Not many people are aware of this fact that the Maharashtra State Tourism and Development Corporation (MTDC) was the second state tourism board to launch a luxury tourist train after the resounding success of Palace on Wheels in Rajasthan. A joint initiative of MTDC and Indian Railways, the Deccan Odyssey made its maiden voyage on January 16, 2004.
Often benchmarked against world-class luxury trains like the Blue Train of South Africa and the Venice Simplon Orient Express, the Deccan Odyssey takes guests on a week-long excursion into the heart of the Maratha along with two-day layovers. in Goan. The stop of the day in Goa is the result of the recent reorganization of the two itineraries of this Indian luxury train. Spanning over 8 days and 7 nights, the journey begins at Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai and covers Sindhugarh, Goa, Vasco, Kolhapur, Daulatabad, Ajanta & Ellora and Nashik before ending back in Mumbai.
All the destinations included in the Indian luxury train itinerary are completely opposite each other in terms of perspective, but have a significant connection with the ancient and medieval civilization of India. A group of seven islands, Mumbai has seen the rule of different colonial powers throughout history. The colonial buildings housed in the city are a testament to past colonial rule. Next on the cards is Sindhugarh, the fortress city of Chattrapati Shivaji that boasts several temples built during his reign.
Deccan Odyssey enters the Goa venue on the third day. The churches and cathedrals scattered around Old Goa were built in the 15th and 16th centuries after the arrival of the Portuguese colonies in Goa. As well as the excursion to Old Goa, a trip to Menezes Braganza House will add to the heritage appeal. Then there is Kolhapur, whose name is associated with a mythological story in which the goddess Mahalakshmi killed a demon named Kolhasura to relieve the local population. Popular attractions you will visit include the New Palace, Shalini Palace, Mahalakshmi Temple, and Bhawani Mandap.
Moving forward on your Deccan Odyssey travel itinerary, there are rock-cut caves of Ajanta and Ellora that epitomize the ancient civilization of India. A visit to these caves will bring you face to face with the creativity of the human mind and the religious harmony between Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. One of the four Kumbh Mela locations, Nashik is the last destination of your luxury train tour. The main attractions of this city are Panchwati and the Kala Ram temple.
According to the Deccan Odyssey train schedule for the year 2012-13, there are 13 departure dates for the next season of this luxury tourist train. Furthermore, the Deccan Odyssey is a luxury train and comes equipped with all the necessary facilities and services for this type of train travel. The train is made up of 11 guest carriages that reflect the cultural spirit of ancient Deccan dynasties in their interior decoration and are equipped with state-of-the-art amenities such as LCD television, direct dial telephone, personal safe, air conditioning and attached toilets.
Adding to the facilities on this luxury tourist train are 2 restaurants, a bar, a lounge, a conference bus and a health spa, which really justifies this train’s introductory fare of $425. To say that the Deccan Odyssey is a blue limousine on rolling wheels would not be an exaggeration.