Adding to its string of impressive awards, The Maharajas’ Express, the world’s most luxurious train owned and operated by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), received the 2016 Seven Star Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Award at Marbella in Spain yesterday.
The award for the highly decorated train was received by IRCTC Chairman and Managing Director Dr A K Manocha in the ‘Seven Star Experience Sector’.
As part of the award, Maharajas’ Express was presented the “Signum Virtutis”, the seal of Excellence, from the Seven Star Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Awards at an impressive function held at the Villa Padierna Hotel in Marbella.
“I am absolutely thrilled to receive the prestigious award for the Maharajas’ Express which boasts of incredible grandeur, top rate cuisines and unmatched hospitality. It is also a testament to the international appeal of the train, which offers to its valued guests an experiential journey into the bygone era of imperial India,” Dr Manocha said.
The 23-coach Maharajas’ Express currently runs on five routes with choices of 7 Nights/8 Days and 3 Nights/4 Days itineraries. The itineraries cover destinations like Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Balasinor, Ajanta, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Varanasi and Lucknow.
The train, which began its inaugural journey in 2010, is a winner of the coveted Leading Luxury Train of the World Award for four years on the trot, and is in the league of leading luxury trains of the world, including the Royal Scotsman and the Eastern and Oriental Express. It is also a notch higher in several aspects — the menus, the cabin experience, the excursions and the events organised for guests. The train has state of the art features with in-room temperature control, on-board water filtration plant, spacious cabin sizes, two bar-cum-lounges, two restaurants and an on-board team to cater to expectations of guests from across the world.