The Golden Chariot, the luxury tourist train will be back on the tracks again beginning March after a gap of long two years. As per the IRCTC and Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), the train will start its fresh journey from 22nd March. .The luxury train was named after the Stone Chariot in the Vitthala Temple at Hampi.
Golden Chariot was launched in the year 2008 by the KSTDC, but has to curtail its operations because of lack of patronage in the recent years. Now, the IRCTC has come forward to support and lend a helping hand. The General Manager of IRCTC- South Zone, SS Jagannathan, in connection to this development said that the operation and revival of the train included as part of a 10-year agreement with the Karnataka Government.
The latest reports say, the Golden Chariot will start agaon this March from Yeshwantpur Railway Station. The package this time has been christened Pride of Karnataka, and will take tourists along a picturesque route from Bengaluru to Mysuru, Chikmagalur, Hampi and to Goa before it returns. The most interesting part is there is a 50 per cent discount on booking if you are travelling with a companion. Reports suggest that Golden Chariot will make the same journey on 29th March and 12th April.
The GM Jagannathan also said that the IRCTC has plan to re-open tourist operations in Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh this summer. It is expected that the present situation will be set on by that time and with the railway’s huge network, it is more likely that more state governments will be tying up with IRCTC to boost up tourism. Jagannathan further mentioned that Kerala Tourism has offered IRCTC their properties in Munnar, Guruvayoor, Thekkady and Wayanad. Jointly both IRCTC and Kerala Tourism will be offering tourism packages to these destinations.
