Top Asian Train Journeys
The sumptuous landscapes of Asia are best viewed at leisure
, without fuss or stress. That makes top Asian rail journeys the ideal mode of transport to the glittering East, the jewel in the crown of the world. Here are the top 5 Asian Rail journeys.
1. Beijing to Moscow
The Silk Road tour uses two first-class trains - the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express and the Shangri-La Express - to follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo along one of the world's oldest and most historic trade routes, through China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Russia. The great caravan road linking the kings of Europe with the luxuries of Asia is preserved to a remarkable degree. This two-train tour is probably one of the most exotic in the world, transporting you to a place very few Western travellers have ventured.
2. New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling
The Indian railways that contrive by endless curlicues to reach the hill stations are all splendid journeys, but the finest on a clear day has to be the "Toy Train" to Darjeeling, once the summer retreat for Calcutta. The views over the Himalayas and of the world's third highest peak of Kanchenjunga are stupendous. The railway is now a World Heritage Site and efforts are being made to retain steam traction and the railway's character.
3. Calcutta to Amritsar
Travelling on a network that carries a staggering 10 million people every day, this incredible rail journey travels from vibrant Calcutta on the Bay of Bengal to the heights of the Himalayas and then on to the Pakistan border. Passengers get to encounter pilgrims travelling to some of the holiest of places in India, whilst passing through the wonderfully contrasting scenery of northern India.
Stops of interest include: Calcutta, India's intellectual capital and a region rich in colonial architecture - and Varanasi, where passengers get to witness the awe-inspiring sight of Hindu devotees purifying themselves in the sacred waters of the Ganges. Not to mention the fabled Taj Mahal in Agra and the preserved 'ghost city' of Fatehpur Sikri.
From the thriving metropolis of Delhi the train journeys into the mighty Himalayas to the hill station of Shimla. Descending from the mountains the journey concludes in the city of Amritsar, which owes its existence to the renowned Golden temple - the holiest of Sikh shrines.
4. The Deccan Odyssey
Featured in National Geographic Traveller and Outside Magazine, the "Palace on Wheels of Maharashtra" leads guests through timeless cultures of the kingdom of the Marathas. Itinerary includes the heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora, the handicraft village of Shilpa Gram, the Sula Winery at Nashik, the bustling cities of Mumbai and Pune, and more. Space in the carriages is generous with only eight passengers per coach and four in the two Presidential cars, and every suite has TV and phone connections.
5. Palace on Wheels
From India's mesmerising "Pink City" of Jaipur, to the tigers at Sawai Madhopur, to Agra and the breathtaking Taj Mahal, the antique splendour of Rajasthan enchants those fortunate enough to book passage aboard the opulent Palace on Wheels. Described as "one of the world's ten great rail journeys," the eight-day excursion journeys from Delhi to Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur, also taking in the Taj Mahal at Agra and the tiger sanctuary at Ranthambore National Park.
Refurbished in 1995, the fully air-conditioned deluxe coaches offer 56 polished wood-panelled twin or double-bed cabins. Two restaurants cars - the Maharaja and the Maharani - offer traditional Rajasthani, Indian, continental and Chinese cuisine. A separate lounge attached at the end of each coach provides passengers with stunning views of the Indian countryside.
by: Sue Johnson
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