|
Luxury Train Tours
|
The Golden Chairot |
 |
Tour Details:
7 Nights / 8 Days
Places Covered: Bangalore - Kabini/Bandipur -
Mysore - Hassan - Hampi - Gadag - Goa - Bangalore |
| The Golden Chariot Train
Tour starts on every Monday of the week
from Bangalore and ends in Bangalore on every Monday
morning respectively. |
| Detailed
Itinerary: |
|
The land once
ridden by formidable armies is now traversed by the
world's most unique railway - The Golden Chariot
beckons you to discover worlds that are enriched
with history and culture. Recline and relax as the
magnificent scenery unfolds outside your window with
luxury on the inside, thus far reserved for royalty.
We present the Golden Chariot - a fine balance
between a glorious yesterday and an omnipresent
tomorrow in a magical land... that is Karnataka.
|
|
Day
1 - Bangalore (Monday) |
| |
|
12:30 |
: Arrival at The Leela
Palace, Bangalore |
|
13:00 |
: Pre boarding procedure at
Leela Palace, Bangalore for The Golden
Chariot |
|
13:30 |
: Lunch at Jamawar, The Leela
Palace, Bangalore |
|
15:00 |
: Departure from The Leela
Palace, Bangalore |
|
15:00 - 16:30 |
: Visit the Tipu’s Wooden
Palace |
|
16:30 - 17:30 |
: Visit to Basavanagudi (Bull
Temple) largest monolith Bull statue |
|
17:30 - 18:45
|
: Nature Walk at Lalbagh
Botanical Garden |
|
18:45 - 20:00
|
: Drive to Yeshwanthpur
Railway Station |
|
20:00 - 20:30 |
: Welcome onboard The Golden
Chariot |
|
21:00 |
: Departure to Mysore /
Dinner onboard The Golden Chariot |
|
|
Bangalore:
A World of Opportunity
 The
capital of Karnataka is known as the Garden City
because of its salubrious climate and greenery.
Perched 3,250 feet above sea level, temperatures
seldom exceed 30oC (88oF).
Founded by Kempegowda, a powerful chieftain, the
city is unique with its rich cultural heritage that
coexists with its modern day technological and
industrial achievements.
Today Bangalore is popularly known as India's
Silicon Valley. |
|
Day
2 - Kabini (Tuesday) |
| |
|
07:30 - 09:00
|
: Breakfast onboard The
Golden Chariot |
|
09:30 - 11:30 |
: Drive to Kabini / Bandipur
through the forests |
|
11:30 - 12:00
|
: High Tea |
|
12:00 - 13:30
|
: Nature Walk / Boat Ride |
|
13:30 - 15:00
|
: Lunch and relax at the
Kabini / Bandipur |
|
15:00 - 16:00
|
: Film show on Indian
Wildlife |
|
16:30 - 18:30
|
: Jeep Safari ride to the
Nagarhole / Bandipur National Park |
|
|
: Overnight stay at Kabini /
Bandipur |
|
Kabini: A World of
Wildlife
 Rajiv
Gandhi National Park, Nagarhole (Kabini), the
hunting retreat of the Mysore Maharajas, is
definitely the perfect destination for wildlife
lovers in South India. The excitement starts
with a safari into the heart of the park, where
you are sure to spot wild animals in their
natural habitat. Some of the popular sightings
are elephant, gaur, sambar, chital, wild boar
and the more exclusive predators like tiger and
leopard. A bird watcher's paradise, the park is
home to over 300 species of birds, many of which
are endemic to these jungles.
|
|
Day
3 - Mysore (Wednesday) |
| |
|
07:30 - 08:30
|
: Breakfast at Kabini /
Bandipur |
|
08:30 |
: Departure from Kabini /
Bandipur for Srirangapatna |
|
Tour 1- Srirangapatna |
|
10:30 - 12:30
|
: Visit to Daria Daulat –
Tipu’s Palace |
|
13:00 - 14:30
|
: Lunch at Hotel Regaalis,
Mysore |
|
Tour 2 - Chamundi
Hills |
|
15:00 - 16:00
|
: Drive to Chamundi hills |
|
Tour 3 - Mysore
Palace |
|
16:00 - 17:30
|
: Visit the Amba Vilas
Palace, Mysore and elephant ride |
|
18:00 - 19:15
|
: Experience the cultural
show at Rangayana |
|
19:30
|
: Drive back to The Golden
Chariot & dinner onboard |
|
|
Mysore: A
World of Royalty
 Mysore
has been always associated with the royal families
and their patronage, be it the Wodeyars or the
Sultans. Mysore is 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. This former state
capital still retains its tradition in music and
dance, art and literature and its time-honoured
crafts.
A 141 kms from Bangalore, the city enchants you with
its quaint charm, verdant gardens, tree-lined
boulevards and its sacred temples.
Mysore, once the state capital, today is a vibrant
city teeming with tourists and visitors. It is known
the world over for its exotic sandalwood and rich
silks. Many culinary delights await those inclined
to sample the regional cuisine.
Mysore Palace: Built in Indo-Saracenic
style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades,
the Palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings
and works of art from all over the world. The
magnificent jewel -studded golden throne of the
Wodeyars is displayed here during the Dasara
festival.
Srirangapatna: The island fortress
of the legendary warrior king Tipu Sultan is just 14
km from Mysore city. Inside the fortress is Tipu's
mosque with its twin minarets, the Wellesley Bridge
and the dungeons where British officers were once
imprisoned. |
|
Day 4 - Hassan (Thursday) |
| |
|
06:00 - 08:40
|
: Breakfast onboard The
Golden Chariot en-route to Hassan |
|
Tour1 - Belur and
Halebid |
|
09:00 - 09:30
|
: Drive to Halebidu |
|
09:30 - 10:30 |
: Halebidu -Hoysala temple
architecture tour |
|
10:30 - 11:00 |
: Drive to Belur |
|
11:00 - 12:30 |
: Belur - Hoysala temple
architecture tour |
|
13:00 - 15:00 |
: Lunch onboard |
|
Tour2 -
Shravanabelagola |
|
15:30 - 16:20
|
: Drive to Shravanabelagola -
Jain pilligrimage centre |
|
16:30 - 17:30 |
: Climb Indragiri Hill to
witness the world’s tallest monolith Lord
Gommateshwara statue |
|
17:30 - 18:00 |
: High Tea |
|
18:00 - 19:00 |
: Drive back to The Golden
Chariot |
|
Belur & Halebid : A World
of Worship
 Belur
in Hassan district 220 kms from Bangalore and 38
kms from Hassan) is famous for its magnificent
Hoysala Temple Complex. The Chennakesava Temple
here is the major attraction, built by Hoysala
Vishnuvardhana, to commemorate his victory over
the Cholas. The facade of the temple is filled
with intricate sculptures with no portion left
blank. It is the only Hoysala Temple still in
active worship.
Halebid in Hassan district is
27 kms away from Hassan and was the capital of
the Hoysalas. It has one of the finest Hoysala
temples. 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.
Shravanabelagola, 52km from
Hassan, is an important Jain pilgrim centre. It
is home to Asia's largest monolithic statue Lord
Gomateswara here towers 58 ft., looming atop the
picturesque Vindhyagiri Hill. Every 12 years,
Jain pilgrims gather here to participate in a
splendid head-anointing ceremony.
|
|
Day 5 - Hampi (Friday) |
|
07:30 - 08:30 |
: Breakfast onboard The
Golden Chariot |
|
Tour 1 - Hampi Sacred
Centre |
|
08:30 - 11:30
|
: Drive to Virupaksha temple
complex - Hampi Sacred Centre |
|
13:00 - 15:00 |
: Lunch onboard The Golden
Chariot |
|
Tour 2 - Royal Centre
and Vittala Temple Complex |
|
15:00 - 19:00 |
: Visit to Vittala Temple
Complex and Royal centre, Shop and a Tour of
the Craft Bazaar |
|
|
: Tour of the Craft Bazaar
and return to The Golden Chariot
|
|
21:00 |
: Dinner onboard The Golden
Chariot |
|
Hampi: A World Heritage
Site
 If
dreams were made out of stone, it would be Hampi.
Hampi has been classified as a World Heritage
Center and is one of the major tourist
destinations in India.
Hampi, the seat of the famed
Vijayanagara empire was the capital of the
largest empire in post-moghul India, covering
several states. The Vijayanagara empire
stretched over at least three states -Karnataka,
Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. The destruction
of Vijayanagar by marauding Moghul invaders was
sudden, shocking and absolute.
Although in ruins today, this capital city once
boasted riches known far beyond the shores of
India. The ruins of Hampi of the 14th Century
lies scattered in about 26 sq. km area, amidst
giant boulders and vegetation.
Protected by the tempestuous river Tungabhadra
in the north and rocky granite ridges on the
other three sides, the ruins silently narrate
the story of grandeur splendor and fabulous
wealth.
The splendid remains of palaces and gateways of
the broken city tells a tale of man's infinite
talent and power of creativity together with his
capacity for senseless destruction. 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.
A visit to Anegundi village by traversing the
gushing Tunga Badra river on a coracle is an
experience that provides the guests with a
glimpse into the traditional country life in
Karnataka.
|
|
Day 6 - Gadag, Pattadakal,
Badami (Saturday) |
06:00 - 08:00
|
: Journey to Gadag on The
Golden Chariot & Breakfast en–route |
08:30 - 10:30
|
: Drive to Hotel Badami
Court, Badami |
|
Tour 1 - Pattadakal |
|
10:30 - 13:00
|
: Visit Pattadakal - World
Heritage Site |
|
13:00 - 15:30 |
: Relax over lunch and shop
at the crafts bazaar in Hotel Badami Court |
|
Tour 2 - Badami Caves |
|
16:00 - 18:00 |
: Visit to the 3rd Century
rock cut cave temple at Badami |
|
18:00 - 20:00 |
: Drive back to Gadag |
|
20:00 |
: Departure to Vasco, Goa |
|
21:00 |
: Dinner on board The Golden
Chariot |
|
Badami: A World Heritage
Site
Badami 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.
 Pattadakal,
with its beautifully chiseled temples is a World
Heritage Site located on the banks of the
Malaprabha River. It bears testimony to the
richness of the Chalukyan architecture.
Pattadakal reached its pinnacle of glory under
the Chalukyan Kings and was once used as a
ceremonial center where kings were crowned.
|
|
Day 7 - Goa (Sunday) |
|
10:00 - 11:00 |
: Drive to Old Goa
|
|
11:00 - 12:00 |
: Visit Beautiful Churches on
a tour of Old Goa |
|
12:15 - 13:15 |
: Visit Souto Maior an Old
Portuguese House |
|
13:15 - 14:00 |
: Drive for Lunch to Spice
Plantation for authentic Goan food
|
|
14:00 - 15:30 |
: Lunch |
|
15:30 - 16:30 |
: Drive to Utorda Beach for
sun set |
|
18:30 - 19:30 |
: Drive back to The Golden
Chariot |
|
21:00 |
: Final Journey to Bangalore
/ Dinner onboard |
|
|
Goa: A
World of Golden Beaches
 Also
known as "Pearl of the Orient" and a "Tourist
Paradise", the state of Goa is located on the
western coast of India in the coastal belt known as
Konkan.
The magnificent scenic beauty and the architectural
splendors of its temples, churches and old houses
have made Goa a firm favorite with travelers around
the world.
But then, Goa is much more than just beaches and
sea. It has a soul which goes deep into unique
history, rich culture and some of the prettiest
natural scenery that India has to offer.
Besides the natural beauty, the fabulous beaches and
sunshine, travellers to Goa love the laid-back,
peaceful, warm and friendly nature of the Goan
people. After all, more than anywhere else on planet
earth, this is a place where people really know how
to relax. |
|
Day 8 - Bangalore (Monday)
|
|
11:00 |
: Arrival at Yeshwanthpur
Railway Station |
|
|
|
 |
|
