and chai conversations creates a single meditative travel experience that leads to self-discovery.
The journey becomes the destination, as storytellers take you through layers of a bygone era, bringing history and monuments vividly to life.
I loved this local musician, his colourful costume and enchanting pipe music a delight for both eyes and ears.
Travelling by luxury train in India allows passengers to join an ancient tradition which continues to transform. The train journey at 80 kilometres per hour lets you witness centuries of craftsmanship and hospitality while dining under chandeliers as night speeds by and grants you a brief experience of possessing control over time.
As one steward once told me, polishing the brass lamp by the dining car door, “Trains here don’t just take you somewhere; they show you how to arrive.”

For anyone who seeks not merely destinations but sensations — of motion, heritage, and stillness intertwined — India's luxury trains remain among the world's most profound journeys.

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Zekeriya Şen, Partner & Managing Director at FEST Travel, is a passionate storyteller of luxury train journeys and river cruises, which he describes as “moving theatres of life” where every passing scene, scent, and sound becomes part of the travel narrative. As a mentor and advisor at Marée & Meridian, he brings a deep love for experiential travel that inspires us to create journeys filled with beauty, emotion, and new discovery.