Rajasthan’s famous luxury train Palace on Wheels will operate in May for the first time in its 45-year history. Launched on January 26, 1982, it is India’s first luxury heritage train and is globally known as one of the world’s premier royal-style tourist trains. It is operated jointly by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) and Indian Railways.
Officials from the North Western Railway confirmed that the train will run this May after strong demand, even though services are usually limited to the September–April season due to extreme summer heat in Rajasthan. Temperatures in the region often exceed 42°C during May, which is why operations were earlier avoided during this month.
The train will run as a special six-day charter journey from May 20 to May 25, departing from Delhi Safdarjung and covering around 2,610 km across Rajasthan and nearby regions. The route includes major tourist destinations such as Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner.
The entire train has reportedly been booked by a nationalised bank for an exclusive group journey, reflecting strong demand for premium domestic tourism even during off-season travel periods.
According to railway notifications, the service will run as Train No. 00290 under the Bharat Gaurav Train policy. The train consists of 22 coaches, including luxury saloons, dining cars, kitchen units, staff coaches, and spa facilities. Each coach is named after former princely states of Rajasthan, adding to its heritage theme.
The decision to run in May marks a rare operational shift for one of India’s most iconic tourist trains, driven by high demand and special charter arrangements.
