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the-south-asian Life & Times                     April - June 2010

 

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'Raja Ravi Varma'
 - by Rupika Chawla

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 - a unique train thru
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Romance of Rails’

-         The Golden Chariot – Southern Splendour

A special feature by SALT

 
The Golden Chariot and its dining car

Paul Theroux, the ultimate traveller and railway enthusiast - and also the author of ‘The Great Railway Bazaar’ - his first travel book (an account of his journey by train across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia) – was recently asked about his preferred mode of travel. He did not pause to think.  “The train—because I can read, walk around, sleep, talk to people, enjoy a sort of cultural experience, and get off anywhere I wish.”

And if the journey happens to be aboard a luxury train – it also becomes stress-free and relaxing. Imagine not having to pack and unpack in various hotels, and totally miss out on long waits at airports and even longer security queues.  Moreover – what a green way to travel!

Karnataka State Government’s luxury train ‘The Golden Chariot’ made its inaugural run on March 15 of a new itinerary - called ‘Splendour of the South’ – an historic eight-day inter-state journey through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, and Kerala. The luxury train rolled out of Bangalore from Platform 6 of Yeshwantpur station – on a more-than-memorable journey to Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry, Trichy, Tanjore, Madurai, Trivandrum, the Backwaters, and Cochin.  The trip terminated at Bangalore.

The 18-carriage train carries 88 passengers, and a staff and crew of fifty – including personal stewards.

The private cabins are clean and comfortable, food better than 5-star gourmet, the itinerary meticulously planned, staff more than courteous, and great company of fellow-travellers from the world over.

SALT brings its readers an exclusive on the new trip aboard The Golden Chariot – the history and culture of all the places visited – and of course the complete experience of this luxury train.

 Read the entire 32-page account of the exclusive 8-day journey and  all the places visited - in the print edition

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