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Golden Chariot – Jewels of South

Fixed itineraryPublished departuresLimited cabins
Our special tariff from USD 4760* per person on twin sharing basis
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The journey

A legendary rail experience through India

The Golden Chariot Jewels of South is one of the most special train journeys in India. It combines the charm of South India’s heritage with the comfort of luxury travel. If you want to see grand palaces, ancient temples, UNESCO heritage sites and the calm backwaters of Kerala, this journey is for you. Onboard the train, you will be treated like royalty while traveling through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This is more than a trip, it is a once in a lifetime experience.

 

Brief Overview of Golden Chariot Jewels of South

The Golden Chariot is South India’s only luxury train. It is often called the Deccan Chariot Train and is operated by Indian Railways in association with Karnataka Tourism. The name of this train is inspired by the famous stone chariot in Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The interiors of the Golden Chariot trains are designed to resemble South Indian palaces with beautifully carved panels, rich fabrics and elegant decor. While the design reflects history, the facilities are completely modern. From Wi-Fi and air-conditioned cabins to dine dining restaurants, spa and bar, everything onboard ensures that you travel in total comfort. It is like staying in a 5-star hotel that moves with you.

 

Destinations Covered in Jewels of South

The Golden Chariot tours are designed to showcase the cultural and natural jewels of South India. The Jewels of South itinerary is 6 days and 5 nights, starting and ending in Bengaluru. Here’s where the train takes you:

  • Bangalore: This journey begins in Bangalore with a warm welcome at Yeshwanthpur Railway Station. After a traditional reception, you board the Golden Chariot and settle into your luxury cabin. This city marks the perfect start of your royal adventure through South India.
  • Mysore: In Mysore, explore grand Mysore Palace, an iconic symbol of royal heritage and Indo-Saracenic architecture. This city blends culture, history and charm which offers a glimpse into Karnataka’s regal past. Optional visits include Srirangapatna, once the stronghold of Tipu Sultan.
  • Hampi: Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, takes you back to the days of the Vijayanagara Empire. Explore ancient temples, stone chariots and historic markets set among dramatic boulder-strewn landscapes. This unforgettable stop is one of the true jewels of the journey.
  • Mahabalipuram: At Mahabalipuram, discover the Shore Temple and Pancha Rathas, both Unesco monuments showcasing South India’s Dravidian architecture. This seaside town reflects centuries of art and history. Later, explore nearby Chennai, known for its vibrant culture, temples and rich traditions of Tamil Nadu.
  • Thanjavur: In Thanjavur, marvel at the magnificent Brihadeeswarar Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a masterpiece of Chola architecture. This city is also famous for its classical dance, paintings and music which makes it a vibrant cultural stop on your journey.
  • Chettinad: Chettinad welcomes travelers with its unique charm, grand mansions and heritage homes built by wealthy traders. The region is equally famous for its spicy cuisine, which blends bold flavors and traditional recipes, giving you a taste of authentic Tamil hospitality and culture.
  • Kumarakom: Kumarakom offers a peaceful escape in the heart of Kerala’s famous backwaters. Glide along on a traditional houseboat while soaking in views of coconut groves, green landscapes and calm water. It is the perfect way to enjoy the serene beauty of nature.
  • Cochin: Cochin blends colonial history with local charm. Walk through Fort Kochi to see Portuguese churches, Dutch houses and the famous Chinese fishing nets.

 

Ticket Price for the Golden Chariot Tour

The cost of the Golden Chariot luxury train depends on the cabin type and travel season. The package includes luxury accommodations, meals, guided sightseeing, monument entry fees, cultural shows and onboard services. However, expenses like spa treatment, drinks, laundry and optional tours are not part of the package.

 

Exclusive Features of the Deccan Chariot Train

Traveling on the Golden Chariot is as much about enjoying the train itself as it is about visiting the destinations.

  • Luxury cabins: Air-conditioned rooms with Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, soft beds and decor inspired by South Indian palaces.
  • Dining: Enjoy freshly prepared Indian and international dishes served in a comfortable and elegant setting onboard.
  • Lounge bar: A relaxing space to enjoy drinks while admiring the royal interiors of the train.
  • Spa and fitness: The Arogya Spa for wellness treatments and a small gym for fitness lovers.
  • Hospitality: Friendly staff providing excellent service to make your journey smooth and comfortable.

 

Top Reasons to Book the Golden Chariot Train

Sit back and enjoy South India while the Golden Chariot takes care of all your travel plans. Here’s why it is a smart choice:

  • Stress-free travel: Everything is taken care of, including hotel stays, transfer and guided tours so that you can enjoy the journey.
  • Multiple states and highlights: Explore Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in a single trip without worrying about planning logistics.
  • Luxury and comfort: Travel on the Deccan Chariot train which enjoys world-class service, elegant cabins and onboard amenities.
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Visit three iconic sites: Hampi, Mahablipuram and Thanjavur, each offering unique history and architecture.
  • Diverse experiences: Discover a mix of royal palaces, ancient temples, historic ruins and scenic landscapes along the way.

 

Booking and Travel Tips

Here are some easy tips to help you book and enjoy your journey on the Golden Chariot comfortably:

  • Seats are limited so book 3 to 6 months in advance.
  • Space in cabins is limited so bring only essential luggage.
  • Carry cotton clothes for the day, comfortable shoes for sightseeing and a few formal outfits for evenings.
  • Foreign travelers must carry a valid India visa and passport.
  • Carry basic medicines and stay hydrated during sightseeing tours.

 

When to Board the Golden Chariot Jewels of South?

The best time to travel on the Golden Chariot train is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala which makes sightseeing enjoyable.

  • October to February: Cool and comfortable, perfect for exploring palaces, temples and backwaters.
  • March to April: A little warmer but still good for travel.
  • May to September: Monsoon season, not ideal as heavy rains may disrupt sightseeing.

 

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Journey highlights

Highlights

  • Discover the star attractions of Cochin..
  • Visit to the iconic Mysore Palace in Mysore.
  • Explore the architectural wonders of Kanchipuram.
  • Tour of the majestic Brihadesvara Temple.
  • Day visit to the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram.
  • Enjoy a scenic houseboat ride in Kumarakom.
What the published tariff includes

Inclusions

  • Accommodation on board.
  • All the meals (B, L, D)
  • Sightseeing tour and activities
  • Entrance fee for monuments, parks, palaces, and other attractions.
Your passage through India

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Bengaluru – Mysore

Reach Yashwantpur Railway Station at 08:30 AM for registration. Train departs at 9:45 AM. Enjoy lunch before deboarding train at 14:15 PM in Mysore. Reach Mysore at 3:00 PM and head to visit the the Mysore Palace. After the exploration, return to train and enjoy dinner onboard. Overnight train journey to Chengalpattu (CGL) railway station.

Wake up and settle for a delicious breakfast onboard. As train arrives at Chengalpattu Railway Station, set out to explore Kanchipuram in noon (optional). Enjoy lunch onboard and next, visit the famous Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram – a UNESCO World Heritage site overlooking the the Bay of Bengal. After exploration, settle for dinner at a beachfront hotel. Board the train for the day. Overnight train journey to Thanjavur.

As you reach Thanjavur, enjoy breakfast and visit the iconic Brihadesvara Temple a UNESCO heritage site dedicated to Lord Shiva. Come back and board the train. Settle for lunch as journey continues to Chettinad. Upon arrival, visit the Athnagudi tile factory and evening visit to the Chettinad mansions. Deboard the train and enjoy dinner onboard. Train journey continues to Cochin in Kerala.

As train reaches Cochin, enjoy a sumptuous breakfast on board. Next, head to visit the Mattancherry Palace and Fort Kochi. Take a tour of the the french colonial streets of the city. Return back to the train and settle for lunch. Deboard the train and you can head for an optional visit to the St. Francis Church and the Chinese Fishing Nets. Board the train and relax for the day with a refreshing dinner. Train journey continues to Kumarakom.

As train arrives at Kumarakom, have breakfast enjoying the wonderful sights of this attraction. Next, head for a houseboat ride at the famous backwaters of Kerala. Come back to board the train and enjoy dinner at night. Train journey continues to Bengaluru.

Train arrives at Bengaluru. Welcome to Bengaluru. Eat a delicious breakfast. Deboard the train. Your Jewels of South tour ends here.

Plan around published operations

Fixed departures & tariff

View published dates and cabin tariffs

Jewels of South Schedule for the Season 2025-27

Month Departure Dates 
October, 2025 11
January, 2026 10
October, 2027 25
November, 2027  19
December, 2027 13

Jewels of South Tariff for Season 2024-25 (USD)

Room Type Pride of Karnataka (5N/6D) 
Deluxe Cabin USD 4740
Single Supplement USD 3560

Jewels of South Tariff for Season 2024-25 (INR)

Occupancy Type  Jewels of South (5N/6D)  
Deluxe Cabin INR 400530
Single Supplement  INR 300820

Note:-

  • All prices are in US Dollars & INR.
  • All prices are calculated on twin sharing basis.
  • Prices are subject to change in case of modification in routing, itineraries, inclusions etc. Rates in Indian Rupee are also available.
  • Government taxes extra as applicable.
  • Itineraries, destinations, venues and scheduled departures are subject to change without prior notice.
  • Supplement may be appplied on special days like Christmas, New Year and for for Signature Journeys,

Cancelation policy:

  • When booking is cancelled 60 days prior to departure - 5% of ticket value will be deducted
  • When booking is cancelled 30-59 days prior to departure - 20% of ticket value will be deducted
  • When booking is cancelled 15-29 days prior to departure - 50% of ticket value will be deducted
  • When booking is cancelled less than 14 days prior to departure - 100% of ticket value will be deducted.

Cancelation policies (for Groups) are:

  • When booking is cancelled 60 days prior to departure - 10% of ticket value will be deducted
  • When booking is cancelled 30-59 days prior to departure - 25% of ticket value will be deducted
  • When booking is cancelled 15-29 days prior to departure - 75% of ticket value will be deducted
  • When booking is cancelled less than 14 days prior to departure - 100% of ticket value will be deducted

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 be decided on merits on a case to case basis.
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Ms Anita Joseph

Ms Anita Joseph

United Kingdom · United Kingdom
Heartfelt Thanks from your 60+ couple - 110% stars for Tra-Eminent India Tours!

Namaste Tra-Eminent India Tours Team,

A big, heartfelt *THANK YOU* to everyone in the Tra-Eminent team!

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Mrs Stella Gerard

Singapore & Malaysia · Singapore
20 Days Uttarakhand Yatra Completed Successfully

I traveled with Traeminent India Tours by road from Haridwar - Yamunotri - Gangotri - Kedarnath -Tungnath - Badrinath - Hemkunt Sahib -Rishikesh Uttarakhand.

We came across landslides but by God's grace completed darshan of all 8 important sacred places.

Our driver Mr. Ved Prakash was very professional and safe driving in hills. Very caring and patient.
He is Discplined.

Thank you Traeminent India Tours for making my yatra safe and successful. Highly recommended from Singapore.

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Hara Hara Madahev

September, 2026
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Mrs Nirmalaben Gohil

Mrs Nirmalaben Gohil

United Kingdom · United Kingdom
TraEminent are very good at making tailored made itinerary and did a great job for our Ladakh trip
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September, 2026
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Mr Nimesh Patel

Mr Nimesh Patel

United Kingdom · United Kingdom
This is definitely a company you can trust. I booked my Ladakh trip through TraEminent just by an online search. I took a risk but was met by a truly professional and efficient set up.

September, 2026
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Mr Vijay K Varma

United States · USA
We had a short trip planned for Dwarka and the agency and their representatives did a fantastic job of organizing it on a very short notice and even when there was a flight delay of few hours, they stuck to the arrangements without any impact to the sites planned for visit, happy with their services and look forward to working with them for our next trip to India

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Mr Thamil Selvan

Singapore & Malaysia · Singapore
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We had a wonderful Kerala tour from 11th to 19th September. Overall, we were happy with the tour package, and the hotels arranged for us were good and comfortable.

We would like to thank the tour operator for organising the trip and providing a good package. We enjoyed the places we visited and the overall arrangements.
we appreciate the arrangements and would like to thank the tour operator for making our Kerala trip enjoyable.

September, 2026
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Mrs Sumita Anant

Mrs Sumita Anant

Singapore & Malaysia · Singapore

We booked a trip to Ladakh based on positive reviews on tripadvisor. It was a personal 7 nights 8 days trip. They asked us our preferences and came up with an itinerary and price with 3 or 4 star hotel options. The trip included leh, pangong tso, shyok,nubra valley, turtuk, alchi and travelling through high altitude snowy passes khardungla and changla and kargil (we added kargil). We went late june early july. It was beautiful and flowers were starting to come up, and also snowmelts. A bit scary in shyok as the road in places disappeared and we drove over stones and through water for a few kilometres. We saw marmot, wild donkey and free horses, yak and several birds. The mountains are majestic. The altitude does make you a bit breathless, none of us had any health condition and we felt it. Our local contact in leg provided by traeminent tours advised us on altitude sickness and he emphasised several times on contacting him if we ever felt unfortable beyond the usual symptoms, how much and when to sleep. We followed his instructions carefully. We also took diomax for tge altitude breathlessness the first night which helped but it makes you thirsty and gives you a headache so we stopped taking it after. For our stay in Pangong tso our Leh person Gurmeet told us to take an oxygen cylinder reason being its higher altitude and there are no hospitals. An oxygen cylinder has 3 hours worth of oxygen should you need to drive to a hospital. We considered the Rs 2,500 an insurance and we did feel more breathless at pangong. While we could have managed without oxygen the oxygen did help ease the tightness in our chest (maybe coming from hot humid sea level singapore we took probably longer to adapt). We chose the 3 star option and did not regret it. Most cases the rooms were spacious and had great views. At pangong tso we asked to upgrade to a room with a view for an additional Rs 6.6k per person we were 3, sharing a room so we paid Rs 19.8k we felt was steep but were told taxes are high and dinner was included. Our Rs 51k per person for the trip included an excellent calm careful and informative driver Jimme and a sturdy spacious vehicle, breakfast and in two places dinner. Jimme's playlist is also great so after our trip we asked him for it. We saw beautiful monastries at Alchi, Lamayuru, Diskit, moonland the impressive Indus, Shyok and Suru rivers which we drove along. Jagmohan our tour coordinator was helpful and accommodating of our requests to add Kargil. Over all an excellent trip and we were glad we chose Traeminent. 

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Fue una experiencia 10/10. Todo más que perfecto.

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