After breakfast, step into the kaleidoscope of Old Delhi with a local expert leading the way. Wind through the lanes that converge on Turkman Gate before reaching Jama Masjid, one of India’s largest mosques, its red sandstone minarets rising over the rooftops.
Make your way through Chandni Chowk, a 17th-century market lined with sari shops, gemstone vendors, spice stalls and a 400-year-old perfumery still trading today. Pause among the carved facades of the area’s old havelis, light a candle in a Jain temple and join devotees at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, one of the most revered Sikh shrines in India.
Settle in for a leisurely lunch at a local restaurant before returning to the calm of The Leela Palace New Delhi. The afternoon is yours to spend however you please.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 90 mins
Delve deeper into the capital today on another guided tour of New Dehli, beginning at the soaring Qutub Minar, a 13th-century Indo-Islamic tower in red sandstone and marble, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. Continue to Humayun’s Tomb, another UNESCO World Heritage-listed site and the first garden-tomb built on the Indian subcontinent, raised in 1570 for the Mughal emperor whose name it bears.
Trade Mughal grandeur for the architecture of modern India along Rajpath, the tree-lined royal boulevard that runs from the President’s Residence at Rashtrapati Bhavan to the 42-metre stone arch of India Gate, raised in memory of the Indian soldiers lost in World War I.
Pause for lunch at a much-loved local restaurant, then take the afternoon at your own pace.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 90 mins
Rise early this morning and transfer to Delhi Safdarjung Station to begin one of the world’s most celebrated rail journeys. Step aboard the Maharajas’ Express – a moving palace of polished wood, plush furnishings and white-glove service.
Enjoy breakfast as you meet your onboard hosts and settle into your Deluxe Cabin as the train glides out of the capital, bound for the pink-hued city of Jaipur. An indulgent lunch will be served before arriving in Jaipur.
Disembark for an afternoon at Amber Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed red sandstone fortress that once served as the main residence of the Mughal emperors. This 16th-century hilltop stronghold famed for its fusion of Hindu and Mughal design. Inside, its mirrored halls, frescoed archways and intricate carvings showcase the height of Rajput craftsmanship.
Return to the train as the sun sets, where dinner is served and the rest of the night is spent at your leisure.
Superior Upgrade: Take your journey up a notch with a Junior Suite cabin upgrade aboard the Maharajas’ Express.
The Indian Panorama journey aboard the Maharajas’ Express
After a delicious breakfast, head to the City Palace Museum and explore its three museums, home to royal costumes, ceremonial weapons and centuries of Rajput artefacts.
Return to the train for lunch and spend an afternoon at leisure, with optional excursions on offer, from visiting the Jantar Mantar Observatory (UNESCO World Heritage-listed site) to taking a rickshaw ride through Jaipur’s bustling markets.
As evening falls, disembark for an exclusive dinner at Rambagh Palace, once home to the Maharaja of Jaipur and now one of India’s most celebrated heritage hotels, with hand-carved marble latticework and sweeping palace gardens.
Later tonight, the train sets a course south towards Ranthambore.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 50 mins
The Indian Panorama journey aboard the Maharajas’ Express
Wake to the rugged landscapes of Sawai Madhopur and head out early for a game drive through Ranthambore National Park. Once a private game reserve of the royal House of Jaipur and now one of India’s best-known tiger reserves, the park is home to Bengal tigers, sloth bears, leopards, crocodiles, deer and abundant birdlife as the forest stirs to life.
Return to the train for breakfast and a leisurely lunch as the landscape rolls past. By afternoon, you’ll arrive at Fatehpur Sikri, the short-lived former capital of the Mughal Empire. Now a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, it remains one of India’s most celebrated examples of Indo-Islamic architecture.
Return to the train at dusk and settle in for dinner as you glide towards Agra.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 4.5 hours
The Indian Panorama journey aboard the Maharajas’ Express
Rise early for a moment that draws travellers from around the world: the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Step out to admire this UNESCO World Heritage-listed masterpiece, celebrated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Explore this magnificent structure, built by Shah Jahan as a testament to his love for his favourite queen, Mumtaz Mahal. Constructed entirely out of white marble, this monument took an incredible 20,000 craftsmen to build. Cast your eyes upwards and contemplate this architectural marvel, then look down to witness its perfect mirror in the still waters of the famous reflecting pool.
Retire for breakfast at Hotel Taj Khema, a tabletop lawn with uninterrupted views of the monument itself. Return to the train for lunch and an afternoon at your leisure – relax in your cabin or join an optional excursion into the city.
Dinner is served as the train rolls on towards Orchha and the temples that wait beyond.
The Indian Panorama journey aboard the Maharajas’ Express
This morning, disembark at Orchha, a riverside village whose pace has scarcely changed in centuries. Wander the ramparts of Orchha Fort before climbing aboard a tuk-tuk for a tour of the surrounding hinterland, where village life unfolds much as it has for generations.
Return to the train for breakfast and an unhurried morning as the carriages roll on through some of the country’s most picturesque landscapes.
By afternoon, arrive in Khajuraho, home to a UNESCO World Heritage-listed group of temples built by the Chandela dynasty. Visit the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, the most spectacular of the temples, where sandstone walls are carved with expressive figures.
Return to the train for an Indian-themed evening of music, dance and refined hospitality as the carriages glide on towards the holy city of Varanasi.
Travel time: Driving – approx. two hours
The Indian Panorama journey aboard the Maharajas’ Express
Wake to a final stretch of scenery as the train approaches Varanasi – also known as Kashi or Banaras and counted among the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth. Three thousand years of pilgrimage have shaped this place, where life and devotion play out side by side along the banks of the sacred Ganges.
Disembark for a long lunch at the Taj Ganges, Varanasi hotel, then set out for Sarnath – the quiet ruins where the Buddha is said to have delivered his first sermon. Board a wooden boat for an unhurried cruise along the Ganges, pausing at a silk weaving centre where you may be tempted by hand-loomed Banarasi sarees.
The day’s most stirring moment comes at dusk: the Ganga Aarti, a centuries-old fire ceremony performed at the ghats with chanting, bells and floating lamps.
Return to the train for dinner as the carriages set a steady course back to Delhi.
The Indian Panorama journey aboard the Maharajas’ Express
Linger over a final breakfast as the carriages slow into Delhi Safdarjung Station, marking the end of one of India’s most extraordinary rail journeys.
A representative will meet you on the platform to assist with your luggage before a private transfer takes you onwards to the city or the airport for your onward flight.