Train journey is most
enjoyable as one can spend time leisurely eating the choicest delicacies
looking through the window at the
different culture, fields, people and more … as the train chughs past different
areas. Interestingly, Indian Trains have
Names besides the Numbers. As you would know, Trains now have 5 digit numbers –
earlier they were 4 digits. Most trains
are named after Gods, rivers, important places in the origin or destination –
……. and regularly more get added to the long list.. some are named after personalities and some
after traits too.. there are some luxurious trains like ‘Palace on wheels’ and
the recent addition is the ‘Golden Chariot’….. a train which has been awarded
the ‘Asia’s leading luxury train’ award at the World Travel Awards, 2013.
The Golden Chariot is a
luxury tourist train that connects the important tourist spots in arnataka,
Goa, Kerala & Tamil Nadu as well as Pondicherry, depending on the selected
itinerary. It is named after the Stone Chariot in the Vitthala Temple at
Hampi. The 19 coaches on the train are
coloured purple and gold, and sport the logo of a mythological animal with the
head of an elephant and a body of a lion. The train had its maiden commercial
run in 2008 and operates between the months of Oct – Mar. The train is operated
by the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation and The Maple Group
handles the hospitality services on the train.
The Golden Chariot offers 2
itineraries. The itineraries are named Pride of the South and Splendor of the
South. Pride of the South tour is a 7 nights and 8 days itinerary during which
several tourist places including Mysore, Nagarhole, Hassan, Belur, Halebedu,
Hampi,Badami in Karnataka are covered. Splendor of the South tour covers tourist
places in 3 South Indian states. The
advertisement boasts it to be a sojourn through well known & off beat
destinations of South India in luxurious fashion. An adventure in comfort, a
romance on rail tracks, with heritage & cultural destinations taking
through timeless Historical Heritage Sites, Palaces, Wildlife and Golden
Beaches.
The train is in news because
the one carrying Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other members of the
entourage was stoned by some unidentified miscreants near Pandavapura on
Wednesday as reported in The Hindu.
Pandavapura is approximately 130 km from Bangalore and 25 km from Mysore
and is surrounded by beautiful paddy and sugar cane fields. The name meaning
"Town of Pandavas" myth logically is believed to be the place where
Pandavas stayed for sometime during their exile.
this picture credits : The Hindu
The Karnataka Chief Minister
was on his way to Mysore from Bangalore to participate in the Dasara festival,
which will commence from Thursday. The stone-throwing is suspected to be the
work of some urchins, and the window pane of the coach next to which the Chief
Minister was travelling, was damaged. Sources in the Railways said the
Government Railway Police were investigating.
According to its website,
the fare for an Indian National on board Pride South is Rs.22000/- per person
per night (Single) and Rs.154000/- for a 7 night journey. In Southern Splendour it is Rs.26400/- &
Rs.184800/- respectively. Besides
Service Tax a 10% Surcharge would be levied on departures during Christmas /
New year. The tariff rate includes
accommodation on board the Golden Chariot as also at resorts / conducted
sight-seeing tours and entrance fees at monuments.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
25th Sept. 2o14.
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