Detour

FLIGHTS OF FANCY Want a taste of the Land of Kings but don't have much time to travel? Rajasthan's tourism authority proposes a solution that brings a new meaning to the phrase "whirlwind tour." Forget the stylish Palace on Wheels, India's grande dame of steam trains and the most romantic way to chug through the desert state. Due to launch this year, the latest plan to pry open travelers' wallets aspires to a whole new level of decadence. The idea: a supremely luxurious seven-day flit through history. They call it the Palace on Air.

The chariot will be a converted Boeing plane, but that's where all resemblance to conventional travel ends. The adventure begins on a faintly ludicrous note in New Delhi, where, at a breakfast ceremony, tourists will shed their identities and take on those of Rajput royalty. "We are going to crown them as maharajas or maharanis to give them a feel of the olden-day ceremonies," explains Leena Srivastava, director of tourism at IDMI, the firm that's bringing the concept to life. The newly appointed monarchs will then board their appropriately splendid carriage. "The interior of the aircraft will be like a palace," gushes Srivastava. Imagine opulent lounges lined with carpets, hovering attendants behind heavy, velvet curtains. "We're going to make it more comfortable, more luxurious, more ... palatial."

No sooner will pampered feet touch tarmac in each of the six itinerary cities—Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer and Bikaner—than they will be whisked away by limousine complete with a liveried chauffeur and a guide. Turbaned hosts will welcome guests to their former-palace hotels, where, over traditionally themed dinners, they will be entertained by parading elephants, dancing girls and cross-legged musicians. "We're offering tourists the chance to experience the life of royalty," explains Srivastava. At a cost of $3,000 per person, however, you might prefer to remain a subject. For more information on the regal option, call the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corp. at (91-141) 2203425/2203531.

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