Golden Chariot luxury train itinerary to get a revamp! Details inside

New Delhi: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), the tourism and catering arm of Indian Railways, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) to market and operate the Golden Chariot Train in New Delhi.

It may be noted that KSTDC will soon hand over the reins of the Golden Chariot train to IRCTC. IRCTC is planning a revamp of the train itineraries to add different flavours that Karnataka has to offer. The new itineraries shall be a mix of history, culture, wildlife and nature. It is proposed to include Bandipur, Mysore, Halebid, Chikmagalur, Hampi, Bijapur and Goa in the itinerary. IRCTC is expected to carry out internal refurbishment of the train and commence operations from March 2020. 

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State of Railways, Suresh C. Angadi said that this MoU is an important step towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to promote tourism in India and his call to the citizens to visit at least fifteen tourism spots in the country. Angadi directed IRCTC and KSDTC to keep the price of the tickets competitive so that the common people can also avail the facility of this train. He added that this train will boost tourism in Southern India. 

Minister of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, C. Ravi said that the government of Karnataka and KSTDC have been operating and maintaining Golden Chariot since its inception in 2008 and it is the first and only luxury train in the whole South India. The Golden Chariot showcases the rich culture and heritage of the region. The MoU between IRCTC & KSTDC will have mutual benefit for both the organizations and tourism will be strengthened through this partnership.

It is worth mentioning that the Golden Chariot train which commenced operations in 2008 is a government of Karnataka initiative in a joint venture with the Ministry of Railways. The 18 coach-long train with 44 guest rooms having a capacity of 84 guests, covers tourist attractions in the state of Karnataka and other south Indian states. 

Note that IRCTC has the experience and expertise in operating wide-ranging rail tourism products across the length of breadth of the country. It also operates the hugely popular Maharajas’ Express luxury train, which commenced operations in 2010.