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Planning To Go On A Royal Journey? Here’s All You Need To Know About India’s Luxurious Train ‘Palace On Wheels’

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Planning To Go On A Royal Journey? Here’s All You Need To Know About India’s Luxurious Train ‘Palace On Wheels’ | Image:
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For people looking for a pleasure trip to Rajasthan, the Indian Railways’ ‘Palace On Wheels’ offers a royal experience taking people through India’s breathtaking landscapes, including stunning deserts, magnificent palaces, and serene lakes.

The ‘Palace On Wheels’ is a luxury train designed to offer a regal journey through Rajasthan. The train’s interiors are a feast for the eyes, with vintage furniture, majestic decor, and lavish interiors offering travellers a smooth, luxurious journey that feels truly royal.

The train, which was launched on January 26, 1982, starts its journey from Delhi’s Safdarjung Railway Station and returns to Delhi after giving passengers a delightful travel experience to Rajasthan.

The itinerary covers two Indian states, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The journey takes passengers through many architectural structures across the important cities in Rajasthan and a trip to Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra.

This 7 Nights/ 8 Days Trip is a perfect escape for travellers looking to enjoy a royal experience. It also covers all elements of Indian tourism.

The trip covers places including Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Chittorgarh, Sawai Madhopur and Bharatpur in Rajasthan. 

The train has 14 air-conditioned saloons, each named after a former princely state and decorated with traditional Rajput aesthetics.

Every saloon has two twin-bedded and two double-bedded cabins, each with an attached private bath, running hot and cold water, and a shower. 

The cabins are fitted with modern amenities like sofas, reading lights, comfortable furnishings, built-in wardrobes, and large windows to ensure that travellers can enjoy the scenery outside.

In addition to the private chambers, each coach features a shared seating lounge where passengers can socialize, relax, and watch the countryside view from their windows. 

An attached pantry in each saloon provides drinks and refreshments. 

The train also has a separate bar and lounge car for guests to relax with a drink or a book.

For dining, there are two restaurant cars, “Maharaja” and “Maharani,” which serve a variety of Indian dishes including Rajasthani, Continental, and Chinese cuisines respectively. 

The restaurants are lavishly decorated with elegant curtains and table settings, providing a truly royal dining experience.

Turban-wearing attendants, or “Khidmatgars,” greet guests at the platform and are available to assist throughout the trip.

What Are ‘Palace On Wheels’ Provisions?

For entertainment and convenience, the train offers a variety of facilities. 

Guests can enjoy indoor games like chess and carom board in the lounge, and a mailbox is available for posting mail. 

First-aid is on board, and a doctor can be arranged at the next station if needed. 

The train has a non-smoking environment, but guests can inquire with the captain for designated smoking areas. 

Future plans include adding ATM and satellite phone facilities for guests.

Overall, the ‘Palace on Wheels’ aims to provide a travel experience that makes guests enjoy royalty, combining modern comforts with the grandeur and history of Rajasthan.

Additional Information About The Train:

On the designated departure dates, the week-long journey begins every Wednesday night from Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi. 

Before the train moves on to its next destination, guests must be present for check-in, which starts at 4 pm.  

The train travels at night, arriving at a new destination each morning, with a trip to Agra and the Taj Mahal also included in the itinerary.

Passengers Are Required To:

Book tickets at least three months before the departure date is advised.  

To begin, select your preferred date to proceed to the booking page.  

To reserve your tickets in advance, provide your important travel information. 

For some occasions, such as weddings or business gatherings, ‘Palace on Wheels’ can be rented.  

Also Read: Travelling To Jaipur? Try These Lesser-Known Experiences In Pink City



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India eyes bigger slice of Philippines’ $2.5 billion rice market with export push

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India is preparing to ramp up rice exports to the Philippines, the world’s largest importer of the grain, with a delegation of leading exporters scheduled to visit the Southeast Asian nation next month, a senior commerce ministry official told PTI.

The Philippines has emerged as a critical market for India’s agricultural exports. In 2024, Manila imported farm goods worth nearly $20 billion, including semi-milled rice, wheat and meslin, oilcake, food preparations and palm oil. India’s shipments to the country stood at $413 million, making up just 2% of the Philippines’ total agricultural imports.

Key Indian exports to the Philippines included beef, groundnut, rice and tobacco. Despite being the world’s largest exporter of rice, with overseas sales worth $11.83 billion in 2024-25, India’s rice exports to the Philippines were valued at only $48.91 million during the same period.

“Philippines is the largest importer of rice in the world, with imports in 2024 valued at $2.52 billion. However, there is significant opportunity to expand India’s rice exports in the Philippines as, despite India being the world’s largest rice exporter, India’s rice exports were only $48.91 million to the Philippines in the same period,” the official noted, calling it an untapped opportunity.

To bridge this gap, the commerce ministry is facilitating a delegation of rice exporters, along with those dealing in other potential products such as onions, potatoes, groundnut and meat, to travel to the Philippines in early September. The initiative is expected to strengthen trade linkages and help Indian exporters establish a stronger foothold in the region.

The engagement is set to continue later in the year, with a team of Philippine food importers due to participate in World Food India, scheduled for September 25-28 . They will take part in the International Rice Conference on October 30-31, 2025, billed as the first large-scale trade fair of its kind for the rice sector.

India is also witnessing a surge in agricultural exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Exports to the bloc rose from $480 million in 2023-24 to $628 million in 2024-25, driven largely by stronger trade ties with Russia.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority has played an active role in the growth of India agriculture exports by showcasing Indian produce at international trade events such as World Food Moscow. According to officials, such platforms have been vital in boosting visibility, forging new business partnerships and consolidating India’s presence in the CIS market.



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KSRTC adds 90 extra buses for Onam festivities between Bengaluru, Kerala: Report | Bengaluru

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Published on: Aug 31, 2025 02:47 pm IST

The KSRTC will deploy 90 additional buses from September 2 to 4 to accommodate Onam travellers between Bengaluru and Kerala.

In good news for frequent travellers between Bengaluru and Kerala, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has announced the deployment of 90 additional bus services to to accommodate the surge in travel during the upcoming Onam festivities. These special buses will run between September 2 and 4, ahead of the main Onam celebrations on September 5, aiming to ease the rush of passengers heading home for the festival.

Special return trips will be available on September 7, ensuring smooth travel for commuters between Kerala and Bengaluru during the festive season.(PTI)

ALSO READ | 16 injured after KSRTC bus collides with private bus in Kerala’s Thrissur

The temporary boost in service is meant to supplement KSRTC’s regular schedule and ensure smoother travel for commuters during the festive season. The extra buses will primarily depart from key terminals in Bengaluru, including the Mysuru Road Bus Station and Shanthinagar Bus Station, The Hindu reported. These buses will connect the city to major destinations across Kerala such as Kannur, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram.

In addition to the pre-Onam services, KSRTC has also planned return trips post-festival. On September 7, special return buses will be available from multiple cities in Kerala back to Bengaluru, allowing travellers to comfortably head back after spending the holiday with their families, the report stated.

ALSO READ | Karnataka’s Shakti Scheme sets world record with over 500 crore women bus journeys

KSRTC officials stated that these special arrangements are being made to ensure that passengers are not inconvenienced during one of South India’s most significant cultural celebrations. Passengers are encouraged to book their tickets in advance due to the high demand expected during this period.

In similar news, the South Western Railway (SWR) had also announced a set of special express trains to manage the anticipated rise in passenger traffic during the festive season, linking Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT) in Bengaluru with Thiruvananthapuram North. These services will run between August 11 and September 16, providing additional travel options for commuters heading to and from Kerala during the busy holiday period.



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Chennai witnesses cloudburst, heavy rainfall disrupts air travel

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Chennai’s Manali area witnessed a cloudburst

What’s the story

Chennai‘s Manali area witnessed a cloudburst on Saturday night, leading to heavy rainfall.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 10.6cm of rain from 10:00pm to 11:00pm and another 12.6cm from 11:00pm to midnight on August 30, 2025.
Wimco Nagar received the highest rainfall of 15.7cm during the hour from 11:00pm to midnight on August 30, followed by Korattur with 13.7cm and New Manali Town with 10.3cm during the same period.

Manali receives 27cm of rain

The IMD recorded over 100mm of rainfall in several parts of Chennai.
Manali received 27cm of rain while New Manali Town and Wimco Nagar received 26cm and 23cm, respectively, during a 24-hour period ending at 8:30am on Sunday.
Other areas such as Kathivakkam (13.6cm), Tiruvottiyur (12.6cm), and Ayapakkam (12.1cm) also witnessed heavy rainfall during this period.

Heavy rainfall affects air travel

The heavy rainfall in Chennai also affected air travel. Three flights from Frankfurt, Mangaluru, and New Delhi were diverted to Bengaluru as they couldn’t land at the city airport due to the weather conditions.
However, once the weather cleared up in Chennai, passengers were flown back from Bengaluru by different flights.

Weather forecast for Tamil Nadu

The Regional Meteorological Centre has forecasted light to moderate rain in isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal in the next 24 hours.
Strong winds with speeds of 40-50km/h are also likely over these areas.
This weather update comes after a similar pattern was observed on August 23 when several districts, including Chennai, received moderate to heavy overnight rains.



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