Seven years in a row as the World’s Leading Luxury Train at the World Travel Awards. Fourteen carriages. Eighty-two passengers maximum at full occupancy. A fleet of chefs, butlers, and hospitality staff that outnumbers the guest count. The Maharajas’ Express is the most expensive and most acclaimed train journey available in India, operated by IRCTC for guests who want to experience the subcontinent the way the maharajas did — moving between its great cities and landmarks in a private mobile palace, with every meal, excursion, and entrance fee handled before you step onto the platform.
The fares reflect that positioning. Starting at USD 4,900 per person for the shortest journey in the entry-level cabin, rising to USD 25,000+ per person for the Presidential Suite on the longest route, the Maharajas’ Express is genuinely in a different category from any other train product in India.
Maharajas’ Express Ticket Price 2026 — Official Fares
All fares are per person, per journey, on twin-sharing basis. 5% GST is charged separately.
Single occupancy supplement: Significant additional charge (roughly equal to the base per-person fare) applies if you book a cabin for solo use.
Treasures of India (3 Nights / 4 Days — Shortest Route)
| Cabin Category | USD Per Person | Approx INR (twin share) |
| Deluxe Cabin | USD 4,900 | ~₹4,35,000 |
| Junior Suite | USD 5,300 | ~₹4,70,000 |
| Suite | USD 8,000 | ~₹7,10,000 |
| Presidential Suite | USD 13,600 | ~₹12,06,000 |
Indian Panorama / Indian Splendour / Heritage of India (6 Nights / 7 Days — Full-Length Routes)
| Cabin Category | USD Per Person | Approx INR (twin share) |
| Deluxe Cabin | USD 7,800 – 8,400 | ~₹6,92,000 – ₹7,45,000 |
| Junior Suite | USD 10,000 – 10,700 | ~₹8,87,000 – ₹9,49,000 |
| Suite | USD 14,500 – 15,600 | ~₹12,86,000 – ₹13,83,000 |
| Presidential Suite | USD 25,000 – 26,800 | ~₹22,17,000 – ₹23,77,000 |
Special occasion supplement: USD 500 per person for Signature Journeys and special dates such as New Year and Christmas.
INR tariff note: Indian residents pay in INR at rates set by IRCTC. INR tariff is subject to revision every 2 months based on USD exchange rate fluctuation. For current INR fares, contact an authorised Maharajas’ Express booking agent or visit the-maharajas.com.
Exchange rate used for INR approximations: approximately ₹88.7 per USD (Sept 2025 rate); actual INR amounts at time of booking will reflect the current exchange rate.
What’s Included in the Maharajas’ Express Fare
The price is genuinely all-inclusive in a way that very few luxury travel products are. Included in every cabin category:
- Accommodation in air-conditioned cabins with en-suite attached bathrooms
- All meals throughout the journey (breakfast, lunch, high tea, dinner — all served in the onboard restaurants)
- Soft beverages, tea, coffee, and mineral water throughout
- House brands of Indian wines, beer, and spirits (in the onboard bar and restaurants)
- Butler service (Suite and Presidential Suite guests additionally receive dedicated personal butler)
- Guided off-train excursions at all destinations on the itinerary — including entrance fees to palaces, forts, museums, and parks
- Still camera fees at all destinations covered
- Transportation during all sightseeing (Deluxe Cabin and Junior Suite guests travel in deluxe coaches; Suite and Presidential Suite guests receive private vehicles with personal guides)
- English-speaking guide throughout the journey
- Porterage at stations
- Paramedic services on-board
- Two private vehicle transfers in Delhi
Not included: Optional tours beyond the standard itinerary; insurance; gratuities; telephone calls; laundry; professional video camera fees; non-house-pour alcoholic beverages; international flights; pre/post-tour accommodation; arrival and departure transfers (unless specifically stated).
Maharajas’ Express — Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Operated By | IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) |
| Official Website | the-maharajas.com (official booking portal) |
| Launched | 2010 |
| Awards | World’s Leading Luxury Train — World Travel Awards (7 consecutive years) |
| Capacity | 82 passengers maximum |
| Cabins | 14 carriages: Deluxe Cabins, Junior Suites, Suites, Presidential Suite (1 full carriage) |
| Operating Season | October to April (cooler months) |
| Base City | Delhi (most journeys originate and often terminate here) |
| Starting Fare | USD 4,900 per person (twin share) + 5% GST |
| Presidential Suite Max | USD 26,800 per person (twin share) + 5% GST |
| Child (below 5 years) | Free (twin bed sharing with parents, subject to availability) |
| Child (5–12 years) | 50% of adult fare (sharing cabin with 2 full-paid adults, twin bed sharing) |
| Presidential Suite (3rd/4th guest) | 50% reduction in tariff |
The Four Journeys
1. The Heritage of India (7 Nights / 8 Days)
Route: Delhi → Agra → Ranthambore → Jaipur → Bikaner → Jodhpur → Udaipur → Mumbai
Distance: ~2,771 km — the most comprehensive journey, covering the Golden Triangle cities plus Rajasthan in its full depth before ending in Mumbai.
Highlights: Taj Mahal at Agra, Ranthambore National Park tiger safari, Jaipur’s City Palace and Amber Fort, Bikaner’s Junagarh Fort, Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort, Udaipur’s City Palace and lake palaces.
Fare (Deluxe Cabin per person, twin share): USD 8,800 (approximate) + 5% GST
2. The Indian Panorama (7 Nights / 8 Days)
Route: Delhi → Jaipur → Ranthambore → Fatehpur Sikri → Agra → Orchha → Khajuraho → Varanasi → Delhi
Distance: ~2,309 km — a journey eastward from the Rajasthan circuit into Madhya Pradesh and UP’s spiritual heartland.
Highlights: Jaipur’s heritage, Ranthambore tiger safari, Fatehpur Sikri’s Mughal ruins, Taj Mahal, Orchha’s medieval temples, Khajuraho’s UNESCO temple complex, Varanasi’s Ganga Aarti and Sarnath.
Fare (Deluxe Cabin): USD 7,900 (approximate) + 5% GST
3. The Indian Splendour (6 Nights / 7 Days)
Route: Mumbai → Udaipur → Jodhpur → Bikaner → Jaipur → Ranthambore → Agra → Delhi (reverse of Heritage of India, Mumbai to Delhi direction)
Distance: Similar to Heritage of India in reverse
Highlights: Same destinations as Heritage of India in reverse sequence
Fare (Deluxe Cabin): USD 8,400 (approximate) + 5% GST
4. The Treasures of India (3 Nights / 4 Days — Shortest)
Route: Delhi → Agra → Ranthambore → Jaipur → Delhi
Distance: ~860 km — the Golden Triangle circuit plus Ranthambore
Highlights: Taj Mahal, Ranthambore tiger safari, Jaipur’s major heritage sites
Fare (Deluxe Cabin): USD 4,900 per person + 5% GST
2N/3D variant: A shorter version allows deboarding at Jaipur after Jaipur sightseeing, at a 12% reduction from the published tariff.
Cabin Categories — What You’re Buying
Deluxe Cabin (Entry Level)
Still luxurious by any standard. Twin or double bed with a large picture window, air conditioning, and an en-suite bathroom. The cabin size is comparable to a boutique hotel room — not cramped despite being on a train. All meals in the restaurant dining cars. Sightseeing in shared deluxe coaches.
Junior Suite
Larger than the Deluxe Cabin with a dedicated sitting area. Marginally more space and upgraded furnishings. Same dining and sightseeing arrangements as Deluxe.
Suite
A significantly larger space with a proper living area, upgraded bathroom fittings, and dedicated butler service. Private vehicle and personal guide at all destinations rather than the shared coach arrangement.
Presidential Suite (One Full Carriage)
The Presidential Suite occupies an entire train carriage — the only suite of its kind in any train product currently operating in India. It includes:
- A master bedroom with a king-size bed
- A living room with full seating
- A full bathroom with a bathtub (extremely unusual in any train product)
- Dedicated full-time butler
- Private vehicle and personal guide at every destination
- Exclusive Jeep at Ranthambore National Park for the tiger safari (subject to forest department confirmation)
The Presidential Suite can accommodate up to 4 guests — the 3rd and 4th guests pay 50% of the published tariff. For larger family groups, this makes the per-person cost materially lower than the headline figure.
Operating Season 2026–27
The Maharajas’ Express operates between October and April annually — the cooler months when North India’s climate is suitable for long-distance travel and sightseeing.
2026–27 season: Departures are scheduled from October 2026 through April 2027. INR tariff is subject to revision every 2 months from May 2026. For current departure dates, contact authorised booking agents or the-maharajas.com.
How to Book Maharajas’ Express
Official operator: IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation)
Official booking website: the-maharajas.com — maintained by IRCTC for this train
Authorised booking agents in India and internationally: Travelogy India (travelogyindia.com), Orient Rail Journeys (orientrailjourneys.com), Royal Indian Trains (royalindiantrains.com), and others listed on the IRCTC portal
Booking process:
- Choose journey (Heritage / Panorama / Splendour / Treasures), date, and cabin category
- Provide names, genders, nationalities, and dates of birth of all passengers (passport details required)
- Pay 30% deposit at booking
- Balance due 70 days before departure (100% payment required for bookings made within 70 days of departure)
- E-travel documents issued after receipt of passport copies and reservation form
- Final documentation emailed 14 days before departure
Currency: Fares published in USD; Indians pay in INR equivalent. GST at 5% charged extra.
Advance booking strongly recommended: Presidential Suite and Suite categories sell out months in advance for peak season departures. Deluxe Cabin can sell out 2 to 3 months ahead for popular departure dates.
Cancellation Policy
| Timing | Cancellation Charge |
| More than 90 days before departure | 10% of full fare |
| 60–90 days before departure | 20% of full fare |
| 30–60 days before departure | 25% of full fare |
| 15–30 days before departure | 50% of full fare |
| Less than 15 days before departure | 100% (no refund) |
| No-show | No refund |
Force majeure (natural disasters, unforeseen events): No refund; alternate dates may be offered.
The On-Board Experience
The Maharajas’ Express is designed to replicate the experience of travelling as Indian royalty did in the mid-20th century — when the maharajas of the princely states maintained personal saloon coaches attached to regular trains and moved between their palaces in considerable style.
Dining: Two restaurant carriages — Mayur Mahal and Rang Mahal — serve meals under the guidance of trained chefs. Menus alternate between Indian and Continental, with regional dishes introduced at relevant points on the journey (Rajasthani dal baati in Jaipur, Hyderabadi biryani if the route includes relevant stops). Food quality and presentation are consistently the most-praised aspect of the journey in published reviews.
The Safari Bar: A lounge carriage serving house-pour wines, spirits, and beer continuously throughout the day. This is the social hub of the train — where passengers gather between destinations. The bar has large windows for landscape viewing.
Concierge: A tour manager travels with the train throughout the journey, managing all logistics, briefing guests on upcoming destinations, and coordinating with local guides at each stop.
On-board entertainment: Evening cultural performances are staged at select stops — local musicians, dancers, and folk performers board the train or receive passengers at relevant heritage locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the Maharaja Express ticket price in 2026?
Starting at USD 4,900 per person (twin share) for the 3-night Treasures of India in a Deluxe Cabin + 5% GST. Seven-night journeys start at USD 7,800–8,800 (Deluxe Cabin) to USD 25,000–26,800 (Presidential Suite) per person + 5% GST. Indians pay in INR equivalent.
Q2. What is included in the Maharajas’ Express fare?
All accommodation, all meals, soft beverages and house-brand alcohol, butler service, guided sightseeing with entrance fees covered, transport at all destinations, English-speaking guide throughout, and porterage. Not included: gratuities, laundry, telephone, flights, optional tours.
Q3. How long is the Maharajas’ Express journey?
The shortest journey (Treasures of India) is 3 nights / 4 days. The longest journeys (Heritage of India, Indian Panorama, Indian Splendour) are 7 nights / 8 days.
Q4. When does the Maharajas’ Express operate?
October to April annually (cooler North Indian months). The 2026–27 season runs from October 2026. Book 3 to 6 months in advance for premium cabins on peak dates.
Q5. How do I book the Maharajas’ Express?
Through the official IRCTC portal at the-maharajas.com or through authorised booking agents. A 30% deposit confirms the booking; balance is due 70 days before departure.
