Golden Chariot – Luxury Train Tour
07 NIGHTS – 08 DAYS
BANGLORE – MYSORE – KABINI – HASSAN – HELEBID – BELUR – HAMPI – PATTADAKAL – BADAMI – GOA
Golden Chariot is relatively new luxury train that takes you to voyage to discover the timeless historical sites, magnificent palaces, wildlife in National Parks and golden beaches – all in one tour. The wonderful journey starts from Bangalore and takes you to Mysore, Kabini Forest then to historical sites of Shravanabelagola, Belur and Halebidu. Later you visit Hampi which is the most beautiful archeological site where the stones speak about the past glory; Vijaynagar and thereafter onto the heritage sites of Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole, finally reaching the Golden Beaches of Goa before returning to Bangalore. The train facilities include cabins with attached bathrooms, two dining restaurant cars, bar lounge, business centre, gymnasium and a spa.
1
Day : Bangalore
Blessed with a compassionate climate and a mushrooming drinking, dining and shopping scene, Bangalore is the number one cosmopolitan city in South India. The city is wowed by world class sights as it boasts of striking Victorian era architecture and lovely parks. The city is a booming hub of IT and is regarded as the most progressive city of the country. Due to the growing IT sector in the city, the city has been reckoned as the Silicon Valley of India.
Report in lobby of Taj Hotel West End by 4 pm for check in formalities of Golden Chariot Train tour.
Enjoy nature walk in the gardens of the hotel and Hi-tea. You will be given briefing of the tour and then witness cultural dance show.
Later proceed to visit Iskon Hindu temple. Established in 1997, Sri Radha Krishna temple is not just a temple but a complex of temples devoted to Lord Krishna.
Reach Yashwantpura Railway Station before 8:15 PM to board Golden Chariot train.
The dinner will be served on board and train leaves for Mysore.
Overnight on-board.
2
Day : Mysore & Kabini
The train reaches Mysore and breakfast will be served onboard.
In the morning pack clothes for overnight stay at jungle Lodge.
Then we shall drive to visit City Palace which is also known as Mysore Palace. Indo Saracenic building with domes, arches and turrents is a treasure trove of carved paintings and works from across the globe. This splendid palace lays down its foundation on an old palace which was ruined in the 1897. Durbar halls and the Amba Villas of this huge palace are used for marriage ceremonies by the royal families. This palace is beautifully decorated with lights on every Sunday.
Later drive for two hours and reach Kabini forest.
Named after Kabini River, the Kabini wildlife reserve is a popular tourist attraction in south India as it houses various flora and fauna. Leopard, panther, sambhar, spotted deer, cheetal, panther and 250 species of birds are some of the attractions that will be spotted here. It is also reckoned as Bird watcher’s paradise.
After lunch and short rest, proceed for safari to Kabini jungles.
In the Evening, return to the jungle lodge for a screening of wildlife film, followed by campfire and Dinner.
Overnight stay in jungle lodges in Kabini forest
3
Day : Mysore
Early morning at 6:30 am proceed for a boat ride on Kabini River to spot crocodiles and many colorful birds.
Return to Jungle Lodge for breakfast and check out at 9:30 AM. Drive back to Mysore railway station to board the train
After a brief rest and lunch, proceed for Visit to Srinrangapatnam Fort. Built in 1537, Srinrangapatnam Fort is the second toughest Fort in the Indian subcontinent. The fort houses legendary Tipu Sultan’s house that has also rendered it a name, Tipu sultan’s Fort. The Indo Islamic architecture beautifully portrays Persian inscriptions on its arched entrances.
Visit Dariya Daulat, the summer residence of Tipu Sultan was built in 1784. The Indo Islamic style architecture in constructed mostly in teak wood and is raised on a plinth offering beautiful view of River Kaveri.
Built in 1784, Tipu Sultan mausoleum, situated between massive gardens. The mausoleum has a cenotaph of Hyder Ali, his father; Fakr-Un-Nisa, mother and Tipu Sultan. The Persian style architecture is raised on a high platform with large pathways leading to the central structure.
Enjoy shopping and cultural program in the evening with dinner in Lalita Mahal Palace, now converted into a luxury Hotel.
Return to train by 10 PM and train will be stationary at the Mysore Station for the Night.
4
Day : Hassan
Early morning train departs from Mysore to Hassan Railway station.
Founded in the 11th century, Hassan was an important capital city during the Hoysala dynasty. The city is famous as the temple – architecture capital of Karnataka.
After breakfast, proceed for excursion to Shravanabelagola village. Climb 700 steep steps, carved in a stone hillock to view 10th century built a statue of Jain Monk Gommateshvara Bahubali.
Drive back to the Hassan Railway station to board the train by for lunch & short rest.
In the afternoon again depart for an excursion to Halebedu and Belur to view ancient Hindu temples.
Visit Cheenakeshawa Temple at Belur was built by the Hoysala ruler king, Vishnuvardhana. The temple was commissioned to mark the victory over the Chola kings of Tamil Nadu. The interiors of the temple are intricately carved. The beauty of idols and ornamental carvings seem as metal works. The ceiling of the temple is adorned with dancing figures and the exteriors of the temple offer a glimpse of various Gods in Hindu mythology. The temple is one of the best illustrations of Hoysala architecture.
Then visit Hoysaleswara Temple at Halebidu. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was named after the founder of the Hoysala dynasty. The walls of the temple are covered with carvings of Gods of Hindu mythology.
Drive back to the Hassan Railway station and we will depart for our next destination, Hospet.
5
Day : Hampi
The train arrives at Hospet railway station and breakfast will be served onboard. From Hospet Railway station, proceed by coach for an excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi Palace ruins.
Hampi is a small village situated within the ruins of Vijaynagar in Karnataka. Illusory and bewitching, the abandoned ruins of Hampi, makes it an extremely worthwhile and popular side trip from the coast. Scattered over the landscape, the ruins of Hampi will leave you spellbound. A World Heritage Site, Hampi is a place where you can let yourself midst the ruins, or simply be enthralled by the whims of nature, marveling at how millions of years of volcanic activity and erosion could have made the landscape so captivating.
Return to the Hospet Railway Station to board the train for lunch and short rest.
After Lunch, proceed for excursion to 16th century built temple complex of Vithala, dedicated to the Hindu God-Lord Vishnu. As the epicenter of Hampi’s attractions, Vittala Temple is the most brilliant architectural centerpiece of Hampi. The temple is named after Vittala, a form of Lord Vishnu. It’s considered to be one of the largest and the most famous structure in Hampi. The highlight of the temple is its impressive pillared halls and the stone chariot. The Stone Chariot is actually a shrine that has been given the shape of a chariot and has been decorated with ornamental carvings.
Leisurely enjoy time at the banks of Tungabhadra River for a spectacular sunset view.
Depart by 6 PM to reach Hospet Railway station to board the train for dinner and overnight stay.
6
Day : Badami
Morning breakfast onbard. The train reaches Badami stastion at 8.30 am.
In the morning proceed from Badami Railway station for an excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Badami caves and Pattadakal Temple Complex Carved out of sandstone hills, the 7th century built
Badami Cave temples are dedicated to Hindu religious sects of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu & Budha and Jain Faiths. The Badami cave temples are a group of four temples engraved out of sandstone. They belong to the Chalukya Period and are the perfect example of early Chalukya style architecture. Of the four caves, three are dedicated to Hindu Gods, and the fourth is a Jain Temple.
The Pattadakal Temple complex is popular not only for Chalukyan architecture but also a famous holy place for royal coronation, ‘Pattadakisuvolal’. Temples built here are known for blending of the Rekha, Prasada, Nagara and Dravida Vimana styles of temple building.
Return to the Badami Railway Station and leave for next destination, Goa
Lunch & Dinner on-board. Overnight stay.
7
Day : Goa
The train arrives in Goa-Vasco de Gama Railway Station early morning. After breakfast, city tour of Goa, one of the smallest states of India, is a dreamland. Goa is basically known for its stunning beaches. This famous land of sun, sand, surf and serenity entices thousands of tourists from every corner of the world. But Goa is not only famous for its tempting palm fringed beaches, but also for spectacular places of tourist interest and many magnificent monuments, such as forts and palaces, churches, temples etc.
Later visit the Old Portuguese House and time free for shopping.
For tourist their journey to this magnificent paradise would be incomplete without taking back a souvenir. Local handicrafts of Goa are the most popular things and include Brassware, terracotta, shell work, carved furniture, bamboo work etc. Anjuna market is a major tourist attraction.
Drive to a luxury beach resort for lunch and rest of the day is at leisure.
Depart from Beach Resort at 5.30 PM and drive back to Vasco De Gama Railway Station to board the train for dinner and overnight stay.
8
Day : Return to Bangalore
Breakfast on board.
The train reaches Yeshwanthpura Railway Station, Bangalore by 11.30 AM and the entire crew bids adieu.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is this a group tour?
No, this is a private travel exclusively for you, your friends and family who may accompany you on the tour.
Is this trip possible for single traveler?
Yes, it is possible. But, the cost may be high in case of a single traveler. You may send us information in the form and we shall send you our best offer depending on number of persons in your group or for a single person.
May I choose dates according to my choice?
Yes, since this is a private tour, you may decide the dates as per your choice. Only in case of certain tours, we have to check if there are any operational difficulties for organizing a tour of your choice. Certain tours are not possible for particular period which we shall let you know. Besides, the cost may vary depending on seasonality.
Could you provide us international flights to India?
It is better if you could buy international tickets directly through your local agent or on internet. Although we can provide you international flight tickets, but you may a get a better deal locally.
Is visa service included in your cost?
No, you have to obtain visa on your own. The visa regulations will depend on your nationality. You may contact us for further details.
Is it possible to make extension or modify tours?
Yes, it is very much possible. You can extend your stay on arrival or departure or at any other place. You may also modify the tour. You may let us know your interest and we can send you modified tour itinerary with cost.
What’s included in the cost?
Our cost normally includes hotel accommodation with breakfast, private air-conditioned car with driver which includes fuel, parking and all taxes, entrance fee to monuments, train tickets if any, guided city tours in English or in other foreign languages, viz French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Russian or other foreign languages subject to availability which we can notify at the time of reservation request. Our cost also includes some other services viz Elephant ride at Amer fort in Jaipur, camel safari in Jaisalmer and boat tour in Varanasi. We shall send you all details at the time of sending you quotation.
We may also include other services viz lunches, dinners or other services if you wish. We may also exclude guide service and entrance fee to monuments if you so wish.
Are domestic flights and trains are included in our cost ?
Train tickets are included in our cost. But, we give supplement cost for domestic flight tickets as these days, there are dynamic fares and these are not fixed. We send you indicative fare at the time of sending you quotation which is subject to change until issue of tickets with advance purchase for which we need payment from you to issue flight tickets. You may also purchase domestic flight tickets directly on your own if you prefer.
What kind of hotel accommodation is provided ?
We provide minimum standard (3 star or similar), superior (4 star or similar), deluxe (5 star or similar) hotels and the cost will depend depending on category of hotels. We can send you quotation for the category that you are interested in. We usually provide heritage or palace hotels which fit in your category of hotels. We may also mix the hotel category if you prefer and can also provide you rates based on hotels of your liking in all places if you like.
When do I have to pay?
We usually request 25% advance upon confirmation of our services unless otherwise informed at the time of sending you quotation. We shall send you all payment terms at the time of sending you our offer.
I am interested. What is next step?
Click here to send us information of your trip and we shall send you soonest possible.
Why State Express
Established in 1980, State Express has been providing most reliable services to travelers all over the world for last 35 years. We are renowned for our customer first approach and unobtrusive efficiency which ensures the highest levels of customer satisfaction. We have been awarded several times by State Government for being best Tour Operator. All aspects of our tours have been carefully researched and then designed to give ultimate experience to travelers. Let our travel knowledge help you to create a wonderful experience, whether on one of our tour itineraries or a tailor made tour itinerary made exclusively for you to give you an unforgettable holiday.
Our people make the difference
Our success has been possible because of our people who are our biggest asset. We have a team of highly dedicated, sincere, hardworking who work with integrity that has made State Express one of the leading and most reliable tour companies in India. They not only have expertise and experience to meet any requirement, they also speak foreign languages and trained to offer only the best and leave nothing to chance. We know that travel to Indian sub-continent is a dream of many of our guests and our team does everything possible to make their dream true and give them an experience of their lifetime.
Our infrastructure
We have complete infrastructure to provide you best rate and services to you. We are an IATA approved and authorized agents for all domestic airlines and Indian Railways. We have our own cars vans and coaches with experienced drivers. We have multi lingual staff to ensure that our guests do not face any language problem. We also have associate offices in all major tourist centers to provide assistance in shortest possible time.
Our fleet of vehicles & drivers
We undoubtedly have one of the best and most modern fleet of cars, vans, 4X4s and large coaches. Surface travel is a very important aspect in India as you spend lot of your time while travelling on the road and therefore given us an edge over other tour companies who have to rely on other transport companies to provide this service to their clients. We have our own garage and all our vehicles are well maintained to give you hassle free journey.
Besides having the best fleet, it is our drivers who truly make the difference as they play a crucial role in making a tour successful. Even if you stay in best of the hotels and travel in most comfortable and luxurious vehicles, if you do not have a good driver, it may spoil your experience. We have our team of drivers who are part of State Express and have been working with us for years and they are trained, dedicated and motivated to take care of our guests and make them comfortable. That is the reason that more than 90% of our guests thank us and appreciate them after returning to their home.
Our choice of hotels
We take utmost care in selection of hotels that we recommend to our clients and include in our list of suggested hotels. We inspect these hotels regularly to be sure of their quality of product and services. We give lot of emphasis on the location and the people who run those hotels. We want to give you clients an experience of heritage and palace hotels which are unique and not available in other part of the world.
Our tour itineraries
All our tour itineraries are designed by experts to give you an opportunity to see most wonderful sites in number of days at your disposal at the same time giving you time to explore the places in your own way. We have a number of itineraries to choose from which covers all India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Tibet. We also include mode of travel and approximate time taken between places to ensure that you do not have any surprises during the tour. Our specialists will also work with you to create an itinerary of your choice either by modifying our readymade tour itineraries or prepare an exclusive tailor made tour for you based on your interest and liking keeping in mind local conditions.
24×7 assistance during the tour
We provide you clients real 24×7 assistance during the tour. This is not a marketing gimmick but we have someone in our office always to assist you in case of any emergency anytime. We also provide cell phone numbers of our executive who you may contact even during odd hours when you need them for anything urgent. We have associate offices in all major cities of India to provide you assistance in minimum possible time.
Response time
We know that response time is key to our success and we value it a lot. Even at initial stages before reservation, you will get replies from us in not more than 24 working hours. We shall always be there whenever you need us during the tour.
Personalised Service
Apart from professional service, we believe in emphasising on personalised service. That is to make our guests feel at home in a foreign country and also feel that they have friends here who they can trust for any need. Our customer executives remain in constant touch with our guests during the tour to give them comfort and trust that we are always with them.
Good value for money
We know that there are so many travel companies providing their services and unless we provide good value for money to our clients, they will not be satisfied. Our own fleet of cars, vans and coaches and best special discounted rates with hotels due to our volumes enables us to offer value for money.
Call us at +91 11 47674000 or email us on info@statexp.in for all the details on this itinerary and what is included in your tour. We shall be glad to make any amendments in the tour if you so wish and send you our best quotation and details of the tou to suit your budget and interest.