Palace on Wheels to start offering tours to Ayodhya, Kashi, and Varanasi from May; full report

As per the latest development, the famous luxury train, Palace on Wheels, is all set to alter its route after 42 years. If reports are to go by, this luxury train will now be making a historic journey to the sacred city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. Having earned the fame of the world's second most luxurious train, Palace on Wheels officials announced a shift in focus, introducing religious tours starting from May. If reports are to go by, the six-day spiritual journey will commence in Delhi, and take travellers across Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura, and Vrindavan. Referring to this, officials from the Palace on Wheels said that during its regular journeys, the train traditionally served non-vegetarian cuisine and alcoholic beverages to cater to both foreign and domestic tourists. They added that however, for the religious tours, non-vegetarian options will be excluded from the menu, and dishes will abstain from onion and garlic. The religious tours will be scheduled twice a month, thereby providing flexibility for local tourists who may opt for specific destinations like Ayodhya or Prayagraj, with special discounts offered for such tailored trips. The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) has delegated the management of Palace on Wheels to Cube Construction Company Pvt Ltd, a Gujarat-based private firm, for the next seven years. The private operator will initiate religious tour services in May, featuring a comprehensive six-day itinerary starting from Delhi and covering Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura, and Vrindavan.