One of India’s finest luxury tourist trains has summoned up six thrilling journeys for guests to delve deep into some of the most enticing aspects of India’s glittering travel experiences. The Deccan Odyssey has been collecting many accolades from guests, both domestic and international, for its wonderful services and the array of delightful destinations across different geographies in its line-up of distinctive itineraries that cover Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Goa and Gujarat.
Positioned as a ‘blue limousine on wheels’, the Deccan Odyssey has been lapping up all the praise showered upon it for its services and range of itineraries. It was voted as the best luxury train in Asia at the ‘World Luxury Travel Awards’ 3 times in a row. You can pick any of them because each one is ever so good–but, if you are feeling flush and have gotten hooked into this chapter of luxury rail journeys in the country, you could go for two of them in one holiday!
So, what do we have? – You’ll get 7 nights and 8 days of luxury travel on Maharashtra Splendor; Indian Odyssey, Jewels of the Deccan, Maharashtra Wild Trail, Indian Sojourn and Hidden Treasures of Gujarat. Amongst the range of allurements that beckon on these journeys are the stunning rock-cut caves of Ajanta & Ellora, Nashik– renowned for the wine trail, the palaces of Kolhapur, the sunny beaches and heritage churches of Goa, the Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary; and then there’s Jaipur, Gwalior, Orchha, Khajuraho, and Varanasi–and Agra for the Taj Mahal–and much, much more. You can catch these trips any time between the months of September and April. For the wildlife sanctuary, October and May are good for rewarding wildlife spotting. But, be mindful of checking dates and destinations at the time of booking in case some tweaking has taken place.
The Maharashtra Wildlife Trail kicks off from Mumbai and heads for Aurangabad the base of explorations of the lofty Daulatabad Fort and the legendary Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Journeying on you will get to safari amidst the magical wilds of Pench Wildlife Sanctuary and Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary. Your return journey to Mumbai touches upon the superb Ajanta rock-cut caves and Nashik where you would love to linger a bit in its wine trail.
The Hidden Treasures of Gujarat tour covers Vadodara–cultural capital of Gujarat, Palitana for its superb Jain temples, Sasan Gir famed as the only habitat in India for the Asiatic lion, Somnath for its stunning sun temple, Little Rann of Kutch for its magnificent salt pans and local culture, Modhera for its superbly sculpted temple, Patan for its fabulous step-well known as Rani ki Vav, and the centuries-old legacy of patola sarees. En route to Mumbai, the stopover at Nashiks introduces you to India’s vineyard country.
Jewels of the Deccan travels the route to some of the Deccan’s most outstanding destinations for their culture, history and spiritual heritage–Bijapur, Aihole, Hampi, Pattadakal, Hyderabad and Ajanta and Ellora caves, before returning to Mumbai.
Both showy and functional, the Deccan Odyssey offers a seamless melding of old-world atmospherics and present-day comforts provide discerning guests an exceptional travel experience on board. The curated destinations will reward you with many unique aspects that distinguish them from each other.
On board accommodation offers a sumptuous experience of high-octane luxury and leisure as watermarked by Indian royalty as they travelled in privacy in saloons exclusively set aside for them. If you’ve got the bucks go for the super-luxurious, lavishly appointed Presidential Suite which can accommodate up to three adults or two adults and two kids. What you will love are the two ensuite bathrooms in each Presidential Suite.
The Deluxe cabins are appointed with private bathrooms with shower; 4-channel music facility; individual temperature control panel; direct dial telephone; electronic safe and small cupboard. Each twin bed measures 6' x 3'. You might plump for a suite which features a master bedroom with a living area, bathroom and DVD player. The personal butler service for each carriage is available 24hrs.
Masterly meals featuring international and regional specialities are on offer on board. You can go for a leisurely spa treatment and even catch up on your beauty routine in the beauty parlour. And if you are in the mood for it, you can use their gym facilities as well.
The Deccan Odyssey celebrates some of India’s most iconic leisure destinations and tourist landmarks. It offers explorations of these exotic places from the lap of luxury, which serves as a befitting base for these rich experiences. This luxury train should be on your bucket list at least once for a fabulous experience of India’s superb history, heritage and cultural diversity.