Hollywood movies have had us going gaga over those aesthetic shots on trains, the posh
restaurants within them, cabins with French-like windows, and getting to meet people from all walks of life. The Indian Railways has made it possible for us to finally live in that indie movie fantasy in real-life. The Golden Chariot Luxury Train tours are an initiative by the Indian Railways Tourism and Catering Corporation (IRCTC).
Also Read: KERALA’S FIRST WATER TAXI SERVICE LAUNCHED IN ALAPPUZHA
The Golden Chariot Luxury tour trains are aimed to promote tourism and provide their passengers with exciting tour packages like the ‘Pride of Karnataka’, ‘Jewels of the South’, ‘Glimpses of Karnataka ‘ etc. These are packages where a few historical destinations in the South of India are visited. The tour packages also include onboard meals, wines on the house, guided ac bus tours, coverage of the entry fee to the monuments, and meals at restaurants outside. It doesn’t end with these; the authorities declared that tourists can purchase a ticket and avail a 50% discount for a companion ticket and a 35% discount on the tariff for the entire tour.
The train is also backed up with a high-level security system including CCTV cameras, strong
security surveillance, and fire alarm systems. The latest installations include smart TV with access
to Netflix, Hotstar, and Amazon Prime.
You Might Also Like: DOMESTIC TOURISM STARTS TODAY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
The tour that commences from Bengaluru, covers Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and finally returns to Bengaluru. The name Golden Chariot was inspired by the Vithala temple at Hampi. The train originally belonged to the Karnataka State Government which was later handed down to the IRCTC.
The three packages that the Golden Chariot offers are as follows (source: The New Indian
Express) :
– Pride of Karnataka: The 6 night-7 day itinerary covers a visit to Bandipur National
Park, Mysore, Halebid, Chikamangalur, Aihole, Pattadakal, Hampi & Goa.
– Jewels of South: The 6 night-7 day itinerary covers a visit to Mysore, Hampi,
Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, Chettinad, Kumarakom & Cochin
– Glimpses of Karnataka: A short 3 night-4 day itinerary covering Bandipur, Mysore &
Hampi.
As far as Kerala is concerned, the Kerala Tourism department has kept aside properties in the temple town of Guruvayur in Thrissur, Idukki’s Munnar and Thekkady and Wayanad as potential properties for this program. The train, that can carry around 104 passengers, is well-furnished and has facilities better than that of any 5-star hotels. It’s almost impossible to list down the facilities ‘Golden Chariot’ has to offer to its passengers. One can check out their website for further info.
The time where ‘fancy resorts’ are replaced by ‘fancy train rides’ are just around the corner. The best part is that you don’t have to wait until the pandemic to get over to enjoy this retreat.
So what are you waiting for? Go and reserve your seats!!
