The Royal Orient, brainchild of the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat and the Indian Railways, is a thirteen-saloon air-conditioned train with vestibule facilities. It runs through the exotic states of Gujarat and Rajasthan, opening vistas of history and splendor to those who board it. Each saloon boasts four large comfortable coupes with adjoining washroom facilities and a lounge fitted with a television and video recorder. A liveried attendant is on call throughout the day and night and service is accompanied by a warm smile. Broad beds (only the lower bunks are used, two to a couple), with adequate storage facilities, welcome you to the cabin. Running hot and cold water ensures a refreshing bath at the end of a day of sight seeing.

The itinerary is conveniently drawn up; one can travel through the night and take in the sights during the day. The food en route is cordon bleu and the helpings a glutton's delight. Specially trained chefs toss up exotic oriental and European cuisine, varying the menu with each meal to ensure that no dish is repeated during the trip. Meals are served in two rather natty dining cars, the Sasan Gir and the Velavadar. The former, with mud-plastered paneling studded with pieces of embedded colored glass, recreates a rural ambiance as you savour your chicken Mughlai and vegetable biryani. One also the option of consuming the Almond Soup and Fish Florentine in the more staid surroundings of a Raj gymkhana dining saloon in the other dining car.

The journey covers three major locations in Rajasthan - Chittaurgarh, Udaipur and Jaipur. The 7th century Fort at Chittaurgarh, sprawling over seven hundred acres, is redolent with history as is the Rana Kumbha Palace and the romance ridden Zenana Mahal where the invader Ala-ud-din Khilji glimpsed the beautiful princess Padmini with gory consequences. The picturesque city of Udaipur and the tourist haven of Jaipur offer great photo opportunities at the Ranakpur Jain Temple, the Amer Fort, the Hawa Mahal and the City Palace.

Enter Gujarat however, and one is given a glimpse into the little traversed but immensely awe-inspiring beauty of this unique state. The beautiful Sun Temple at Modhera, built in the 11th century, is an architectural wonder, with a beautiful tank in its front yard. The breathtaking Rani-ki-Vav nearby, a step-well built by the aesthetically inclined Solanki rulers in the 11th century, has some delicately executed sculptures of deities and their attendants. The impression that these celestial figures might at any moment come to life stays with one, even after leaving the site for the coach journey back to the Royal Orient.

Sultan Ahmed Shah founded the city of Ahmedabad in 1411. Unlike any other city in the country, Ahmedabad boasts of a cross section of the finest architectural heritage within its city limits, from Indo-Saracenic to Muslim to le Corbusier and Louis Kahn. The serene ambiance of the Gandhi Ashram where the Father of the Nation commenced his final struggle for the country's independence and the aesthetically displayed collection of precious textiles at the Calico Museum make this stop of the tour very special.

No journey into Gujarat is complete without stopping to view its rich wild life. The sole habitat of the Asian lion makes the trip to the Gir Forest filled with adventure while for those craving for sun and sand, the evening spent at Ahmedpur Mandvi proves supremely satisfying. To throw in a rich dose of piety on a journey of leisure is indeed a bonus. Few visitors to the 863 Jain Temples snuggling at the peak of the Shatrunjaya Hills at Palitana can return without a touch of divinity within them. A mind-boggling 3572 steps lead one to near nirvana, an effort worth the making.

The trip aboard the Royal Orient ends at Jaipur after seven delightful days of exploring some of the most beautiful and vibrant parts of India.