The Golden Chariot -
Southern Splendour

Day 01. Bangalore

Around 15:00, you would be transferred to the Taj West End for High Tea at Banquet Hall followed by a presentation on Southern Splendour – The Golden Chariot Train. This briefing ensures the proper knowledge about the train, do’s and don’ts, safety and security onboard, etc. At 17:30, you would be taken to the Chitrakala Parishad / Art gallery where the colourful canvas of imagination can be explored. This will be followed by a Cultural Show from 18:30 to 19:30. Post this cultural show; you will be transported to the Platform no 6 of Yeshwantpur Railway Station at 20:00 where heartwarming Indian welcome in traditional way would exhilarate your senses. Dinner onboard The Southern Splendour – The Golden Chariot. Around 21:00, you would be departed to Chennai.

Option 2 at Bangalore would be allowing you to explore Our Native Village, a 100% eco resort of The Golden Chariot. In the morning 11:00 onwards, you would check in at Our Native Village, followed by the lunch from 12:00 to14:00. Post lunch, you would be briefed about the Southern Splendour – The Golden Chariot Train for 30 minutes. At 15:00 to 15:30, you would be touring around the 100% eco resort. The experience would be enriched at 15:30 with the art and culture tour of Revivalist movement. At 16:00, you would be given a half hour guiding tour on living an organic life with the Herbal and Medicinal Plant Tour. From 16:30, you would be directed towards a 1 hour excursion in the village where pottery session, Indian village games & Bullock cart rides can be enjoyed. After such a fulfilling experience, you get to rest for half an hour. At 18: 30, you would be departing to board your Golden Chariot at Platform no. 6 at Yeshwantpur Railway Station.

*Optional itinerary for those who do not opt for Taj West End Check-in and Bangalore sightseeing.

Day 2. Chennai

Early morning at 05:30 you would be arriving in Chennai, the traditional capital of Tamil Nadu. The breakfast would be served onboard at 08:00 in your Southern Splendour Train. Around 09:30, you get to enjoy the drive through the Marina Beach by road coaches. The day’s exciting excursion would take you through Mahabalipuram at 10:30. The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram is a World Heritage Site known for its ancient temples, open air bas reliefs and stone carvings brought to life by the Pallavas. Reach Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram at 11:30 and explore Five Ratha’s Temple, Shore Shiva Temple and the carved caves. Around 14:00, you would be served lunch at Lunch at GRT Temple Bay (Radisson).

After 2 hours, you would be driven back to Puducherry Railway Station by coaches. (Cool Drinks, Biscuits/chips/water/fruits could be availed in the coaches)*

At 17:30, you would be boarding Southern Splendour – The Golden Chariot at Pondicherry / Puducherry. In a short 1 hour journey onboard, you would be reaching pristine Pondicherry, which is known more as a little France promenade in India. This small Union Territory is famous for Sri Aurobindo Ashram, one of the well known ashrams in India and Auroville, the abode of Saint Aurobindo. You would be surprised to see that everyone in the hinterlands of Pondicherry are well-versed in French. Around 18:30, you would get to stroll around the rocky beach at Pondicherry. At 20:00, you would board the Golden Chariot back for dinner and overnight stay in your plush kingdoms.

Day 3. Pondicherry

Begin your day 3 onboard the Golden Chariot Train with the breakfast at 8:00. Post breakfast, you would be taken for a tour through Auroville Ashram and Matrimandir at 9:30. Post this enriching excursion, return back to the luxury train, where piping hot lunch would be served to you. At 16:15, again you would be getting a chance to visit the Aurobindo Ashram. Further experience at Pondicherry includes a pleasant evening stroll on the beach and a visit to French town for shopping. Around 19:30, enjoy local French dinner at a local restaurant.* Around 22:00, board TGC for overnight journey to Trichy. The train will depart for Tiruchirapalli / Trichy at 23.30.

Day 4. Trichy - Thanjavur / Tanjore

You would be arriving at Trichy in the morning at 6:00. Around 8:00, you would be served with the breakfast on board. At 9:00, you would visit the Ghats in Trichy and drive towards Tanjore by coaches. Tanjore is the 'Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu' and is proud legacy holder of oldest cities in India. The cultural capital of India, this city is famous for Brihadiswara Temple, a historical monument belonging to the medieval 11th century. A visit to this a UNESCO world heritage site at 11:00 will be a fulfilling experience. Two hours later, visit Sangam Hotel for Lunch in Tanjore. Post lunch at 15:00, you would be visiting Tanjore artifacts (Metal) and Paintings workshop. In evening at 17:00, come back to your kingdoms on The Golden Chariot to relax and enjoy facilities onboard. Enjoy the dinner at 20:00 and later depart to Madurai post midnight at 00:15.

Day 5. Madurai

Reach Madurai in the early morning at 5:15 and enjoy your breakfast at 8:00. Around 9:30, visit the famed Meenakshi temple and indulge in local shopping at this sacred city of sweet nectar, Madurai. This continuing old heritage city is laid around the Meenakshi Temple and is famous for its colourful Gopurams. This temple is India's one of the greatest cultural landmarks. Post the visit to the temple, enjoy lunch at The Golden Chariot Train at 13:00. In evening, visit The Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal and enjoy the Light and Sound Show in this Indo-Saracenic marvel. At 20:00, you would be enjoying the dinner with live Classical Music at the Heritage, Madurai. Board your train back at 22:00. Further at 23:15, depart to Nagercoil for an early morning visit to Kanyakumari, the point where three seas meet.

Day 6. Kanyakumari – Thiruvananthapuram / Trivandrum

Begin your Day 6 with the arrival at Nagercoil station around 3:45 in the early morning. At 5:15, you would be departing to Kanyakumari by coaches. After a drive of 30 min, you would be experiencing a magical sight of sunrise at Kanyakumari, the beach at the confluence of three seas, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. Post this magical experience, you would board back the Golden Chariot for breakfast at 7:30. Further your journey by visiting the royal seat of Travancore rulers, Padmanabha Palace at 9:30. The attraction of this palace is that the entire structure is made of wood. Around 11:00, you would be driven back to TGC by coaches. Board your train back at 12:30 and enj0y lunch post 30 minutes. At 13:30, leave for Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala and famous as God's own capital. At noon 15:00 arrive Thiruvananthapuram Station (Kuchuvelli Station). After two hours, enjoy drive around the Kovalam beach by coaches in the evening. Cherish the experience of strolling around the famous Kovalam during teatime. Later evening, explore the region through a Cultural Show at 19:30 followed by dinner at The Taj Green Cove Kovalam. By 22:00, catch TGC by coaches. Stay overnight in the train and expect the unexpected in Alleppey on Day 7

Day 7. Alappuzha & Kochi

Begin your day 7 with the departure to Alleppey at 5:00 and enjoy hearty breakfast onboard. You would be arriving Alleppey / Allapuzha at 8:30. The surreal experience would be beginning with a houseboat cruise in Alleppey, where wine/beer, coffee/snacks could be enjoyed. At around 13:00, lunch in Kerala cuisine would be served on the houseboat. Post Lunch, arrive Kochi by road trip at 15:00. After arrival, you would be experiencing the attractions of Kochi with a visit to the Church, Chinese Fishing nets and walk around Jew Town. Post this hearty excursion, board back The Golden Chariot Train and depart for Bangalore at 19:30. Have your farewell dinner served onboard The Southern Splendour – The Golden Chariot Train.

Day 8. Bangalore

Reach Bangalore with the unforgettable memories of Southern Splendour. Breakfast on board would be served. Arrive Yeshwanthpura Railway Station at 10:00 and bid adieu to The Golden Chariot.