If we are taking about luxury train tours in India, how can it be complete without a mention of the Golden Chariot – Splendor of the South! Chugging through the picturesque locales of Bangalore, Chennai, Mamallapuram, Pondicherry, Tiruchirapalli & Thanjavur, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Thiruvananthapuram and Alleppey, over seven nights and eight days, this luxury train of India offers you 2 restaurants, a lounge, a fitness center and a well stocked bar. Enjoy traversing across the colorful and vibrant southern regions of India over this Splendor of the South, while being treated like royalty.
Day 1 – Monday Bangalore – Chennai
04.00 pm: Check-In at Taj West End
04.30 pm: Hi-Tea
05.30 pm: Presentation on The Golden Chariot tour
06.00 pm: Cultural Show
06.30 pm: Visit the ISKCON Temple (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness)
08.15 pm: Arrive at Yeshwanthpur Railway Station to a Traditional Indian Welcome
Dinner onboard The Golden Chariot
10.45 pm: Depart to Chennai
Day 2– Tuesday Chennai – Mahabalipuram – Pondicherry
08:00 am: Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot
09:00 am: Arrive at Chennai Egmore Railway Station
09:30 am: De-board the train and proceed to Luxury Coach
10:30 am: Arrive at San Thome Basilica (Church visit and Museum visit)
11.00 am: Depart to Cholamandalam Artists Village
12.00 noon: Reach Cholamandalam Artists Village (Tour of the village)
01.00 pm: Start to our Luxury partner Resort for Lunch
01.30 pm: Lunch at the Luxury Resort
02.30 pm: Drive to Mahabalipuram by Coach
03.00 pm: Reach Mahabalipuram and sight visits
(Tour of Arjuna’s Penance / Krishna’s Butter Ball / Ganesha Temple / Five Ratha’s Temple / Shiva Shore Temple)
06:00 pm: Drive to Villupuram Railway Station by Coach
07.30 pm: Arrive at Villupuram Station / board The Golden Chariot and refresh
08:30 pm: Dinner on board the Golden Chariot
Day 3 – Wednesday Pondicherry – Tanjore
08:00 am: Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot
09:30 am: Board the Coach and depart to Puducherry
10.30 am: Reach Puducherry and a tour through Auroville ashram and Matrimandir (visit from outside)
01:30 pm: Lunch at the off board Luxury Resort
02.30 pm: Drive back to Villupuram and back on board The Golden Chariot and a brief rest
04:30 pm: Drive to Puducherry and a visit to the Aurobindo ashram in the French town, Shopping and /or stroll on the Promenade Beach
06.30 pm: Drive back to Villupuram and board The Golden Chariot
08:00 pm: Dinner onboard The Golden Chariot
10.45 pm: Depart to Thanjavur
Day 4– Thursday Tanjore – Trichy – Madurai
07:30 am: Arrive at Thanjavur Railway Station
07:30 am: Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot
10.00 am: Visit to Brihadeeswara Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
11.30 am: Visit to Thanjavur Maratha Palace or Serfoji Maratha Palace
12 noon: Shopping at CIE Saga
02.00 pm: Lunch at off board Resort
04.00 pm: Drive to Trichy by Luxury Coach
06.00 pm: Visit Sri Rangam temple – India’s largest temple complex dedicated to Lord Vishnu
07.30 pm: Board The Golden Chariot and refresh
08:00 pm: Dinner onboard The Golden Chariot
12.15 am: Depart to Madurai
Day 5– Friday Madurai – Kanyakumari
05.15am: Arrive at Madurai Railway Station
08:00 am: Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot
10:00 am: Visit to the famous Meenakshi Temple
01:00 pm: Lunch onboard The Golden Chariot and brief rest
05:00 pm: Visit Gandhi Museum (Rani Mangammal Palace)
06:00 pm: Visit the ThirumalaiNayakarMahal for Sound & Light show
07:30 pm: Dinner onboard The Golden Chariot
11:15 pm: Depart to Kanyakumari
Day 6– Saturday Kanyakumari – Kovalam
04.30 am: Arrive at Kanyakumari Railway Station
05:30 am: Depart to Kanyakumari by Coach, Sunrise view
07.30 am: Return back to The Golden Chariot and Breakfast on board
09:30 am: Visit the famous Padmanabhapuram Wooden Palace
01.00 pm: Return back to The Golden Chariot and Lunch on board
02:00 pm: Depart to Kocchuveli
04:00 pm: Arrive at Kocchuveli Railway Station
04:30 pm: Drive to our partner Resort by coach and once reached stroll on Kovalam beach with hi tea.
07:30 pm: Musical / Dance performance followed by Dinner at the Resort, Kovalam.
10.30 pm: Back on board The Golden Chariot and overnight in the train
Day 7 – Sunday Kovalam – Alleppey – Cochin – Bangalore
04:30 am: Depart to Alleppey
07:30 am: Breakfast onboard The Golden Chariot
08:30 am: Arrive at Alleppey Railway Station
10:00 am: Depart for Houseboat Cruise on the backwaters
01:00 pm: Arrive at off board Resort for Lunch
02:30 pm: Depart to Kochi by road
03:45 pm: Visit to the Chinese Fishing Nets and a walk around the Jew Town and the market.
06.30 pm: Back onboard The Golden Chariot
07:30 pm: Depart to Bangalore, overnight on the train
08:00 pm: Dinner onboard The Golden Chariot
Day 8 – Monday Bangalore
08:00 am: Breakfast on board The Golden Chariot
11:00 am: Reach Yeshwanthpur Railway Station, Bangalore
Farewell by the entire crew
Note: Itinerary, destination &scheduled Time are liable to change without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances.