| About Deccan odyssey |
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| Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Ltd in
association with Indian Railways - Ministry of Tourism has launched a Super
Deluxe luxury train "The Deccan Odyssey". The train 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.
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| The Deccan Odyssey's sheer luxury is a sight to
behold. Everything in the train reflects the ways of Indian Royalty. The plush
interiors, an awesome cuisine and grate sites to see makes the journey
memorable. This luxurious train transports its guests on a remarkable sojourn
of a land shining in legions grandeur - serene beaches, magnificent forts -
palaces and experiencing divine tales etched in colossal rocks. A weeklong
royal journey is through some of the best places in Maharashtra namely Mumbai,
Sindhudurg, Tarkarli, Goa, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Ellora, Chandrapur (Tadoba
Wildlife), Wardha (Sevagram), Ajanta and Nasik. The objective of running "The
Deccan Odyssey" train is primarily to showcase the best of tourism assets of
Maharashtra like pristine beauty of Konkan coast, the art, the culture, the
wildlife, the heritage (including world heritage sites of Ajanta - Ellora) of
Maharashtra as well as Maharashtra's local arts, crafts and cuisine. |
| The train has 21 coaches, out of which 13 are
passenger cars accommodating 8 people per coach (11 passenger Cars, 4 coupes
per coach - 2 Presidential Suite Cars, 2 coupes per coach), 1 Conference Car, 2
Dinning Cars, 2 Generator Cars with Luggage Store, 1 Staff, spare Car, 1 Spa
Car, 1 Bar Car. The train has on-board facilities like T.V., Cable connection
with central audio disc player, cell phones, Channel Music, Foreign exchange
facilities, etc. The present capacity of the train is 80 pax |
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The route has been fixed as Mumbai - Sindhudurg - Goa - Kolhapur -
Aurangabad(Ellora) - Chandrapur (Tadoba Wildlife Sancturary)- Wardha
(Sevagram)- Jalgaon(Ajanta) - Nashik and Mumbai. It will be a seven days round
trip starting
on every Wednesday from Mumbai. The seasonal tours will operate
every year between
October to April month. The itinerary of the tour is broadly as
follows:
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1st
Day - Mumbai
2nd Day-
Sindhudurg Nagari
3rd Day
- Goa
4th Day
- Kolhapur- New Palace, Museum, Bhavani Mandap Mahalaxmi Temple - Shalini
Palace.
5th Day
- Aurangabad-Daulatabad-Ellora Caves-Bibi-ka-Maqbara
6th Day
- Chandrapur (Tadoba) & Wardha (Sevagram)
7th Day
- Ajanta Caves / Nasik
8th
Day - Mumbai. |
| In the above programme, the train takes you through various facets of tourism attractions of Maharashtra
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| The coast of Sindhudurg is known for its natural beauty
and greenery as well as a special kind of cuisine, which is predominantly based on
seafood and spices locally known as Malvani or Konkani cuisine. The Goa, an already
established tourist destination needs no special introduction. Next on the itinerary
is Kolhapur, a city of many great attractions. This city is a unique blend of culture,
history, nature - industry. Most of the venues Bhavani Mandap, Mahalaxmi Temple,
Shalini Palace, New Palace, Museum etc. speak for themselves.
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From Kolhapur train moves to Aurangabad - a city founded
by none other than the Mogul emperor The Aurangajeb which
is predominantly a cultural centre of Maharashtra. This is also a place
where the world heritage sites of Ajanta, Ellora known for the wall
painting or frescoes painted on the walls of caves carved out of solid
basalt rock and have briefed the vagaries of time for centuries together
are located. At Ajanta - the Buddhist sculptures vividly described lives
and legend of Buddha and the stone colours even today spells bounds the
visitor. The Ellora caves - a complex of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain caves
are the living example of supreme architecture prevalent in those time
and the Kailas Temple, the best of all and the greatest monolithic
sculpture - the world has ever seen is a marvel in itself. Itinerary
also includes the visit to Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary which is one of the
best in India. It is the second Tiger Reserve project in the State.
This lush green forest has variety of animals and abundant flora and fauna.
The sanctuary also an ornithologist's paradise with a varied diversity of
Migratory birds and Water Birds. Gandhi Ashram is yet another attraction of
the itinerary. Sevagram or the 'Village of Service' is a small and
unpretentious village symbolizing the Gandhian way of life. At Sevagram
one can understand the Mahatma Gandhiji's way of life which has inspired
many leaders of the world. Like Varanasi, Nashik is yet another colourful
pilgrim centre in India. A holy place that is lined with a number of ancient
temples on the bank of river Godavari.
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| Maharashtra - it has, for five thousand years, seen various dynasties beyond Vindhya ruling over the Deccan Plateau from the days of Rashtrakutas, Vakatakas, Satvahanas, Shilaharas, Chalukyas, Yadavas, Marathas, Portuguese and English.
All these dynasties have left behind their marks in the forms of monument and
heritage sites, the wadas, the palaces, the churches, the temples, the synagogues,
the mosques. The State with 27 wild life sanctuaries, 4 National Parks, numerous
religious sites, places of scenic beauty, scores of beaches, thousands of forts and
unique culture depicted in its folk arts, the colourful festivals, its cuisine,
handicraft. A tourist will get a glimpse of all these just in seven days, a capsule of
Maharashtra - the Great State.
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| Twin Bed Deluxe Cabin |
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| Conference Hall
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| Presidential Suite view |
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| Model of Wine Display |
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| Team of Peshwa
Restaurant in Deccan Odyssey |
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