Luxury aficionados may soon have one more amazing experience once in the coaches of the Palace on Wheels, one of the finest luxury trains in India. They may get a chance to relish special meals at theme-based vintage hotels as there is a proposal of making them on the original coaches.
As per the new proposal by the heritage wing of the Railways to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, vintage hotels-cum-restaurants would be constructed in the train coaches, amidst the atmosphere of an old station. This is going to help in promoting two things at a time- sustaining the heritage of the luxury train and tapping its complete potential for making revenue.
One of the senior Railway Ministry officials said, “We have sent the vintage hotel proposal to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for consideration. Each vintage hotel will have two to three coaches and would cost an estimated INR 16 crore.”
In the present times, seven of the original nine coaches of Palace on Wheels are housed in the National Rail Museum. These were the original coaches used by the erstwhile Maharajas of India.
The official further states that these original coaches can be renovated and then changed into vintage hotel-cum-restaurants and after this, they can be positioned at appropriate locations. These locations can be anywhere- an important inbound tourist destination or a site that is easily accessible by road from an important destination.
Along with this, cities like Jaipur which are known for their heritage and culture, can be the perfect places for such hotels. These hotels can be termed as ‘vintage hotels’ and can be a popular getaway for domestic tourists.