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While most rulers traveled in carriages or carriages, a visionary Indian Maharaja transformed a luxurious railway saloon into a mobile arena carrying royal luxury.
News18
Luxury travel is not a recent invention. More than 130 years ago, an Indian Maharaja had already taken it to extraordinary levels.
Meet Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda. Sayajirao was one of the most progressive rulers of his time, who championed education, social reform and modern infrastructure. But he also knew how to make an impression. Nothing reflects this better than his personal railway saloon.
Built in 1886 at the Parel workshops of the Bombay, Baroda and Central Indian Railway, the coach was much more than just a means of transport. It was a palace on wheels.
Inside were luxurious living quarters, elegant dining spaces, and richly furnished interiors designed to rival royal residences. But the most notable feature was not luxury.
It was the throne. Historical accounts indicate that the Maharaja used the bus as a travel playground. He met dignitaries, received guests, and handled official matters while on the move.
In the center, he was sitting on a throne-like seat from which he could receive visitors and conduct business. In effect, the train car became a mobile durbar.
Wherever the Maharaja traveled, his court traveled with him. Imagine riding a train and discovering that the King was holding court just a few rooms away. This is what made the salon legendary.
The bus was also a symbol of Sayajirao’s fascination with railways. During his rule, the Gaekwad Baroda State Railway expanded into one of the largest princely railway systems in India.
For the Maharaja, railways were not just a means of transportation. They were about power, progress and prestige. His royal salons became so important that a custom shed was built in Baroda to house them when not in use.
These were no ordinary railway coaches. They were common symbols of royal power. Today, one of the surviving Gaekwad saloons is preserved in the National Railway Museum in New Delhi.
It serves as a reminder of a wonderful era when royalty embraced modern technology without abandoning their royal grandeur. Long before billionaires had private jets or airline offices, an Indian Maharaja had already created something even more impressive. The throne room that ran on the railway tracks.
Delhi, India, India
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