India

Sights, Monuments and Wildlife Parks to visit during the Golden Chariot Luxury Train Tour – Jewels of South

By Mini Agarwal
golden chariot train jewels of south blog

The Golden Chariot Train is South India’s reply to Rajasthan’s Palace on Wheels. Southern India has only one luxury tourist train, the Golden Chariot. “Asia’s Leading Luxury Train” that’s the prestigious title that the Golden Chariot was awarded at the World Travel Awards. Your travel to a variety of locations will be by night and you will have all day for exploration. You will enjoy remarkable service right through your journey on the Golden Chariot Luxury Train. On the dot at 6:30 am every morning your attendant also known as Swami will serve you your bed tea. The waiters at Madira, the bar named after the mythical drink of the gods, will know everyone by day two and you will be treated to some marvelous food. You will enjoy the interactions that you have with the executive chef and have the opportunity to find out more about your meal directly from him if you wish, because at mealtime he mingles with the guest in the restaurant. The chef will talk about the challenges of preparing such fantastic meals for the Golden Chariot train journey. Every meal that you eat is freshly prepared on the train despite the fact that there is limited space and no cooking gas; as a standard railway rule, only electricity can be used. Nevertheless you will be delighted as you eat your soups with prawn and lemon grass, roasted bell pepper and tomato, carrot, and coriander. On the Continental menu you will have a selection of chicken chasseur, grilled lamb chops, and poached seer fish fillet. The Indian thali meals range from Kashmiri to Mangalorean. You will be pampered on this Golden Chariot journey through South India!

 

Departures and Routes

There are two different itineraries and routes to choose from when you take the Golden Chariot Train. Both depart from Yeshwantpur Station in Bangalore early on Sunday morning.

To find out more about the detailed itinerary, price and departure dates of the Golden Chariot Luxury Train, click the respective two itineraries below.

Jewels of South/Six-Night (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala): Bangalore ➜ Mysore ➜ Hampi ➜ Mahabalipuram ➜ Thanjavur and Chettinad ➜ Kochi ➜ Kumarakom (Houseboat and Backwaters) ➜ Bangalore.

Pride of Karnataka/Six-Night (Karnataka and Goa): Bangalore ➜ Bandipur National Park ➜ Mysore ➜ Halebidu ➜ Chikamgaluru ➜ Hampi ➜ Badami ➜ Goa (including Old Goa’s churches) ➜ Bangalore

 

Golden Chariot Luxury Train Tour / Route: Jewels of South – Photoessay of Sights, Monuments and Wildlife

 

the platter at a restaurant in Kumarakom, Kerala

Luscious Karimeen Fry garnished with onions and lemons adding beauty to the platter at a restaurant in Kumarakom, Kerala, India © Ajay Thomas


A River Kingfisher relaxing on a tree’s branch at Kumarakom

A River Kingfisher relaxing on a tree’s branch at Kumarakom, Kerala, India. © Manu M Nair


A Snake bird sitting on a branch

A Snake bird sitting on a branch ready to take off for its flight in the backwater at Kumarakom in Kerala, India. © ananth-tp


Pink Water Lily Flowers

Pink Water Lily Flowers in its full glory in a pond in Kumarakom backwaters, Kerala, India. © Purple Art


The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica at Fort Kochi

The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica at Fort Kochi is one of the nine Basilicas in Kerala. It is one of the finest and most impressive churches in India and visited by tourists the whole year round. Kochi, Kerala, India. © Vladimir Zhoga


Foreign tourists shopping in fort kochi

Foreign tourists shopping for spices and seasonings in a conventional shop where the products are displayed on tables and floor, Fort Kochi, Kerala, India. © AjayTvm


The St. Francis Church in kerala

The St. Francis Church is well-known for its beautiful structural design and ambience. It is here that the famous explorer, Vasco-da-Gama, was originally buried and it was built in the memory of him at Fort Kochi, Kerala, India. © Sandipan Dutta Images


The Jew Town in kerala

The Jew Town is known for its old-world charm. Jew Town Road sells antiques, carvings, and vintage collectibles, along with Keralan crafts and aromatic spices, Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, Kerala, India © AjayTvm


Kochi where a Fisherman operates a Chinese fishing net

A scene from Kochi where a Fisherman operates a Chinese fishing net. It’s an ingenious fishing technique that allows one single fisherman to operate a 20-metres-wide fishing net by himself. Fort Kochi, Kerala, India. © Daniel J. Rao


Indian Chettinad style cooking

Mouth-watering spicy mutton gravy prepared in Indian Chettinad style cooking. It is the cuisine of a community called the Nattukottai Chettiars, or Nagarathars as they call themselves, from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu state in South India. © ELAMARAN ELAAA


Chettinad style Indian Banana Leaf cuisine

Luscious Chettinad style Indian Banana Leaf cuisine with servings of rice, buttermilk, pickles, papads and salads. Chettiars follow a specific protocol where each dish served should be at a designated space and order on the banana leaf. © sky52200


The grand old mansions of Chettinad

The grand old mansions of Chettinad which used to be called nattukottai or regional fort. Some of the mansions have so long rooms that run parallel to the courtyard; these can seat a thousand people. © Melting Spot


the idol at Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur

A Hindu priest standing in front of the idol at Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the South bank of Kaveri River in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. © CRS PHOTO


the ceiling of Brihadishwara Temple

Brilliant paintings created on the ceiling of Brihadishwara Temple also known as the Great Living Chola Temples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for a group of Chola dynasty era in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. © RealityImages


Street vendors selling coconut ,mahabalipuram

Street vendors selling raw green coconuts on their shop at the side of the road of Mahabalipuram, India. © CRS PHOTO


Hindu monolithic Pancha Rathas ,mahabalipuram

Hindu women posing at ancient Hindu monolithic Pancha Rathas. Pancha Rathas is an example of monolithic Indian rock-cut architecture at Mahabalipuram, Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu, India. © Matias Planas


the SeaShore Temple at Mahabalipuram

A gigantic view of the SeaShore Temple at Mahabalipuram. It is so named because it overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is a beautiful structural temple, built with blocks of granite, dating from the 8th century AD. Mahabalipuram, India. © Jayakumar


street shop at Mahabalipuram.

A man intricately carves stone statue with hammer in his street shop at Mahabalipuram. This is a well-known art and is very popular in India. © CRS PHOTO


Vittala temple is the most extravagant architectural showpiece of Hampi

Vittala temple is the most extravagant architectural showpiece of Hampi. It is dedicated to Lord Vitthal, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu at the epicenter of Hampi, Karnataka, India. © Waj


Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple is a huge statue of Lord Ganesha

Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple is a huge statue of Lord Ganesha, carved out of a single block of rock. Inside the temple the Ganesha is seen in a half-lotus position with four arms, Karnataka, India. © AnilD


A beautiful portrait of Reachel Singh, hampi

A beautiful portrait of Reachel Singh, Dutch professional singer gazing at the Hampi temple in southern India. © Jose HERNANDEZ Camera 51


nature in Hampi, Karnataka

The girl stands with her back on the top of the cliff and enjoys the sunset while welcoming the sun by raising her hands up and meditating alone with nature in Hampi, Karnataka, India. © Napoleonka


The royal Mysore Palace also known as Ambavilas

The royal Mysore Palace also known as Ambavilas Palace decorated with lights observed at the blue hour in Mysore, Karnataka, South India. © Catalin Lazar


Mysore Masala Dosa

Mysore Masala Dosa served stuffed with potato filling and served with spicy sambar and coconut chutney at Mysore, Karnataka, India. © vm2002


Royal Mysore Palace

Royal Mysore Palace displaying Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, this sprawling building is a replacement of the old wooden building destroyed by fire in the late 19th century. It is indeed one of the best places to visit in India. © Sarath maroli


Vidhana Soudha

Vidhana Soudha also known as “Temple dedicated to the nation” stands tall against the purple sky. It happens to be one of the largest legislative buildings and is a must-see tourist attraction in Bangalore. The 46-metre tall imposing building reflects the impressive Dravidian style of architecture. Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. © Rajiv Mathew Cherian


The Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple is located in Nandi Hills Area, in Bangalore Rural district

The Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple is located in Nandi Hills Area, in Bangalore Rural district. It magnificently houses three temples – the Arunachaleshwara, the Uma Maheshwara and the Bhoga Nandeeshwara. It is a 1000 year old temple that bears the architectural stamps of around five different dynasties that ruled here. © Hema Narayanan


Bangalore fort

Bangalore fort situated in the heart of Bangalore was built by Kempe Gowda I and later further developed by Haider Ali. Tourists come to look at the remains, in particular, the marble plaques with interesting historical facts written on them, all round the year. Bangalore, India. © jishnu2602


houseboat at the backwaters of Kerala.

A scenic view of thatch-roofed houseboat at the backwaters of Kerala. Traditional thatch-roofed houseboats called kettuvallams are made of materials tied together. Not a single nail is used in the construction and all the materials are local and eco friendly. © Paul Cowan


the beach, Cochin

brilliantly designed this marvel of ancient engineering is a treat to watch. Chinese fishing nets are multiple nets being operated all day every day and the boardwalk offers a chance to eat fresh fish, buy souvenirs, and walk by the beach, Cochin, South India © Katarina S


the Brihadeeswara Temple

A majestic view of the Brihadeeswara Temple, located in the centre of the city. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and an art of the work achieved by Cholas in Tamil architecture and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Great Living Chola Temples” © Natalia Davidovich


the Mahabharata and is a UNESCO Heritage site in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu,

Tourists in front of Arjuna’s Penance which is a magnificent relief, carved in the mid-seventh century. It is a story from the Mahabharata and is a UNESCO Heritage site in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India © CRS PHOTO


A huge stall of Banana on the road side

A huge stall of Banana on the road side. The vendor stands and waits for the customers to come and buy the bananas, India © Ozphotoguy


the ancients carvings on a wall in Hampi

Tourist taking a video of the ancients carvings on a wall in Hampi with his GoPro


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