Welcome to the mesmerizing Maharashtra experience aboard the luxurious Deccan Odyssey - Pan India Tour.
The weeklong Deccan Odyssey - Pan India Tour includes several exotic destinations covering the vast expanse of Maharashtra and North India. Covering Mumbai, Aurangabad, Udaipur, Sawai Modhopur, Jaipur, Agra and Delhi
The Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train project is a joint venture of the Ministry of Railway, Government of India and MTDC (Maharashtra Tourist Development Corporation). The Deccan Odyssey has been benchmarked against the best luxury trains in the world like the Blue Train of South Africa, The Orient Express of Europe and the Eastern and Oriental of South East Asia.
The Deccan Odyssey's sheer luxury is a sight to behold. Everything in the train reflects the ways of Indian Royalty - "Maharaja". The plush interiors, an awesome cuisine and grate sites to see makes the journey memorable. Welcome aboard!
Deccan Odyssey has 21 coaches out of which 11 are passenger cars with 4 coupes each. There are 2 Presidential Suite Cars with 2 coupes per car. The train also has a conference car (can be redesigned as dance floor in the night) and two restaurant cars. There is also a lounge/bar car and one surprising addition is a Spa Car. Apart from the above there are generator cars with luggage store and staff car or spare car.
Fine Indian and Continental cuisine is served on board in two restaurant cars. The high level of on-board service is delivered by one of the prestigious hotel chain of India.
Conference Room with capacity to host 50 guests with facility for satellite communication, Internet, computer with printer and fax, and telephone exchange
• Library
• Bar
• Channel Music
• Ayurvedic Massage Centre
• Steam Bath
• Gymnasium
• Beauty Parlour
• Business Centre
• Special Suite for Physically challenged
• Fully loaded mini pantry in each coach
• Telephone in each saloon
• Television in each coach
• Plasma TV in Lounge Car
• PA System/ 6 Channel Music System
• Lounge in each passenger car
Saturday
Welcome aboard the Deccan Odyssey.
Early this evening assemble at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus at approximately 1530 hours to complete the registration process and
check in formalities for your Maharashtra Splendor journey, as you receive a traditional Indian welcome and enjoy a refreshing welcome
drink.
After completion of all formalities, you will be shown to your delightful cabins. As you settle in, the Deccan Odyssey shall depart Mumbai
for Aurangabad.
Dinner on board
Overnight on Deccan Odyssey
Sunday
Aurangabad, named after the last Great Mughal Aurangzeb, is an industrial town in Maharashtra and the stop from where to head out to
visit the exceptional Ellora Caves, a World Heritage site. The city itself has deep Mughal influences and there are several monuments of
note here; the Daulatabad Fort, Bibi-ka-Makbara and the city’s 52 gates, each with its own history, amongst them.
As you enjoy breakfast, the Deccan Odyssey arrives at Aurangabad, from where a scenic drive takes you to the Ellora Caves, carved into the side of a basaltic hill 30 km from the city. The finest specimen of cave-temple architecture in India, the site encompasses 34 rock-cut shrines representing Buddhist, Jain and Hindu art dating from the 4th to 5th century AD. The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre Hindu, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. The most remarkable is the Kailash temple, meant to be a replica of Shiva’s celestial abode on Mt. Kailash. It is the best example of rock cut architecture and an engineering marvel.
After exploring Ellora, return to the Deccan Odyssey as it takes you to Tadoba, the land of the mighty tigers.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board
Monday
Wake up before the sun this morning as the Deccan Odyssey rolls into Chandrapur station, for your early morning safari into the Tadoba
Tiger Reserve, also called the Land of Tigers, for its high tiger density. It is not uncommon to spot tigers and wild dogs here, with plenty of
opportunities for close encounters with leopards, sloth bears, gaurs (the Indian bison), the rusty spotted cat, ratels, various species of deer,
wild pigs and more.
After an exciting morning a late breakfast will be served at the Tiger Trails lodge, following which you can relax, view a documentary on wildlife or interact with our naturalist.
Enjoy lunch at the lodge before venturing back into the Tadoba Tiger Reserve for your afternoon safari. Apart from the big game, also keep a look out for birds, including the crested serpent eagle, honey buzzard, paradise flycatcher, grey-headed fishing eagle, the shy jungle fowl and many others.
After a full day of big game spotting, drive back to Chandrapur station to board the Deccan Odyssey. Sit back, unwind and enjoy cocktails fixed by our bartender onboard, followed by a sumptuous dinner and a well deserved rest as the Deccan Odyssey proceeds towards Jalgaon to visit the exquisite Ajanta Caves.
Breakfast & Lunch at the Tiger Trails lodge; Dinner on board
Tuesday
The Deccan Odyssey arrives at the Jalgaon station this morning from where, after breakfast on board, you will disembark and drive to the
Ajanta Caves, another World Heritage site and an architectural marvel of its time. The 30 rock-hewn Buddhist caves at Ajanta have been
masterfully carved and are adorned with sculptures and paintings of Buddhist religious art, depicting universal pictorial art and are known
to depict the fusion between Buddhist and Hindu faith.
Lunch will be on board the Deccan Odyssey as it continues on to Nashik.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board.
Wednesday
This morning the Deccan Odyssey brings you to the holy city of Nashik, which is rapidly gaining the status of being the wine capital of the
country.
After breakfast, disembark and spend the morning walking along the Godavari Ghats observing several important Hindu rituals being
performed. Continue on through the lively Wednesday market which sells everything from cow dung cakes to freshly caught catfish and
many things in between.
Thereafter drive to the Grover Zampa vineyards for an exclusive tour of one of the finest Indian wine producing facilities. Walk through vines laden with Chenin, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Be taken through the age old ‘méthode traditionnelle’ used to make one of the best known brands of sparkling wines in India. Allow the sommelier to acquaint your taste buds with their finest creations of white, red, rose and sparkling wines and experiment pairing them with your meal at the vineyards.
After a sumptuous lunch, return to the Deccan Odyssey and set forth for Kolhapur, a multifaceted city with a mythical past. The rest of the day is at leisure on board.
Thursday
The Deccan Odyssey rolls into Kolhapur this morning, a city of many hidden treasures, all waiting to be discovered!
A late start leaves the morning free for you to enjoy a languid brunch on board before you disembark for your tour of the city.
Visit the New Palace Museum, a lovely basalt and sandstone octagonal Palace from the 19th century. Behold its beautiful architecture and
memorabilia of the Kolhapur rulers. Continue to the Town Hall Museum, a somber neo-Gothic building, its front porch flanked by towers
with steeply pyramidal metal roofs.
Explore the local markets for a pair of beautifully handcrafted Kolhapuri chappals that you can carry back with you as a souvenir, before you proceed to a special venue for tea followed by Lavanya Sandhya, a vibrant folk performance. You will then walk into one of the oldest mud wrestling pits of the city to watch students who still practice wrestling with mud smeared over their bodies.
Visit the 1300 year old Mahalakshmi temple, also called Shakti Pethas, or place associated with the Goddess Shakti, said to be the consort of Lord Vishnu. Following your temple visit, witness a traditional martial arts performance called ‘Mardani Khel’ literally translated to mean masculine game.
After your sojourn into Kolhapur, you return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner as we depart for India’s most happening destination - Goa Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board
Friday
Today you arrive at Goa, India's smallest state, with strong Portuguese influences, having been a colony of Portugal till as late as 1961.
After breakfast, you will disembark and drive to Fontainhas, the Latin Quarters in Panjim which still have some well preserved houses built
in Portuguese style architecture. Experience the UNESCO World Heritage Walk around Fontainhas with its winding alleyways adorned by
tiled-roofed houses in spectacular shades of blue and red.
Ride into the raucous Panaji vegetables, fruit, fish and meat market for a taste of the local bazaars after which you will head over to Ribandar, the erstwhile capital of Goa, for a walk through ancient churches and the ruins of the once lofty St. Augustine tower that continues to valiantly withstand the vagaries of nature.
Drive to the Sahakari spice plantation for a traditional Goan feast, a meal that has Hindu origins but is heavily influenced by 400 years of Portuguese rule and pays ode to the fruits of the Arabian sea - chonak, modso and mackerel washed down with some ‘feni’, a potent liquor made from cashew. After lunch, enjoy a Goan folk performance and a tour of the plantation.
Complete your day in Goa with a visit to an old Portuguese house and get another peek into Goan life.
Breakfast on board; Lunch at the spice plantation; Dinner on board
Saturday
Early this morning, after breakfast, you will disembark at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station, Mumbai.
Bid farewell to the Deccan Odyssey as your royal passage through the grand vistas of India comes to an end.
Breakfast on board
The Deccan Odyssey will immerse your senses to soak in India’s vibrant hues, embarking on a majestic voyage unfolding a valiant past of the legendary Marathas. Traversing across magnificent landscapes, its sprawling forts, palaces, and beautifying experiences, the Deccan Odyssey offers you a peek into the Indian soul, redefining the art of elegant travel, en route exotic destinations via Ganpatipule, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Pune, Ajanta and Ellora(Aurangabad). Spread out into 21 coaches that facilitate 4 coupes each and 2 Presidential Suite Cars, it has a lounge and a state of the art Spa Car too.
• Explore the jewels of ancient Indian architecture, the wondrous cave temples of Ajanta & Ellora along the western seaboard, both World Heritage Sites
• Experience two game drives through Tadoba Tiger Reserve where you get an opportunity to spot the Royal Bengal Tiger as well as various other species of birds and mammals
• Visit the New Palace, witness the “Mardani Kehl” martial art of the Marathas
• A Wine Tour of Nashik
• Taste spicy Goan cuisine and visit a 400 year old Portuguese villa, a slice of living history
# The tariff is inclusive of cost of travel, accommodation, all meals, sightseeing tours, entrance fee
(excluding video camera fee) for monuments & palaces and entertainment.
# Tariff does not include liquor, laundry and other items of personal nature.
• All Costs are in US Dollars
• The above costs are per cabin per Journey
• Presidential Suite can accommodate up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children
• (Applicable for Children below 12 years)
• Government Service tax of 3.57% is additional and will be charged extra on the published tariff
• Prices are subject to change incase of any amendment in the routing or other hikes such as fuel, taxes etc.
• Child rates are applicable from 6 to 12 years.
INCLUSION :
• Accommodation in double / twin bedded cabin with en suite bathrooms
• Soft Beverages during meals(B, L,D)
• Valet Service
• Still Camera fees
• Guided off train excursions and game drives as illustrated in the itinerary - inclusive of entrance fees, park fees, transport and services of an English speaking local guide
EXCLUSIONS:
• Taxes, Insurance , Gratuities
• Laundry, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft beverages during non meal hours
• Video and professional Still Camera fees
• Arrival and Departure transfers
• International and Domestic air tickets
• Pre and Post tour accommodation and any tour extensions unless specifically mentioned as a part of the journey
Booking Policy:
30% of ticket value at the time of confirming the booking.
Remaining 80% of ticket value 60 days prior to departure.
5% of ticket value 60 days or more prior to departure.
20% of ticket value between 59 to 16 days prior to departure.
100% of ticket value 15 days prior to departure.
No show/ En route termination of tour/amendment:# No Show - In case of No Show / Non-arrival of the guest, no refund or adjustment in future travel will be possible. The whole amount shall be treated as forfeited.
# En route termination of tour - In case of termination of tour by the guest, for any reasons, no refund or adjustment for future travel will be possible. The amount for unused portion of the tour shall be treated as forfeited.
# Amendment - Is only possible under the circumstances like Natural Disaster / Natural Calamity or Serious Health Problem's (this needs to be supported by doctor's certificate) and is subject to availability. No refunds are possible and every case will be decided on merits on a case to case basis. No amendment will be permissible in case of booking of groups or complete train.
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