Travel on the Historic Fairy Queen Train

India's historic Fairy Queen train has the oldest working engine in the world. It was built by a British firm and acquired by Eastern Indian Railways in 1855. Interestingly, it was an exhibit at the National Rail Museum in Delhi for many years, before being restored and made operational again 1997. In 1999, it won a National Tourism Award for the most innovative and unique tourism project.

The train's journey combines heritage with wildlife on a trip to Alwar and the Sariska Tiger Reserve, in the Rajasthan desert.

The Fairy Queen's steam engine hauls a single air conditioned carriage, which seats up to 60 people. The carriage has a large glass window at the front for viewing the locomotive, and a scenic observation lounge that provides excellent views of the countryside. It's also equipped with a pantry car for on board catering.

The Fairy Queen train runs from Delhi to Alwar, with shorts stops at stations along the way to refill with water for making steam. The trip is for one night/two days. Upon arrival at Alwar, passengers are taken to Sariska National Park for a stay at the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation's Tiger Den economy hotel. There's a cultural program and theme dinner at the hotel in the night, and jeep safari through Sariska National Park early the next morning.

The Fairy Queen train operates from October to March each year. It usually departs twice a month, on the second and fourth Saturdays. The train leaves from Delhi Cantonment railway station at 9 a.m. and reaches Alwar at 3 p.m. On the return journey, it leaves Alwar the following day at 1 p.m. and arrives back in Delhi at 6.45 p.m.

There are a number of different options for travel, and you don't have to return to Delhi or stay at Sariska National Park.

• The full package of a return train journey, sightseeing and a stay at Sariska costs 10,200 rupees ($230) for adults and 5,100 rupees ($115) for children.
• A one way train trip from Delhi to Alwar, sightseeing and a stay at Sariska costs 7,100 rupees ($160) for adults and 3,050 rupees ($69) for children.
• A one way train trip from Delhi to Alwar, without any extras, costs 3,200 rupees ($72) for adults and 1,600 rupees ($36) for children.

Entrance fees for Sariska are additional.

You can make a reservation for travel on the Fairy Queen by visiting the Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation's Rail Tourism website or at the National Rail Museum and International Tourist Bureau situated at New Delhi Railway Station.

More information is available on the Rail Tourism website.

It can be very cold in the morning, and as the safari takes place in open top jeeps, do make sure you bring plenty of warm clothing.