There's a brand-new train running on India's commuter railway, but it's a little more lavish than the LIRR or New Jersey Transit.
The Maharajas' Express has two restaurants - decked out in vibrant, gorgeous colors, like the swankiest Indian restaurant - as well as two bar cars and staffers with five-star service skills. There are also deluxe cabins, complete with private bathrooms and showers, since this train runs overnight. In fact, travelers step on board for seven days for a journey through the Indian countryside that's much like a cruise with wheels.

The Maharajas' Express offers a week-long trip through Rajasthan's greatest hits (plus some nearby unmissables like the Taj Mahal), with stops in Delhi and Mumbai.
At every station stop, red carpets roll out along the platforms and local musicians serenade the lush train's arrival.
One day it's Jaipur, the gem hub of India, with its booming jewelry industry and stores selling bargain-priced, topnotch gems; another day is spent exploring Udaipur, the so-called Venice of the East - dotted with watery oases (a little parched at the end of the dry season) and with a live-in royal family.
Yet another day is dedicated to Jodhpur, called the blue city, its houses covered in indigo paint to repel mosquitoes, making the skyline shimmer like a rough-cut sapphire. A century ago, the horse-mad maharajah here invented the billowy pants named after his hometown. No wonder Madonna passed through and spent time driving around the countryside (apparently, she asked her hotel staff why no one could clear away all the cows that blocked her path - maybe Madge missed the kabbalah class on their holy history here).
Such a jam-packed itinerary underscores the lure of train-cations: Indian sightseeing involves stressful travel between distant places on clogged, often pothole-riddled roads.
But a luxury train trip is like a cruise on land, scooting effortlessly between must-see sites while its guests sleep;by breakfast each day, a new city slides into view.