11 Luxury Train Journeys in India Worth Experiencing

Final thoughts on picking the right train

Choosing among these 11 journeys comes down to region, season, and the kind of experience you want. For a single all-in royal sweep, the Maharajas' Express or Palace on Wheels delivers curated palace visits and luxury service. If you prefer southern temples and backwaters, the Golden Chariot fits well. For coastal views and dramatic ghat scenery, pick Konkan Vistadome services. Those drawn to heritage machinery and evocative history will love the Fairy Queen or the Blue Mountain and Darjeeling toy-train runs. Practical booking steps matter: check official operator websites, IRCTC luxury portals, and state tourism pages for exact itineraries and current fares. Many departures run seasonally and fill early, so plan at least three to six months ahead for peak windows, and consider working with an authorized travel agent for complex multi-region itineraries. Finally, think about the extras that make the trip yours—private excursions, culinary preferences, and whether you want on-board spa or suite-level service—and confirm these before you pay. With that clarity, a luxury train journey in India becomes less a list of destinations and more a moving, richly textured itinerary that brings places, people, and history into a single, memorable trip.