Karnataka has in store a Diwali gift for the cash-rich railway tourist.
The much-talked-about Golden Chariot, on the lines of Rajasthan’s Palace-on-Wheels, is being planned for launch in the first week of November. Be it the ruins of Hampi and Pattadakal, wilderness of Western Ghats or pristine beaches, the ‘many worlds, one voyage’ package comes with a price — $300-350 (approx Rs 12000-14,000) per night per tourist. Online booking will start by Sept-end. After much dilly-dallying, the pre-launch of this luxury train was held on Monday, though tourism minister B Sriramalu was absent.

Tourism secretary I M Vittalamurthy, who launched the logo, said the metal and wood work of the train, being assembled at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) Perambur, is complete.

The trial run will start in October. Only 18 coaches will be there as the conference coach — a last-minute addition — will take time for completion, Vittalamurthy said.

The Rs 40-crore project is a joint venture of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, the state government and the Railway ministry.

“We’ve been careful not to repeat mistakes made during similar ventures. One thing we learnt from Deccan Odyssey, the luxury train of Maharashtra, is not to change the route. This landed them in a lot of trouble,’’ Vittalamurthy said.

Source : Times of India