Are you willing to go for a fascinating journey through the many worlds of Karnataka? Plan your tour with the luxurious and magnificent train 'Golden Chariot'. This luxury train is the best for you if you want to experience the royalty. This masterpiece will take you to a remarkable voyage of discovery through the Cradle of Stone Architecture and reflects the historical significance of Karnataka. The train includes 19 coaches in all, which are exquisitely coloured purple and gold. The logo of this train is a mythological animal having the head of an elephant and the body of a lion.
Embark on a journey of 06 Nights & 07 Days with the train which will enable you to explore sites like Mysore, Srirangapatna, Chikamagalur, Hampi, Halebidu, Pattadakal, Badami, Aihole, Yeshwantpur, Bandipur, Bengaluru and Golden Beaches of Goa.
History
The Golden Chariot came into existence when The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) and the Railways Ministry signed an MOU for it. The train flagged off from Yeshwanthpur station in Bangalore on March 10, 2008. This luxury train was named after the famous Stone Chariot in Hampi, a world heritage site.
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.
Golden Chariot Train
The luxurious voyage of Golden Chariot is a cradle of Stone Architecture. It traverses through the spellbinding World Heritage Sites at Hampi & Pattadakkal. One gets to stop and marvel at the exquisite temples at Belur & and Halebid toward the Golden beaches of Goa & Nagarhole Wildlife Reserve.
The Golden Chariot passes through various states of South India. It provides its passengers the opportunity to see and know the lifestyle and culture of states like Tamil Nadu and Kerela.
