The luxury train leaves the Yeshvantpur Station in Bangalore, capital city of Karnataka at 9 a.m. You will be welcomed and the board your coach. Here you will complete the registration form, and attend a short briefing session before enjoying lunch while watching the beautiful landscape pass by on your way to Mysore. The train stops in Mysore at 3 p.m. for a visit to the Mysore Palace. Then it is back on board for dinner a bit later while the train makes its way to Hampi.

• Welcoming at Yeshvantpur Railway Station, leaves around 9 a.m.
• Registration and a briefing session after boarding
• A delicious lunch is served on board
• Get off at Mysore
• Pay a visit to the Mysore Palace around 3 p.m.
• Re-board the train after an interesting sightseeing excursion
• Enjoy a sumptuous dinner on the train
• Overnight journey to Hampi

Breakfast is served on the train. Next is a visit to the ruined temple complex of ancient Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built with great craftsmanship during the Vijayanagara Empire. Admire the remains of palaces, temples and a carved stone chariot. After lunch on board the train, there is an optional tour to the charming village of Anegundi, even older than Hampi and situated picturesquely on the Tungabhadra River. Enjoy dinner as the train proceed to Mahabalipuram.

• World-class breakfast on board
• Get off at Hampi to admire this UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Explore the remains of Hampi’s ancient temples, monuments and sculptures
• Enjoy a well-deserved lunch on the train
• Take part in an optional evening excursion to the village of Anegundi
• Dinner is served on board
• Have a good night’s rest while journeying on to Mahabalipuram

After breakfast the train arrives in Chengalpattu Station where you will get off to visit the Shore Temple situated on the Bay of Bengal. As you enter this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you are greeted by a sea of sculptures and ancient carvings.

Mamallapuram was both a religious destination and a major port city during the Pallava rule. The city is named after Narasimhavarman who was also popular as “Mahamalla” or the great wrestling warrior. The trade reach of the port city was such that the businessmen of the time explored China, Persia, and Rome, evident by the coins that were found in the port city. The Hindu temples and monuments built by the Pallava Dynasty in the 7th and 8th century are found here. The prime piece of stone art however is “Arjuna’s Penance” which is a rock relief.

Arjuna is a major character in Mahabharata, the Hindu epic, and was part of the Pandava Clan. The ancient piece of art depicts Arjuna standing on one foot trying to please Lord Shiva to grant him power. Various themes have been engraved into the rock here, one of which is a cat assuming a similar posture to Arjuna, as mice stare at it. There are also depictions of devotees performing rituals and an elephant procession. Each of these is symbolic of some sort of wisdom. There is a narrow cleft in the center of the rock which becomes a pathway for river water during the rainy season, and is also the reason for Arjuna’s Penance being referred to as the Descent of Ganga. Spend time deciphering the intricate details in the carvings that impart ancient wisdom. There are five monolithic temples in the town, known as the Five Rathas or chariots of temple procession. These are actually the remnants of seven temples. The town is also known as Seven Pagodas due to its existence. Collectively, they belong to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram.

Tamil Nadu is famous for its cuisines and we get a taste of it at one of the best restaurants, located by the scenic beach of the area We get enough time to unwind by the beach post-lunch. After this, we head back to the Golden Chariot. Dinner is served in your royal carriage and then we retire for the night as our journey continues to Thanjavur.

• A delightful breakfast aboard the train
• We set out to Mahabalipuram
• Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mahabalipuram
• Sumptuous South Indian lunch at an exclusive venue
• Royal dinner aboard the Golden Chariot
• The journey towards Thanjavur begins.

After the heart filling breakfast, deboard Golden Chariot Train to visit Thanjavur, also known as Tanjore. After breakfast we drive towards Brihadeshwara Temple, the most majestic of the three Chola Temples that stand strong today. Together these temples are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Don’t be surprised if you feel a sense of déjà vu when you view this beautiful temple. You’ve probably seen it on TV. Standing like a minuscule organism before this humongous piece of ancient architecture is an experience hard to describe. The Hindu shrine itself is located within a walled fortress. This abode of Lord Shiva was built in the 11^th century by the great Rajaraja Chola I. The temple stands as a testament to the emperor’s sense of beauty and devotion to the lord with its opulent size and beautiful carvings. All shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva have a Nandi (divine bull) statue facing the main idol in the sanctum sanctorum and Brihadeshwara Temple is no different. The distinction with this Nandi, however, is its sheer size. The idol stands 13 feet high and 18 feet wide.

Several murals and frescoes adorn the temple throughout, with each narrating a scene from the legends of Lord Shiva. Notice the intricate workmanship that each of the temple walls exhibits. The meticulously stacked up stone poles and granite stone interlocks have withstood the test of time for centuries together and show no signs of dilapidation whatsoever – an admirable feat for the architects of the time. The thought that the temple was built far back in the 11th century almost seems mythical.

Afterwards you continue the journey to Chettinad where you will pay an evening visit to the famous Athangudi tile factory, as well as a few Chettinad mansions. Dinner will be enjoyed on board as the wheels of the train speed onwards to Cochin.

• Breakfast on Golden Chariot
• Visit to renowned Brihadeshwara Temple which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Get back on board for a relaxed lunch
• Journey onwards to Chettinad
• Visits to the Chettinad mansions and Athangudi tile factory
• Enjoy dinner on the Golden Chariot
• Overnight on the train on the way to Cochin

After a sumptuous breakfast onboard we take a coach to Kochi. Here, we visit the old town, Fort Kochi. The town itself gives you a laid back feel. The port town was occupied by the Portuguese and the Dutch at various times. You’ll find a Caribbean flavor to this sleepy town. However, the town retains its rich historical roots like the British Fort that has stood strong through the years. The town is historically, culturally and religiously rich with 50% of the population comprised of Hindus and the rest an even mix of Muslims and Christians.

A guided tour of this beautiful town awaits you. Among the famous attractions is the Church of St. Francis which was once the final resting place of the great explorer Vasco da Gama, who was later exhumed to his hometown. You will visit the age-old synagogue in Jew Town and Mattancherry Palace. Watch the cantilevered Chinese fishnets that are cast through the day and form a scene to behold in the evening sun. We explore the local markets that are flush with silk garments, spices, teak-wood souvenirs, hand-woven carpets, and jewelry made of silver. We also visit a small palace, which was once the favorite among the Maharajas of the region.

Return to Train to have your Lunch.

During the evening there is a Kathakali performance which you may choose to attend at a special venue. Kathakali is the traditional classical dance of Kerala.

By this time it’s evening already and we head back to Golden Chariot at Ernakulam South Railway Station and enjoy our dinner onboard the train. In a little while, we depart to Kumarakom.

• Breakfast on the Golden Chariot
• We reach For Kochi and enjoy some shopping and sightseeing
• Return to the train for lunch
• Optional evening traditional classical dance performance at a special venue
• It’s dinner time onboard Golden Chariot
• Overnight on the Golden Chariot as the train proceeds to Kumarakom

After our morning fill, we head to the backwaters in Kumarakom and our houseboat. There is no better way to explore the natural serenity of Kerala than venturing on a relaxing houseboat ride through the backwaters. The narrow canals that open up into wide waterways are a scene of natural beauty. You will encounter several shades of thick greens as you travel through the canal in a pace that allows you to savor every bit of beauty around you. You watch rustic villages, grazing cattle, and fishermen pass by you. You’ll enjoy navigating through the many mangroves, paddy fields, coconut palms, and papaya trees behind village homes as you explore the calm waters. Watch birds swooping by you in search of fish as you sip on some cool coconut water through the comfort of your luxurious houseboat.

Lunch will be enjoyed in one of the Lake Resorts, by the Vembanad Lake, the largest of its kind in the country.

By this time it’s evening already and we head back to Golden Chariot where we depart to Bangalore in a little while, effectively bringing our Golden Chariot Train tour to an end.

• Breakfast on the Golden Chariot
• We leave for Kumarakom Jetty to board the houseboat and explore the backwaters of Kerala
• It’s lunch time and we head to one of the best resorts overlooking the backwaters
• Dinner on board the train
• Overnight train journey to Bangalore

Enjoy a last breakfast on the Golden Chariot before you arrive back at the Yeshwantpur Station in Bangalore. Say farewell to the new friends you made on board the luxury train on your delightful seven-day Jewels of the South Trip.

• Breakfast aboard the Golden Chariot
• You bid adieu to the crew and disembark the Golden Chariot at Yeshwanthpur Railway Station

This is also the point where Vacation India Services resume. Our representative will be waiting for your arrival at the train station along with a chauffeur. If you’ve missed shopping for your loved ones, now is the time to take care of it. Sightseeing of Bangalore is another option that you might want to explore. The vehicle to ferry you around and the chauffeur will remain with you until you check-in at the airport, which usually is in the evening. In case, your flight is scheduled early the next day, we can always arrange a comfortable stay for you. The option of extending your stay through our many touring options is at your disposal. All you need to do is simply let us know. We bring you several Extension Trips!