The Golden Chariot – Splendour Of South

8 Days

Duration

8/10

Physicality

Delhi India

Location

12+

Age

Delhi - Bikaner - Udaipur – Jodhpur - Agra - Sawai Madhopur - Jaipur - Mumbai (7 Nights / 8 Days)

DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION

Mumbai International Airport

INCLUDED

Airfare	Accommodations
Local transportation	Professional guide

NOT INCLUDED

Entrance fees

Guide gratuity

Southern Splendor is another grand way of traversing across the colorful and culturally vibrant southern regions of India. Extensively traveling through the length and breadth of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, this luxury train offers 8-day sojourn to its guests. A property of Golden Chariot, a luxury train in India that has so far introduced the various cities of Karnataka to a thousand guests in a never before way, Southern Splendor promises to be no less spectacular and fascinating. Come board this enchanting sojourn and relive the glory of India, yet another time.

Day 01: Bangalore - Chennai

15:00 hours	Arrive Taj West End to proceed for the check-in formalities at the hotel followed by the Hi-Tea at Banquet Hall at 1600 Hrs.
17:00 hours	Proceed for the presentation on do’s and dont’s for The Golden Chariot tour followed by a visit to Chitrakala Parishad / Art gallery. Conclude the tour with a cultural show.
20:00 hours	Arrive at Yeshwantpur railway station to a traditional Aarti and Tikka with floral garlands.
21:00 hours	Departure time for The Golden Chariot train, dinner will be served on board.
Meal summary	Dinner is included and will be served in our restaurant car.

Day 02: Chennai - pondicherry

05:30 hours	Arrival Chennai
08:00 hours	Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on board.
90:30 hours	Drive through Marine Beach to Mamallapuram World Heritage Site known for its ancient temples and stone carvings inspired by the Pallava art followed by the lunch at GRT Temple Bay.
16:00 hours	Drive to Pondicherry railway station to board the Golden Chariot.
18:00 hours	Arrive Pondicherry and stroll through the Pristine Beach at Pondicherry. Pondicherry has a rich French cultural heritage, having been the capital of the French colonies in India since the 17th century. The French legacy is visible in the well-planned town, neatly laid roads, wide and vibrant beaches, beautiful promenades, architecturally imposing churches and public buildings and the statues. Split into two parts, Pondicherry is, on one hand a bustling Indian Market town, and on the other hand, towards the sea, the streets are emptier, cleaner and decidedly European.
20:00 hours	Inner onboard The Golden Chariot.
23:30 hours	Overnight at The Golden Chariot train at Pondicherry.
Meal summary	Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner is included, as per the Golden Chariot package

Day 03: pondicherry – Trichy

08:00 hours	Breakfast on board Golden Chariot.
09:30 hours	Morning, visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram, located on Rue de la Marine, is the most popular attraction in Pondicherry The Ashram was founded by Sri Aurobindo Ghose in 1926. Sri Aurobindo, the poet philosopher founded the Ashram to help man reach the zenith of his evolution through spiritual exercises and yoga, combined with physical activity and productive work.
13:30 hours	Lunch will be served on board The Golden Chariot.
17:30 hours	Evening, stroll around French town / beach.
19:30 hours	Dinner will be served in a local restaurant.
22:00 hours	Transfer back to Golden Chariot.
23:30 hours	Departure time for The Golden Chariot train.
Meal summary	Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner is included, as per the Golden Chariot package

Day 04: Trichy – Madurai

08:00 hours	Breakfast on board Golden Chariot.
09:00 hours	Visit Trichy situated on the banks of the river Cauvery is the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu. It was a citadel of the early Cholas, which later fell to the Pallavas. Trichy is a fine blend of tradition and modernity built around the Rock Fort. Apart from the Fort, there are several Churches, Colleges and Missions dating back to the 1760s. The town and its fort, now in Trichy were built by the Nayaks of Madurai.Visit the Rock Fort, which is a landmark of Trichy. The rock is one of the oldest in the world-approximately 3.800 million years, which makes it as old as the rocks of Greenland and older than the Himalayas. A climb of 434 steps leads to the ancient temple of Ganapati on top and a further climb to a Shiva Temple. You will visit Sri Rangan Temple.
11:30 hours	Visit to Brihadeeshwara Temple, built in the 10th century by Raja Chola. It is considered to be artistically the most perfect of Dravidian temples.
13:00 hours	Lunch will be served at Hotel Sangam, Tanjore.
15:00 hours	Visit the Tanjore artifacts and Paintings workshop.
17:00 hours	Transfer back to Golden Chariot to relax and enjoy on-board facilities.
20:00 hours	Dinner on board The Golden Chariot.
00:15 hours	Departure time for The Golden Chariot train.
Meal summary	Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner is included, as per the Golden Chariot package

Day 05: Madurai – Nagercoil

08:00 hours	Breakfast on board Golden Chariot.One of the oldest cities in South India, Madurai has been the centre of learning and pilgrimage for centuries. Spread along the rocky banks of the river Vaigai in the state of Tamil Nadu, this modern industrial city is today famous as a temple town.
09:30 hours	The temple town is unique in that all its temples are living temples and it remains a major religious centre attracting pilgrims the year round. Madurai’s main attraction is the famous Meenakshi temples in the heart of the old town, a riotously baroque example of Dravidian architecture with Gopurams (towers) covered from top to bottom with a breathless profusion of multi-colored images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. The temple complex is a city within a city and one can spend days exploring its labyrinthine corridors and halls.
13:00 hours	Lunch on board Golden Chariot.
18:00 hours	Enjoy light and sound show at Tirumalai Nayak Palace.
20:00 hours	Enjoy the live classical music at Heritage Madurai followed by dinner.
22:00 hours	Board Golden Chariot.
23:15 hours	Departure time for The Golden Chariot train.
Meal summary	Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner is included, as per the Golden Chariot package

Day 06: Nagercoil – Kovalam

05:00 hours	From 0345 Hrs : Golden Chariot arrives at Nagercoil station.
05:15 hours	Drive to Kanyakumari to enjoy sunrise Kanyakumari, at the tip of peninsular India, offers a panorama of the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
07:30 hours	Transfer to Golden Chariot and breakfast on board.
09:30 hours	Visit the famous Padmanabha Palace also known as Wooden Palace. Once the official residence of the erstwhile Travancore dynasty Padmanabhapuram palace complex is regarded as Asia’s largest wooden palace the palace has fourteen structures spread over an area of six acres. The palace is also noted for its rich mural collection tracing back to the 17th and 18th century. The earliest of structures here is believed to have been constructed in 1335. Pointed gables, dormer windows and long corridors are specimens to the tradition architecture of Kerala.
11:00 hours	Transfer back to Golden Chariot.
13:00 hours	Lunch will be served on board train.
15:00 hours	Arrive Thiruvananthapuram station.
17:30 hours	Evening stroll through the famous Kovalam Beach.
19:30 hours	Enjoy the cultural show followed by the dinner at Taj Green Cove Kovalam.
22:00 hours	Departure time for The Golden Chariot train.
Meal summary	Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner is included, as per the Golden Chariot package

Day 07: Kovalam – Cochin

05:00 hours	Depart to Alleppey.
07:00 hours	Breakfast on board Golden Chariot.
08:30 hours	Arrive Alleppey and de-board the train Golden Chariot.
09:30 hours	Proceed for half day houseboat cruise (beer, coffee/snacks served onboard the cruise) with traditional lunch at Punnamada Resort in Alleppey.
15:00 hours	Arrive Cochin.
15:30 hours	Visit the Church, Chinese Fishing nets and then take a walk around Jew Town.
18:30 hours	Transfer back to Golden Chariot.
19:30 hours	Departure time for The Golden Chariot train.
Meal summary	Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner is included, as per the Golden Chariot package

Day 08: Disembark in Cochin – Bangalore

Arrive Bangalore and de-board the train Golden Chariot.