The global economy has been hit by recession and the Mumbai terror attacks of 26/11 left many foreign tourists wary of travelling to India. So how has the Golden Chariot fared?
Statistically, there is room for improvement. The occupancy rate was 35 per cent during the first year. On the basis of double occupancy, 88 passengers can travel through Karnataka to Goa and back.
"26/11 had an impact. We did have cancellations as a knee jerk immediately after, as a reaction to 26/11. But these kind of things have temporary reactions and then people take it in their stride," says Vinay Luthra, Managing Director of Karnataka State Tourist Development.
Qualitatively, the train has made a positive impression. Mr Luthra is pleased by feedback: "The satisfaction levels have been wonderful. This first year has been a great learning experience for us. We have excellent feedback on the food and the service on board, and the beautiful architecture of the train. There were a lot of suggestions on a little bit more free time on the train. We did a change in itinerary and gave more free time on board...And we dropped one temple to bring half a day free."
Foreign Tourists Seek Real India
Ninety per cent of the Golden Chariot’s patrons come from abroad. Some of the guests would have liked closer contact with the rural India. "There was certain other feedback about not being able to experience true village life or ‘the real India’, and that is something that we aim to correct from September onwards, by giving an experience at Our Native Village," adds Mr Luthra. The eco-resort in Hessarghatta, close to Bangalore, offers guests bullock cart rides and opportunities to play traditional Indian games such as gilli danda, pallankuzhi and marbles.
The Golden Chariot’s decor draws on Karnatakan traditions. Bedspreads are made of hand-woven silk and the cabin design is influenced by the Mysore and Belur-Halebidu schools of art and architecture. But modern touches are present. Each of the cabins is fitted with a plasma television, on which a selection of movies can be viewed.
Luxury Train Travel in India
Of course, it is a well-established idea to explore India’s heritage from the mobile luxury of a train equipped with dining carriages, a lounge-bar and comfortable sleeping quarters. The highly acclaimed Palace on Wheels - which visits attractions in the golden triangle of Delhi, Rajasthan and Agra - rolled into service back in 1982. But that remained the only service of its kind until Maharashtra’s Deccan Odyssey entered commission in 2004. The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels will be launched in the north in late 2009.
The idea of establishing a train service to visit Karnataka’s heritage sites has long been in the offing. "This was considered for the last ten years...primarily we felt that the interior parts of Karnataka were very difficult to access. The accessibility was an issue. We did not have good roads, we did not have good airports or even good tourism infrastructure, like hotels, in places like Hampi, Badami and Hassan. So that was one reason we felt an up-end traveller would not be able to see and access these beautiful places. So we thought, after seeing the success of the Palace on Wheels in Rajasthan, why not have a similar kind of a train that overcomes this problem until we can get good infrastructure in place," explains Mr Luthra.
Golden Chariot Visits Heritage SitesKarnataka offers tourists a microcosm of the diversity of landscapes and cultures for which India is renowned. Historic sites of cultural heritage make up the mainstay of the attractions visited by the Golden Chariot. Two of the destinations, Hampi and Pattadakal, offer visitors the chance to explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Shravanabelagola, with its monolithic statue of Lord Bahubali, Mysore’s Amba Vilas Palace, and the Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebidu are also on the itinerary. Though none of the state’s coastal resorts are included on the journey - Goa, the train’s final stop, offers passengers an opportunity to enjoy sand and sea – there is a chance to enjoy some of its wildlife, with an overnight stay at the Kabini River Lodge and a safari within the Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarhole) National Park.
Mr Luthra appears confident that the Golden Chariot has what it takes to attract passengers in the coming year: "Of course, train journeys, in general, are a very beautiful and comfortable way of experiencing a state in a very limited period of time. Otherwise, in one week, you would not be able to cover so much as you cover on the train."
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