Maharajas' Express

The Maharajas' Express

View recent photos of the Maharajas' Express.

The RIRTL Maharajas' Express is a dream train journey like no other, through a land like no other. Imagine living aboard the most luxurious train in the world, experiencing India as if being transported back in time, with modern amenities at your fingertips.

India and its Maharajas have been fascinated with steam engines and trains for centuries. The Maharajas' Express journeys take the legacy of royal travel to new heights. Attention to detail, design and comfort is evident throughout. Beyond decor, modern amenities include individual temperature controls in each cabin, LCD televisions, DVD players, direct dial telephone and internet, and next generation environmentally friendly washrooms.

Our royal lineage stretches back more than 250 years, enabling us to create signature experiences that reach deep into the heart of India. At every turn, this brand new train journey offers you the opportunity travel through India in a style and grace like never before. Celebrity chefs, guest lecturers and other India luminaries will accompany passengers on the Maharaja's Express.

Guest Speaker Departures

What could make a journey aboard the most luxurious train in the world even more memorable? Sharing your adventure with people that have vast experience and a life-long passion for India is certain to make these Maharajas' Express journeys unforgettable. 

October 28, 2010, Dr. DS Chavda, internationally acclaimed naturalist and conservation expert, will give a series of talks aboard the Classical India Journey, Delhi to Kolkata.

November 14, 2010, Dr. Amin Jaffer, International Director of Asian Art at Christies, will be the guest lecturer aboard the Royal India journey, Delhi to Mumbai.

December 15, 2010, Michael Portillo, politician, writer and respected broadcast journalist, will give two talks on the Celestial India journey from Kolkata to Delhi.

December 29, 2010, award-winning BBC journalist, broadcaster and documentarian John Sergeant will accompany guests aboard the Princely India journey, from Kolkata to Delhi.

February 17, 2011, celebrated chef Vivek Singh will be a guest lecturer on the Classical India journey, from Delhi to Kolkata.

March 16, 2011, multi-award winning journalist and broadcaster Michael Buerk will be the special guest lecturer on the Royal India journey, Delhi to Mumbai.

April 6, 2011, renowned media personality, author and broadcaster Sir Mark Tully will be aboard the Royal India journey, Delhi to Mumbai.

Maharajas' Express 2011 departures

Maharajas' Express train images

Guest Lecturer: Media Personality Sir Mark Tully

The "Royal India" Journey on the Maharajas' Express from Delhi to Mumbai in April, 2011 will be accompanied by a very distinguished writer and broadcaster, Sir Mark Tully, who will offer his expert insights on Indian history and culture during a series of talks en route.

Sir Mark Tully, a renowned media personality and writer born in Calcutta, India, was the Chief of Bureau, BBC New Delhi for 22 years. Whether it was dodging the bullets on the India-Pakistan border, describing the poverty of Calcutta's street beggars, or detailing the aftermath of the Bhopal chemical disaster, he gave a unique insight into the life of the subcontinent. 

Still based in Delhi, he works as a freelance writer and broadcaster. His books include "No Full Stops in India," "Heart of India," "India in Slow Motion" and "India's Unending Journey." He was made an Officer of The Order of the British Empire in 1985 and was awarded the Padma Shree in 1992, a rare distinction for a non-Indian. He was knighted in the 2002 New Year Honors.

This tour departs on April 6, 2011 from the US.

Guest Lecturer: Broadcast Journalist Michael Buerk

Maharajas' Express is delighted to announce Michael Buerk, a multi-award winning journalist and broadcaster as our special guest lecturer on the "Royal India" journey from Delhi to Mumbai. The tour departs the US on March 16, 2011.

Michael Buerk is a notable British journalist who has won many international awards and is famous for his coverage of the Ethiopian famine for BBC news which alerted the world to the extent of the tragedy. 

He has won many awards, such as "Television Journalist of the Year" by the Royal Television, "Golden Nymph" at the Monte Carlo Film, the United States' "National Headliner" and "George Polk." Mr. Buerk has chaired, presented and contributed to countless television and radio programs.

Guest Lecturer: Chef Vivek Singh

Celebrated chef Vivek Singh will join the Maharajas' Express as guest lecturer on the February 2011, "Classical India" journey. He is the CEO and Chief Executive Chef of the Cinnamon Club, London. He is a familiar face on UK television with regular appearances on BBC's "Saturday Kitchen" and UKTV "Food's Market Kitchen."

Vivek opened Cinnamon Club in UK in 2001, winning many awards and establishing Cinnamon Club as one of the most famous Indian restaurants in the world.

His career includes work with The Oberoi Group of Hotels as a specialist in Indian cuisine — fast-tracked to become the chef of the Oberoi's flagship — Rajvilas in Jaipur at the age of 26.

Vivek is widely believed to be one of the most articulate Indian chefs of his generation, and goes "beyond authentic" with perceived boundaries of Indian food. He has written four books, his most recent book titled "Curry: Classic and Contemporary."

This tour departs February 17, 2011 from the US.

Guest Lecturer: Documentarian John Sergeant

A special departure of Maharajas' Express "Princely India" train journey will be accompanied by award-winning journalist and broadcaster John Sergeant. He will give talks on the train and be available for more informal discussion during the trip. 

John Sergeant joined the BBC as a radio reporter in 1970, covering news in over 25 countries. He then worked as a war reporter in Vietnam and Israel, and as political correspondent starting in 1981. He worked on a documentary called "The Europe We Joined" and has hosted BBC Radio 4 shows. Mr. Sargent was the BBC's Chief Political Correspondent from 1992 until 2000.

After retirement from political journalism, Sergeant's appearances on programs such as "Have I Got News For You" have made him a sought-after participant in television comedy and satire shows.

Sergeant has recently produced a number of documentaries, including a new two-part documentary about Indian railways "On the Tracks of Empire."

This tour departs December 29, 2011 from the US.

Guest Lecturer: Broadcast Journalist Michael Portillo

The Maharajas’ Express, has announced a special departure of its "Celestial India" journey in December 2010 accompanied by respected British journalist, speaker, broadcaster and politician Michael Portillo. He will give two talks during the trip and will be available for more informal discussion throughout the train journey.

Cambridge graduate Michael Portillo worked for the Conservative Party and for government ministers before entering the House of Commons in 1984. He was a minister for 11 years and had three positions in the Cabinet, including Secretary of State for Defense. He lost his seat at the 1997 election, and began to develop a career in the media. He returned to the Commons between 2000 and 2005 as shadow Chancellor.

Since leaving politics, Mr. Portillo has devoted himself to writing and broadcasting. He is a regular on both BBC1’s "This Week" and Radio 4’s "Moral Maze." He has made documentaries on subjects as diverse as Richard Wagner and Great British Railway Journeys, and has chaired the Man Booker Prize.

This trip departs December 15, 2010 from the US.

Guest Lecturer: Wildlife Conservationist Dr. DS Chavda

Internationally acclaimed naturalist and conservation expert Dr. Divyabhanusinh Chavda will give a series of talks aboard the Maharajas' Express "Classical India" journey, which departs the US on October 28, 2010.

Dr. Chavda is the President of World Wide Fund for Nature, India (formerly the World Wildlife Fund), a member of the Cat Specialist Group, and the National Board for Wildlife — the highest advisory body of the government of India for conservation of flora and fauna. He studied at the University of London, and is well-known throughout the world for his work on the history of lions in Asia. Dr. Chavda is also the resource person for the Harvard Museum of National History, and World Monuments Fund among others.

New guest lecturer announced: Dr. Amin Jaffer, Royal India journey, fall 2010.

Dr. Amin Jaffer Joins Maharajas' Express as guest lecturer on its Royal India journey November 14, 2010, Delhi to Mumbai.

Dr. Jaffer is International Director of Asian Art at Christie's and holds a particular responsibility for developing Christie's brand and business in India and among Indians globally. He specializes in Indian art in the age of European influence. For thirteen years as a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Jaffer authored Furniture from British India and Ceylon (V&A, 2001), Luxury Goods from India (V&A, 2002) and Made for Maharajas: a design diary of Princely India (2006).

Jaffer was co-curator of the V&A's blockbuster 2004 exhibition Encounters: the meeting of Asia and Europe, 1500-1800, which explored the artistic and cultural encounter between Europe and Asia following the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama in 1498. He initiated and was external curator for the V&A 2009 exhibition Maharaja: the Splendour of India's Royal Courts, and co-editor of the accompanying book.

He lectures frequently in Europe, America and India and contributes regularly to journals and major newspapers. 

Maharajas' Express: Royal India journey details on coxandkingsusa.com.

Maharajas' Express train photos

New photos of the Maharajas' Express

The Maharajas' Express is as beautiful as we imagined it would be! We invite you visit the photo gallery we've created featuring recent photos taken of this extraordinary luxury train from recent journeys through India.

Celebrated Chef Vivek Singh accompanies travelers on the Maharajas' Express.

In addition to Mark Tully, Chef Vivek Singh will join be aboard a Maharajas' Express journey.

Current schedule of featured special guest speaker departures:

March 6, 2010 — Princely India — Mumbai to Delhi
Chef Vivek Singh, the CEO and the Chief Executive Chef of Cinnamon Club, London. (see bio below)

March 20, 2010 — Celestial India — Kolkata to Delhi
Mark Tully, author of multiple books and BBC India correspondent for 22 years (view bio)

Chef Vivek Singh

March 6, 2010 — Princely India — Mumbai to Delhi

Chef Vivek Singh is a familiar face on UK television with regular appearances on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and UKTV Food’s Market Kitchen. He opened Cinnamon Club in UK in 2001, now one of the most famous Indian restaurants in the world. His illustrious career includes work at one of India's most well known hotel chains, The Oberoi Group. He served as a specialist in Indian cuisine, quickly advancing to become the Indian Chef at the Oberoi's flagship, Rajvilas in Jaipur, at the age of 26.

He is known for pushing the perceived boundaries with Indian food — looking 'beyond authentic'. Vivek is widely believed to be one of the most articulate Indian Chefs of his generation. He has written 4 books and his most recent book is titled Curry – Classic and Contemporary.

Sir Mark Tully is set to accompany travelers on the Maharajas' Express: 'Celestial India' journey

Special guest speaker departure begins on March 20, 2010.

The 11-night Maharajas' Express 'Celestial India' train journey departs Calcutta on March 20, 2010 and includes 7 nights aboard the luxurious Maharajas' Express. Distinguished writer and broadcaster, Sir Mark Tully, will be aboard, offering his expert insights on Indian history and culture during a series of talks en route. Sir Mark Tully was the Chief of Bureau, BBC, New Delhi for 22 years. 

The son of an accountant, Sir Tully was brought up by a strict European nanny in Calcutta and did not come to Britain until he was ten. He was educated at Marlborough College and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge University, where he studied History and Theology. 

He joined the BBC and quickly became India Correspondent in 1964. Whether it was dodging the bullets on the India-Pakistan border, describing the poverty of Calcutta's street beggars or detailing the horrific aftermath of the Bhopal chemical disaster, he gave a unique insight into the life of the subcontinent.

Sir Mark left the BBC in 1997 and now, still based in Delhi, he works as a freelance writer and broadcaster. His books include No Full Stops in India, Heart of India, India in Slow Motion and India's Unending Journey. He was made an Officer of The Order of the British Empire in 1985 and was awarded the Padma Shree in 1992, a rare distinction for a non-Indian. He was knighted in 2002.