Introduction

7 days and 7 nights  aboard the Golden Chariot will take you 1,600 years back in time.  The Golden Chariot is your ticket to the timelessness of the historic state of Karnataka, the landscape of which was considered heavenly by empire-builders of the past.  The voyage unveils empires, unlocks treasures, unravels secrets and takes you to lost kingdoms, wrapped in the heady luxury of train travel.   It is another grand way of traversing across the colourful and culturally vibrant southern regions of India.  Extensively travelling through the length and breadth of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, this luxury train offers relaxation to its guests.

This regal Train has been built by craftsmen.  Rich culture, palatial architecture and the detailing of temples are blended in the carriage interiors  with the finest modern facilities.

Special Offers

Membership is free, requiring just a subscription to our newsletter on the Club site.  Gifts secured when booking made, and sent on final payment.

-             Ask for any available discounts

-             Until 31 May:  Gift from Osprey,  from their range of small leather goods.

 Itinerary

Southern Splendor 

7 day/8 nights

Places Covered: Bangalore – Chennai – Mamallapuram – Pondicherry – Tiruchirapalli & Thanjavur – Madurai – Kanyakumari – Thiruvananthapuram – Backwaters & Kochi / Allepey – Bangalore

• Day 1:  Bangalore.  Known as the Garden City because of its salubrious climate and greenery, it is perched 3,250 feet above sea level where  temperatures seldom exceed 30^oC and is unique with its rich cultural heritage that coexists with its modern day technological and industrial achievements.  It is  popularly known as India’s Silicon Valley.  Following visits to an art gallery, join the train to begin your journey with dinner.
• Day 2:  Mamallapuram and Chennai.  Located in Mamallapuram, the famous temples of the Rathas, the Penance of Bhagirath, the Shore Temple and the eight Mandapams, (shallow, rock cut halls) are  located on the beach, all built nearly 1200 years’ ago.  Following lunch the journey continues to Chennai, the site of the East India’s Company first settlement, founded in 1639.  The tour takes in St Mary’s Church,  the first English church in Chennai, built in 1678 – 80, followed by a rich itinerary of visits to Saint Thomas Cathedral, the Kapaleeshwarar Temple, the Sri Parathasarathy Temple and the National Art Gallery and Museum.  Drive past the High Court Building, Fort St. George and the famous film studios before returning to the train for dinner.
• Day 3:  Pondicherry.   Formerly a French colony, French is still widely spoken here, and the seaside villas and cobbled streets are more reminiscent of the South of France than the South of India.  With a sightseeing tour of Pondicherry, one visits Auroville, founded in 1920 by the philosopher Sri Aurobindo.  Conceived as a tribute to Sri Aurobindo, Auroville is an entirely new concept in education and urban living.  The Aurobindo Ashram is known to the world over as the “Centre of Integral Yoga”.
• Day 4:  Tiruchirapalli and Thanjavur.  Tiruchirapalli is situated on the banks of the River Kaveri.  The Nayaks of Madurai built the town and the historic Rock Fort, which played a vital role in the Carnatic wars in the 18th century.  This fort is perched on a rock outcrop which towers over the old city.  During a sightseeing tour of Tanjore one visits temples built in the 10th and 14th centuries.
• Day 5:  Madurai.  A sightseeing visit of one of Southern India’s oldest cities, this is a busy place, with the extraordinary Meenakshi Temple and its hall of a thousand Pillars.  Visits also include the Thirumalai Nayak Palace & Thiruparangundram temple.
• Day 6:  Kanyakumari/Thiruvananthapuram.  Here we enjoy sunrise at Kanyakumari, in the southern most district of Tamilnadu state.   Breakfast and lunch are served on board and in the afternoon we visit Thiruvananthapuram and the Palace of Thiruvananthpuram prior to strolling through Kovalam Beach.  In the evening there will be a Gala Dinner and Cultural Show at The Leela Kovalam.  Enjoy the night on the train as it travels to  Alleppey.
• Day 7:  Alleppey.    From Alappuzha we cruise  in a traditional boat along the bewitching Vembanad lake, the largest backwater stretch in Kerala.   Visiting Kumarakom, one of the prime tourist attractions of Kerala, the green shores throbbing with vigour and pure beauty will never tire you.   The soft sunlight lends the calm water a new enchantment, with the gentle whisper of the palms in the breeze.    Kumarakom is a  small backwater village, with sights, sounds and fragrances that will simply captivate you.  Here we have lunch and then drive to Kochi.  The Dutch Palace, also known as Mattancherry Palace and built by the  Portuguese in 1555, is famous for its murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana and the puranic legends.  Adjacent to the palace is the Jewish Synagogue (closed on Fridays & Saturdays) built in 1568.  Also visit the St. Francis Church (closed on Sundays), established by the Portuguese Franciscan friars in 1503 and burial ground to Vasco Da-Gama.  In the evening there is Kathakali dancing and dinner, before departing for Bangalore.
• Day 8.  Bangalore.  Morning arrival after breakfast.

Pride of the South

7 days/8 nights

Places covered:  Bangalore – Kabini/Bandipur – Mysore – Hassan – Hospet – Badami – Goa – Bangalore

• Day 1: Bangalore.  Following check-in and tea, guests are taken to the Chitrakala Parishad / Art Gallery before being taken to the station for a traditional Indian welcome prior  to joining the train.   Dinner is served before retiring for the night.
• Day 2:  Kabini/ Bandipur.  After breakfast, tread the path of the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore with a visit to Bandipur.  The reserve is a playground for wildlife, with elephants taking the lead role.  Set against the picturesque backdrop of the enchanting Niligiri mountains with its mist-covered peaks, Bandipur was once the Mysore Maharaja’s private hunting ground.   A temple perched atop Himad Gopalaswamy Hill, the highest peak in the Bandipur range, is worth a visit.  The day is spent in Bandipur/Kibini with lunch, dinner and overnight stay at the Jungle Lodge.
• Day 3:  Mysore.  After breakfast, guests return to the train to continue the journey over lunch, to Mysore,  a city known for its resplendent palaces and majestic buildings.   A visit to the city conjures up visions of the glory, still evident of the illustrious Wodeyar Kings.  There is a sight-seeing tour of the city and also the Palace and the Srirangapatna (a fortress inside which is Tipu’s mosque with its twin minarets, the Wellesley Bridge and the dungeons where British officers were once imprisoned).   Later on there is a show and dinner at the Lalitha Mahal Palace, before returning to the train for the night.
• Day 4:  Hassan.  After breakfast, one can visit Shravanabelagola, an important Jain pilgrim centre.  We re-join the train for lunch before visiting Belur & Halebid, with the wonderful Hoysala Temple Complex.   The Hoysaleswara Temple, perched on a star-shaped base amidst lawns, is a sculptural extravaganza.   Its walls are richly carved with an endless variety of Hindu deities, sages, stylized animals, birds and friezes depicting the life of the Hoysala Kings.  Rejoin the train for dinner and onward travel through the night to Hospet.
• Day 5:  Hospet.  After breakfast, guests visit Hampi.  If dreams were made out of stone, it would be Hampi.  Although in ruins today, this capital city once boasted riches known far beyond the shores of India, with the most beautiful stone carvings.   A visit to Hampi is a sojourn into the past.  Most of the important structures and ruins are located in two areas, which are generally referred to as the Royal Centre and the Sacred Centre.  Dinner is served back on the train.  
  
• Day 6:  Badami.  During breakfas the train arrives at Badami, which is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills.  The exquisite sculptures and the rust red sandstone cliffs of Badami tell many a tale of yore.  The first sculptural embellishment to dazzle the eye is the 18 armed Nataraja striking 81 dance poses.   We also visit Pattadakal, with its beautifully chiseled temples located on the banks of the Malaprabha River.  Return to the train for lunch, during which it departs on the long journey to Goa, reaching Goa past midnight.
• Day 6:  Goa.  Enjoy breakfast before departing on a tour of Goa, also known as ‘Pearl of the Orient’, with its magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural splendors of its temples, churches and old houses.  Lunch is served at a resort, where one can enjoy various facilities before returning to the train for dinner, whilst the train departs for Bangalore.
• Day 7:  Bangalore.   Enjoy the final breakfast as the train arrives in the Yeswanthpur railway station.

Route & Map

Golden Chariot Route Map

Golden Chariot Facilities

There are 19 specially-designed coaches, 11 of the carriages with cabins.

The design of the cabins draws from the Mysore and Belur Halebid schools of art and architecture.  The bedspreads are hand-woven by artisans, guardians of the age-old craft traditions.

Accommodation

Suites:  All suites have en-suite attached bathrooms as well as air-conditioning, Wi-Fi internet access and plasma TV.  The hand-carved wooden panels on roof and wall panels, hand-woven silk bed sheets like the Maharajas of Mysore, and furniture inspired by the architecture of Mysore and Hoysala creates the atmosphere of opulent travel.

Dining Cars:  With interiors inspired by historic temples, the Nala and Ruchi restaurants serve a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian cuisine.  Sit in cushioned chairs at tables for two and four people.

Lounge Car:  Plush, royal elegance  illustrated by the wonderful decor creates  a fantastic atmosphere in which to take refreshing drinks whilst watching the magical landscape pass by.

Spa Car:  The luxury of a Spa treatment car on board allows one to  discover age old traditions and cures to modern day stress.

Picture Gallery

In addition to the  photos at the top of this page, see more images of the Golden Chariot luxury train tour here:

See more pictures for The Golden Chariot

Dates and Prices

Prices for double occupancy per cabin for the tour:

Southern Splendor : USD 4,389  (Single occupancy USD 5,817)

Pride of the South : USD 3,815  (Single occupancy USD 5,278)

• The tariff includes accommodation on board,  meals,  sightseeing trips, entrance fees (while entering monuments, parks, palaces and other sightseeing locations)
• It does not include tips, phone calls, camera fees in the sightseeing locations, SPA car and Business car facilities, alcohol or laundry
• Christmas and New Year being the peak holiday season has a 10% surcharge levied on all departures.
• As per the Govt. of India norms, Service Tax @ 3.09% is levied on the prevalent tariff and subject to changes.
• 50% off tariff for children between 5 and 12 years of age, subject to proof of age at time of booking.

Booking & Reservations

All prices are at publicly-quoted rates.

We will be happy to answer any questions and make the booking for you  -  contact us in the UK : +44 (0)1249 890205 or info@luxurytrainclub.com      Please sign up to our newsletter to be kept informed of interesting trains and special offers.

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