To witness the natural and architectural treasure troves of south India, one of the most exciting and luxurious alternative is to travel on board Golden Chariot train. The modern refinement and traditional ways of hospitality has earned Golden Chariot various accolades including the recognition as one of the seven best luxury rail journeys in the world by Vanity Fair Magazine within 4 years of its inception.
A joint venture between Karnataka State Tourism and Development Corporation (KSTDC) and the Indian Railways, the Golden Chariot derives its name from the famous stone.
Golden Chariots offers 3 tastefully crafted itineraries of this luxury tourist train – namely Pride of Karnataka, Jewels of South, and Glimpses of Karnataka – unravels the mystifying hues of the southern region of India.
The Golden Chariot luxury train traverses on the course of Karnataka when traveling on the Pride of Karnataka route and cover destinations like Bengaluru, Bandipur, Mysore, Halebidu, Chikamgaluru, Hampi, Badami, and Goa, the Jewel of South itinerary covers temple towns of Tamil Nadu and backwaters of Kerala along with destinations in Karnataka. The destinations covered by the train on this route are Bengaluru, Mysore, Hampi, Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, Chettinad, Kanyakumari, Kumarakom, and Cochin. The Glimpses of Karnataka is a short tour, which covers the destinations like Bengaluru, Bandipur, Mysore, and Hampi. The inside look of this luxury train is a fine juxtaposition of customary and contemporary motifs to retain the old-world charm without compromising on the modern comforts.
Coaches of this deluxe train are suffused with quaint charm evident in the rich furnishings and antique furniture which is inspired from the cultural ethos of erstwhile south Indian dynasties. To maintain the royal élan of the train journey, all the coaches have been named after erstwhile princely states of the south namely Kadamba, Hoyasala, Rastrakota, Ganga, Chalukya, Bhahamani, Adilshahi, Sangama, Shathavashna, Yudukula and Vijayanagar.
There are a total of 26 twin bed cabins, 17 double bed cabins and 1 cabin for the physically challenged. All the cabins of Golden Chariot are outfitted with facilities like LCD television, air conditioning, Wi-Fi internet and a private bathroom to provide cozy comforts to the guests. Other facilities and services provided on board include two ornately designed restaurants, lounge bar, business center, gymnasium and a wellness spa. An array of gourmet delicacies are tastefully served in the lavish premises of the two in-house restaurants whose motifs characterize a mythical character and a Sanskrit word called Nala and Ruchi respectively. There is a lounge bar called ‘Madira’ where guests can unwind and interact with fellow travelers over a glass of wine.
This is not the end of the road for the Golden Chariot facilities. Guests can also partake in few recreational amenities housed within this luxury tourist train. A fully equipped gymnasium and an Ayurvedic spa ‘Nirvana’ allows guests to tab on their fitness routine even while vacationing. There is a business center for those guests who cannot make out time for holidays out of their hectic business schedule.
