STEENA JOY – Bengaluru
Golden Chariot, the luxury train run by Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), in collaboration with Indian railways is all set to include Andhra Pradesh in its itinerary.
According to a KSTDC source, “Hyderabad was keen to be included in the Golden Chariot itinerary. So KSTDC why not? By entering Andhra Pradesh, the luxury train will now complete the entire Southern Triangle touching all the four southern states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.”
The project will however take two years to implement as it has to be done without disturbing the existing routes and railway tracks will also have to be laid.
The Golden Chariot, named after the famous Stone Chariot at Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka presently has two routes charted out. The Pride of the South itinerary over 8 days/7 nights begins every Monday from Bengaluru and traverses through Mysore, visiting Srirangapatna, Mysore Palace, the Nagarhole National Park (Kabini) and continuing to the historical sites of Shravanabelagola, Belur – the 11th century cradle of Hoysala architecture and a World Heritage Site, Halebid, Hampi and thereafter entering into the triangular heritage site of Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole, and finally the beaches of Goa before ending in Bengaluru.
The second route, Southern Splendour of 7 nights/8 days covers Bengaluru – Chennai – Puducherry – Tanjavur – Madurai -Thiruvananthpuram – Kanyakumari – Kovalam – Alleppey and Kochi.
