The Golden Chariot

Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Destinations Covered: Bangalore - Kabini/Bandipur - Mysore - Hassan - Hospet - Badami - Goa - Bangalore

Fashioned in a royal style, The Golden Chariot luxury train beckons you to lace your holidays with royalty, luxury and entertainment. From wild destinations to World Heritage Sites, the train takes its guests to breathtaking places. It offers 7 days/8 nights tour. The train begin its journey on every Monday of the week from Bangalore and after covering its tourist attractions in a week's time comes back to Bangalore on every Monday morning respectively.

Day 1 - Monday: Bangalore
6:00 pm - Reporting time. Board the train
7:00 pm - Departure from Bangalore
12:30 pm - Check-in the Leela Palace for a delicious lunch.
3:00 pm - Go for Bangalore sightseeing- Tippu's Palace, Bull Temple and Lalbagh.
08:00 pm - Board the train from Yeshwantpur Railway Station. You will be received with warm hospitality. Dinner on board.
09:00 pm - Depart to Mysore
11:30 pm - Arrive at Mysore

Bangalore
Bangalore, the sparkling jewel of Karnataka is affectionately dubbed as the Garden City. Located ideally at 3,250 feet above sea level, Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka. This destination reflects perfect blend of traditional and modern. Its rich cultural heritage encompasses several attractions. It is an IT hub of the country. Its moderate climate adds more charm to it.

Day 2 - Tuesday: Mysore/ Kabini/ Bandipur
10:00 am - Post breakfast depart for Kabini / Bandipur for wildlife safari.
01:00 pm - Reach the Jungle Lodge and enjoy a delicious lunch
Post Lunch - Go for Jungle / Boat Safari
In the evening - Watch wildlife film
Dinner and overnight stay at the Jungle Lodge

Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary
Located at an easy distance from Nagarhole National Park, Kabini Wildlife Sanctuary is a home to a variety of wildlife species. One of the finest wildlife destinations of India, Kabini boasts of around 300 species of birds and interesting animals like tiger and leopard.

Bandipur National Park
Established by the maharajas of Mysore in 1931, Bandipur National Park is known for its tigers. An important Project Tiger Reserve, Bandipur is beautifully located at the foothills of Nilgiris. A wide variety of wildlife can be seen here in their natural habitat.

Day 3 - Wednesday: Mysore
08:30 am - Post breakfast depart for Mysore
11:30 am - Arrive in Mysore
01:00 pm - Lunch on board The Golden Chariot
03:00 pm - Mysore sightseeing: Mysore Palace and Srirangapatnam
07:00 pm - Reach Brindavan Gardens for cultural show
Dinner at Hotel KRS
10:00 pm - Board The Golden Chariot

Mysore
Mysore, the royal land of Karnataka is best known for its wonderful palaces, enchanting structures, sandalwood and silk. It is the place to catch a glimpse of the bygone era of Sultans and Kings. This city is also known for its rich culture encompassing elements like dance and music, art, literature and handicrafts.

Mysore Palace
Reflecting a great example of Indo-Saracenic architectural style, the palace is adorned with enchanting carvings and works of art from all over the world. The majestic jewel -studded golden throne of the Wodeyars is displayed here during the Dasara festival.

Srirangapatna
Holding sheer religious, cultural and historic importance, Srirangapatna is a town near Mysore. It houses a beautiful summer palace of Tipu Sultan, his mosque, the Wellesley Bridge and the dungeons where British officers were once imprisoned.

Day 4 - Thursday: Hassan
06:00 am - Depart from Mysore to Hassan
08:15 am - Arrive at Hassan
09:00 am - Leave for Shravanabelagola for sightseeing. Kindly note that one has to climb around 700 steps to see the architectural masterpiece. Guests not willling to go can stay back on the train. And in case you wish to go you can opt for a palanquin, which will be provided at an extra cost.
01:00 pm - Lunch on board The Golden Chariot
03:00 pm - Depart for Belur and Halebid for sightseeingh
07:15 pm - Back on board The Golden Chariot
07:45 pm - Depart for Hospet
Dinner on board

Belur
Located in Hassan district(220 km from Bangalore) is famed for its fascinating Hoysala Temple Complex. The most arresting of all the temples is the Chennakesava temple, built by Hoysala Vishnuvardhana. It is intricately carved with beautiful sculptures. It is the only Hoysala Temple in function.

Halebid
It is also located in Hassan district. Once the pride of the Hoysala kingdom, Halebid is known for the extremely beautiful Hoysala temples. Among all Hoysaleswara Temple built on a star-shaped platform is the most beautiful. It is richly decorated with magnificent sculptures.

Day 5 - Friday: Hospet
06:00 am - Arrive at Hospet
08:30 am - Post breakfast leave for Hampi sightseeing- Virupaksha Temple, Queens's Bath, Elephant Stables, Local crafts bazaar
01:00 pm - Return to The Golden Chariot for Lunch
03:00 pm - Depart for sightseeing: Royal enclosure, Hazara Rama Temple. Illuminated Vittala Temple.
08:00 pm - Back on board The Golden Chariot
Dinner on board The Golden Chariot

Hampi
Affectionately dubbed as 'The City Of Ruins', Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is dotted with amazing ancient temples, most of which are almost in ruins. It can be aptly called the temple village of Karnataka. Hampi was founded by the two local kings Hakka and Bukka in the 14th century. Later it became the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the most powerful empires of the bygone era.
The city is the blessed birth place of lord Hanuman. It is the land where he met lord Rama. In the city, a temple named Raghunatha is dedicated to lord Rama. Travellers from across the globe throng in here throughout the year. It boasts of around 500 monuments. These monuments include mesmerizing temples, palaces, remains of lakes and ponds, regal pavilions and much more.

Day 6 - Saturday: Badami
05:00 am - Depart from Hospet to Bedami
08:30 am - Arrive at Bedami
09:00 am - Post breakfast leave for Bedami sightseeing- Bedami Caves and Pattadakal
01:30 pm - Back on board The Golden Chariot for lunch
02:00 pm - Depart for Goa

Bedami
Bedami is a beautiful village located in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka famous for its bewitching rock-cut temples, exquisitely carved Cave temples, artificial lake, museum and he rust red sandstone cliffs. One of the most attractive attractions here is the sculptures of Lord Nataraja(the Cosmic dancer) in 81 dance poses.

Pattadakal
It is a World Heritage Site famous for its mesmerizing temples. Located on the banks of the Malaprabha river. It flourished greatly during the rein of the Chalukyan empire. It was also the place where kings used to be crowned.

Day 7 - Sunday: Goa
05:30 am - Arrive in Goa
09:30 am - Breakfast on board The Golden Chariot
10:00 am - Depart for Goa sightseeing
11:00 am - Visit the famous churches of old Goa
12:15 pm - Visit an old Portuguese house: Sola Souto Maior for a tea break. Shopping at the emporium
02:00 pm - Visit Majorda Beach Resort for lunch
03:00 pm - An Ayurvedic massage, a visit to the casino, a dip in the pool / beach, etc. (Ayurvedic massage and casino charges extra as applicable)
06:00 pm - Depart from the resort
07:15 pm - Back to The Golden Chariot. Dinner on board The Golden Chariot
09:00 pm - Depart for Bangalore

Goa
A big hit with tourists across the globe, Goa is popularly known as the 'Pearl of the Orient'. It is ideally located on the western coast of India. Its natural beauty and a unique culture are its striking features.
Goa is perfectly endowed with arresting beaches, rich marine life, salubrious climate, fertile land, coconut and cashew plantations, mesmerizing rivers, dense forests and a heady mix of Indo-Portuguese heritage. There is so much to see and do in this world famous destination. For fun, adventure and partying, no other destination can beat the charm of this destination.

Day 8 - Monday: Bangalore
08:00 to 09:30 am - Breakfast on board The Golden Chariot
11:00 am - Reach Yeswanthpur railway station. This marks the end of your royal and pleasurable journey on The Golden Chariot.

Schedule

The Golden Chariot - Pride of The South: Tour Schedule

Departure Details for 2014 - 2015

In case of FITs:
• 20% of ticket value at the time of confirming the booking.
• Remaining 80% of ticket value 30 days prior to departure.

In case of Group:
• 50% of ticket value at the time of confirming the booking.
• Remaining 50% of ticket value 45 days prior to departure.

In case of FITs:
• 5% of the ticket value if cancellation is made until 60 days prior to departure.
• 20% of the ticket value if cancellation is made between 30-59 days prior to departure.
• 50% of the ticket value if cancellation is made between 15-29 days prior to departure.
• 100% of the ticket value if the cancellation is made 14 days prior to departure.

In case of Group:
• 10% of the ticket value if cancellation is made until 60 days prior to departure.
• 25% of the ticket value if cancellation is made between 30-59 days prior to departure.
• 75% of the ticket value if cancellation is made between 15-29 days prior to departure.
• 100% of the ticket value if the cancellation is made 14 days prior to departure.

Facilities

Accommodation
The Golden Chariot offers excellent accommodation units, which are known for the intricate carvings, finest interiors, ancient paintings, royal feel and luxury. The Cabin Coaches of the train come up with a range of rooms, which are categorized into 26 twin beds, 17 double bed cabins and 1 cabin for physically challenged.
These rooms are named after all the dynasties that ruled Karnataka like Kadamba, Rastrakota, Ganga, Hoysala, Chalukya, Adhilshahi, Bhahamani, Sangama, Yudukula, Shathavashna and Vijayanagar. These fully air-conditioned cabins are also equipped with writing desk, LCD television, Wi-Fi, wardrobe, DVD with 6 satellite channels and private bathroom with all the modern amenities and accessories.

Restaurants
The train has two restaurants - Nala and Ruchi to serve you the authentic varieties of vegetarian and non-vegetarian culinary delights. The interior of these restaurants is inspired by the timeless aesthetics of Hampi and Halebid. There are 4-seater and 2-seater dining cabins with the sofas and chairs for your comfort. Nala was named after a king, the legendary chef from the times of the Mahabharata. On the other hand, Ruchi is a Sanskrit word, which means 'fine tastes'.

Lounge Bar
A well-stocked bar named 'Madira' is available on the train to cater to your needs. It is a relaxing and elegant seating place. The bar boasts of royal interiors that are modeled after the Mysore Palace.

Conference Coach
It is an ideal place where your can conduct conferences as well as business meetings. With an accommodation capacity of about 30 people, the conference coach is equipped with 42 inch LCD television as well as high-speed Internet surfing.

Gym Coach
The train has a separate health center that serves all the modern facilities for Ayurveda, Spa and Gym. Following all the ancient traditions, it also has 2 massage rooms for a unique rejuvenation experience. The gymnasium is also facilitated with all the modern equipment for exercise.

Hospitality
All the amenities at the Golden Chariot are provided by 'The Mapple Group' which is a leading Hotel & Resort Chain in India. Mapple Group gained prominence with its first hotel Mapple Inn at Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, in November 2006. After that, many other units established under the same banner – like Mapple Whitefield (Bangalore, January 2007), Mapple Abhay (Jodhpur, April 2007) and Mapple Viva (Goa, April 2007). The group is now also focusing on other prominent cities like Pune, Mysore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Indore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Katra, Jammu, Badi, Kochi, Pondicherry and Coimbatore.