Rajavilas on rails. The Golden Chariot luxury train is Karnataka’s answer to Rajasthan’s acclaimed Palace on Wheels

The eye-catching royal purple coaches draw attention at the Yeswantpur Railway Station in Bangalore. It is a train built for a different experience, and the colour on the exterior hints at the experience that guests can expect inside.

People on the platform stop near the coaches for a close look. Curiosity gets the better of them, and some inch closer to peep through the large glass windows. A few others try their luck with the staff for a peek inside. It’s the same story at all the stations the train stops at — Mysore, Hassan, Hospet, Gadag and, finally, Goa.

The Golden Chariot luxury train is Karnataka’s answer to Rajasthan’s Palace on Wheels and Maharashtra’s Deccan Odyssey. “But what differentiates us from the other two luxury trains is the variety of destinations the itinerary offers,” says Anand Menon, Director of the Golden Chariot project. On offer is a mix of historical, heritage, wildlife and beach destinations. And unlike the Palace on Wheels, where about 85-90 per cent of the guests are foreigners, 75-80 per cent of guests on the Golden Chariot are Indians and NRIs, he adds.

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