Maharajas Express Booking Process

While booking a tour on the world’s topmost luxury train, you’d want to be sure that such a large amount of money is going to the right place. Most of the passengers are from outside India, but the payment eventually goes to an India-based bank account. The train is owned and operated by a publicly traded government organisation – Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

You can check availability on the official website, the-maharajas.com, by selecting the ‘Book Now’ option. However, the availability shown there may not always be 100% accurate, so it’s best to confirm directly. Typically, discounts are not offered through the official site, so for better deals and personalized service, consider booking through us. At Royal Indian Trains, we have been specializing in Indian luxury train bookings since 1996—15 years before the Maharajas’ Express was even launched. As an official Preferred Sales Agent (PSA), we ensure a seamless booking experience. You can also find the full list of PSAs on the IRCTC website.

Steps for booking Maharajas Express Train journey:

• Start by exploring all Maharajas Express journeys to review available routes, travel dates, cabin categories and fare details. Once you’ve finalized your preferences, fill out the enquiry form or email us directly with your details for a seamless booking experience.
• Read full booking terms & conditions and ask as many questions as you want.
• In case you’re booking through an agent such as Royal Indian Trains, you can ask them for their agreement with IRCTC as their official sales agent. 
• In order to officially block the cabin, you will need to make a 30% advance deposit or pay a one-time full deposit in case you’re booking less than 70 days of the departure date.
• You will also need to share copies of your passports in order to block the cabin.
• Ask your agent for a passenger reservation form. It is a PDF document wherein the travel details need to be filled in by you and submitted ideally 70 days before the departure date.
• You may ask for a receipt as payment proof, but the official travel documents, including the ticket issued by IRCTC, are shared 15 days before the departure date.

Maharajas Express payment tips (From foreign to Indian bank accounts):

• Payment via certain credit cards such as Amex may provide you with insurance, but the booking agent may charge you 3-5% extra. You could rather pay via bank transfer
• While paying via credit card, you will have to inform your bank of a high-value transaction otherwise, it may fail as international transactions to India are often flagged.
• The product is priced in USD and in case you are making the payment in a separate currency such as GBP via your bank or credit card, you should keep a close eye on the exchange rates.
• You may need to visit the bank for a sign-off as the amount is high.
• Your bank may charge a certain amount for the transfer. You will need to imbibe that cost.
• Make the balance payment 70 days before the departure date. Otherwise, the train operator or agent has the right to withdraw the booking.
• The tariff is fixed in USD and varies each season. Train operators may also decide to suddenly increase the tariff, so it’s best to complete your payments on time.
• There is an INR tariff for Indian Nationals, but that varies quite frequently now due to the exchange rate and is not promoted on the websites. However, it’s available on request via mail/text.

Please note:

The Child policy can be confusing, and it’s easier if you have someone to speak with on the other side to review all the terms & conditions of the booking thoroughly. Any traveller who is under the age of 12 at the time of departure date is considered a child, and a different tariff policy is then applicable.

What’s the major difference between booking with a travel agent vs. directly with IRCTC on their official website?

• If you’re looking for a one-stop solution right from your airport pick-up, hotel bookings, any extension tours & the airport drop-off. It’s better to have an India travel specialist.
• It is highly likely that an agent will provide you with a special offer. (Note: Agents are not allowed to promote discounts on their website as per IRCTC guidelines unless there is an offer officially sanctioned by them.)
• IRCTC is a public organisation, they have specific working hours and strict processes. Certain private agencies will be available for you at more flexible hours. This is an advantage if there’s a major time difference and you’d like to connect on a call.

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