I have a travel experience with India and I haven't even been there yet...

OK, I booked a cabin for travel on the Palace on Wheels train for the one week trip through Rajastan in December. I paid the 25% deposit up front in May and settled down to wait.

The agent (India Travel Holiday) emails me a few days ago and tells me that the Indian Tourist board has cancelled my reservation due to a large tour group coming in at that time. They offered to either change my dates or book a different tour during that time.

Now, when my vacation time was approved by work, I went ahead and booked my flights (non refundable). This trip also includes travel in Europe, so it is not very flexible. Also, my VISA expires shortly after the trip I had originally planned.

Now, the package they offered included a cabin in the Heritage on Wheels train and some other tours / hotels around the Rajastan area for the time I will be in India. In their defense, the itinerary the agency developed as a replacement looks very good. The hotels they have planned look to be absolutely top-notch, especially the one near the Taj Mahal. They are also trying (maybe) to get back my reservation. But I'm still at a loss for how the tourist board can cancel a reservation (with a deposit) for someone just to accomodate a tour group. First come, first served ?

Anyway, I'm thinking that maybe they did this to me because I am single, traveling by myself, and they can get more money by putting two people in a cabin? In the US, this would probably be breach of contract.

Has this happened to anyone, or do I even have a case? I don't know who I would report it too, anyway.