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– G.R.N. Somashekar

A view of the restaurant inside the Golden Chariot, which will be flagged off from Bangalore by the President, Ms Pratibha Patil, at Yeshwanthpur Railway Station on February 2.

Our Bureau

Bangalore, Jan. 31 The Golden Chariot will soon be on the rails, traversing tourist destinations in Karnataka and Goa. The luxury train will be formally flagged off by the President, Ms Pratibha Patil, on February 2.

“The Golden Chariot will add to the culturally rich tourist attractions in India. The southern region has not had a luxury like this and we hope to replicate the success of Palace on Wheels here,” said Mr I.M. Vittala Murthy, Chairman of Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC).

Mr Prashant Thakur, Managing Director of the KSTDC, said the train would be a “major catalyst for renewed thrust on tourism in the State.”

The Golden Chariot will start from Bangalore and cover Mysore, Kabini, Hassan, Belur, Shravanabelagola, Hampi, Aihole, Pattadakal, Badami and Goa, from where it will begin its return journey to Bangalore.

The luxury train will start its trial run from second week of February and its full commercial journey of seven days and seven nights will begin on March 3, when the 19 ‘thematically designed coaches’ of the train will be fully operational. Eleven passenger coaches, equipped with modern amenities such as wi-fi environment and plasma TV, are already furnished, Mr Thakur said.

The cabins are inspired by the Mysore and Belur Halebid schools of art and architecture. The bedspreads are hand-woven by artisans who have carried down the tradition through ages,” Mr Thakur said.

The coaches have been named after the dynasties that ruled Karnataka – Kadamba, Hoysala, Rastrakuta, Ganga, Chalukya, Bhahamani, Adhilshahi, Sangama, Shathavahna, Yudukula and Vijayanagara.

The unique facility the train offers is its satellite supported television, which unlike the other luxry trains, could provide the tourists with live feed of news and other programmes beamed by various channels.

The package will cost $350 a day, which includes the travel, stay on land and food.

Mapple Hotels, the managing partner of the Golden Chariot, has appointed heritage-walks provider India WALKS as its cultural coordinator. India WALKS will assist Mapple Hotels in designing and conducting various off-board activities, including selection and training of guides.

More Stories on : Railways | Tourism | Karnataka

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