Fairy Queen Train
Fairy Queen is the oldest running vintage steam locomotive in the world and was built in the year 1855 by the British firm Kinston, Thompson & Hewitson for the British firm East India Railways. This train has got only a first class chair car having 50 seats and a pantry car for on board catering. A Guinness Book of World Records holder and winner of the National Tourism Award, this pristine beauty rolled again on 1st February 1997 from Delhi, after a gap of 142 years.

A Memorable and Exciting Journey
Indian tourism department has tried its level best to present the tourist with a time of their life while travelling in Fairy Queen and the attractions that come with the tour package is certainly hard to resist. First stop is the picturesque town of Alwar in Rajasthan on the day when it departs from Delhi. After departing from Alwar the guests are taken to the Sariska Tiger Reserve for an over night stay. Accommodation provisions are done at the Heritage hotel Sariska Palace and for entertainment there are traditional cultural programmes and last but not the least Jeep Safari in the Tiger Sanctuary. Sounds interesting isn't it!

History of Fairy Queen in India
The petite engine worked from Howrah to Ranigunj (121 miles) on its maiden journey in 1885. Till 1908, it was a faithful servant to its masters, hauling trains, chugging distances, when it was considered for retirement. The years 1908 to 1971 were spent in oblivion, but it survived the ravages of time. In 1971, it became an exhibit of the National Rail Museum as many fossilised items do.

But, in its chequered history, destiny had written many great things. Life changed for the fairy queen dramatically in 1997 when after a complete over haul in Perambur Workshop of the Southern Railway, it panted back to life. It pulled its first tourist load on October 18, 1997, and graduated to the Guinness Book of Records as the World’s Oldest Working Locomotive in January 1998. It is wonderful to be part of history, to re-live the lost world. And what is precisely what one does on the Fairy Queen tours.

Down The Memory Lane
The queen was all gloss and shine. A bronze chimney was spewing out thick smoke from its crown into the air, which thinned to a misty vapour as the engine warmed. There was a metal windsock consisting of four cups fixed on a pole, for the wind to be playful. Steam gushed out in spurts from various crevices, until the driver decides to let it out in a rush. Some show of strength that can impress anyone around! The fairy queen in its effort of building up steam, had caged the power of vapour so studiously.

Finally, the journey starts with a sweet long whistle, then the train heaves and haws, and puffs, and coughs, and pants purposefully to Alwar, some 145-km away. It keeps on guzzling coal and water till it deposits the passengers in a medieval setting at Alwar

Fairy Queen Tour Attractions
The tour group then proceeds 13-km to a lake called Silserh. The place is in the back of beyond. Medieval stone water ducts make quiet a nice company on this route. Occasionally one or two regal peacock tails can be seen colouring the earth. Mud houses in a village, under the shadow of a cliff, children playing happily by the haystacks. A sharp turn later and the contours of a lake emerged.

Barren mountains bound the lake on all sides. To one corner stands a beautiful palace, its Chhatries (canopies) raising their proud heads to the sky. The expanse of water surrounds the three sides of the royal preserve. A circular structure of interest in the midst of the lake is the Raja’s bank playing stage.

A village at one end is a grim reminder of the Rani’s humble origin. Legend speaks that Vinaya Singh, the Raja of Alwar, once on a hunt fell madly in love with a girl of this village and expressed his desire to marry her. Not wanting to leave her old father, the bride wished to be close to her village. A palace for Rani Sheela was erected at one end of this lake from where she could see her father’s village every moment. So the Raja and Rani lived happily ever after.

Dusky Beauty
The Sun disappears behind Silserh mountains, when the tour continues towards Sariska, the Tiger den. Dusk does not fall in this region at once. It takes its own pleasant time to slowly express itself. Mountains start assuming queer and weird shapes; birds can be spotted flying homewards. It is time for evening fires. An unusually sharp pair of mountains en route, which are about 200 metres away from each other, is known as Natni Ka Bara (Natni, being the Nautch girl). It is believed that one Natni tied a rope between the cliffs and crossed the distance without experiencing fear of any kind. When the ecstatic crowd showed her the distance and told her the consequence of a fall from such a height, she collapsed of a heart attack.

Jeep Safari In Sariska
The morning after is the ‘Operation day of sighting the Tiger’. The entrance to Sariska, the home of Indian Tiger is 7.00 am. A time when the Sun starts spreading its forceful presence on men and animals below. Peacocks, to the plenty, inhabited the forest. The prettiest are the young ones. Blue bull families, can be seen swishing their tails or munching on a high bush. Spotted Deer can be seen lazing around, not at all in a mood to jump and hop away. While the Wild Boars seem quiet content with the company of the Sambhars in the morning hours.

While scouring the jungle pathways, ducking under low branches, from an open jeep to the right and left, if one hears a frightened call of a Spotted Deer that confirms the majestic presence of the Tiger and it’ll be sheer luck of the tourist to witness the ferocious beast chasing his breakfast. The thrills and pleasures of the wild are indeed more powerful in nature, than those of the civilised world.
 
City Palace Museum
A mere 37-kilometre drive back from Sariska take one to the City Palace Museum erected in 17th century by Maharaja Vinaya Singh. Though built high and grandiose, age has brought signs of decay. The durbar hall is still kept with its gold work intact, for use during ceremonial occasions. The most outstanding of exhibits is a group of 18th century Mughal Miniature Paintings, based on classical music Ragas. Each depicts the transformation of nature brought about when the raga is sung - the effect on clouds, wind, sky, human moods of that particular raga - so aptly that they singularly classify as a work beyond parallel.

The others are ancient, priceless manuscripts and the arms of the bygone era - a surprising presence are the swords of Emperor Akbar and Jehangir with their pictures engraved upon them. The Egyptians had presented a sword to Hazrat Ali 1400 years after the event, and the sword can be seen at Alwar, bird-shaped wooden barber kits are amusing. The most awesome is, however, the Zirahbakhtar (armour) of Muhammad Ghauri, the legendary invader. Each small iron piece of the woven armour has verses of the Quran inscribed upon it, perhaps for granting him protection.