Luxury Royal Trains to Experience Incredible India

3. Golden Chariot

Golden Chariot
Golden Chariot

The alluring train journey on the Golden Chariot is the best way to experience the major as well as the offbeat tourism destinations of South India, as it glides through the southern magnificence. It has been awarded the ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Train’ Award at the World Travel Awards, 2013. It is the only luxury train operating in South India- Golden Chariot Train operates on two different 7 nights tour itineries of South India from October to March, which are the Pride Of South covering Goa, and Southern Splendour covering Kerala Backwaters. It perplexes individuals with its mystifying hues of the southern region of India.The journey begins and cculminates back in Bengaluru. The Golden Chariot Train is a joint venture of State Government of Karnataka & the Union Ministry of Railways. It is named after the Stone Chariot in the Vitthala Temple at Hampi, a World Heritage Site, and sports the logo of a mythological animal with the head of an elephant and the body of a lion. It is designed to recreate the aesthetics of Dravidian cultural ethos. The train itself is designed on the lines of the popular luxury train ‘Palace on Wheels’. The Golden Chariot took its first inaugural voyage on March 10, 2008.

The train connects important tourist spots in the Indian states of Karnataka, Goa, Kerela, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Embark on a luxurious voyage of discovery through the cradle of Stone Architecture, magnificent World Heritage Sites, palaces, exquisite temples, golden sandy beaches, crystal blue sea and wildlife reserve. It goes to places in the south depending on the itineary chosen, like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Thanjavur, Madurai, Nagercoil, Alleppey, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kabini, Hassan, Hospet, Hampi, Badami, Goa, Belur, Halebidu, Alhole, Nagarhole, and Palladakul. Fare varies from US$6135-US$10,040 which depends on the levels of occupancy.