Does it sound like a dream come true if you are reliving the romance of a bygone era replete with resplendent opulence and honor! That’s exactly how one feels on the famous train of Karnataka called the “GOLDEN CHARIOT”. The experience on the train gives you a glimpse about luxuries offered in a unique setting. The itinerary I chose started from being a lure to we’ll selected rural and historical towns and cities along Karnataka s Western Ghats all the way to Goa. The large number of tourists was a primarily foreigner very curious to observe how a luxury train could be in India. I guess they tried their best to amalgamate the richness of Indian hospitality, which the westerners are well aware of. Primarily the crux of tourists is the well off westerners who are interested in a pre-planned itinerary.
The journey takes you to various kingdoms and dynasties. We started off with Mysore and it’s 18-19 century architectural marvels like the “Mysore Palace”. From here we make way to see the diversity of the flora and fauna at Kabini with its game drives and then onward to Hassan with a grilling climb atop the Chandragiri Hills of Shravanabelagola to view the aristocratic stature of Bahubali, a popular circuit of Jain pilgrimage and a winder of Hoysala rule. The journeys are designed to be short for a few hours only as the guests can enjoy their experience on the train with world-class cuisine of Indian and continental food cooked right there. The accommodations are pretty compact staterooms with basic furnishing and controlled air conditioning giving guests the weather control option. Accommodation coaches are named after dynasties like Chalukya, Hoysala etc.. What is impressive though is the lounge bar with its pretty arty decor which can be converted into a discotheque too.
The train chugs through Srirangapatna, happy of ruined temples and the famous Stone Chariot and then to Belur, Halebidu , Badami Cave temples and a stop at : Goa to head back to Bengaluru again. Spectacular service of the staff and managers aboard the golden chariot for a truly golden memoired moment.
(Author: Vibha Jain, Contact: vibhaj98@yahoo.com)
