Wonderful Maharastra

Enjoy a fascinating ride through the hinterlands of Maharasthra, the majestic Western Ghats, into the Deccan and Konkan regions. The itinerary includes visits to some of the most prominent & unexplored destinations of west-central India, with a trip to the unrivaled Ajanta & Ellora Caves; the holy city of Nashik, now also India's wine capital; the historical city of Kolhapur with its many experiences to Goa, India's most popular holiday destinations, finishing with a visit to the holy city of Ratnagiri. A railroad journey like no other, in a land like no other, we welcome you on board of the Deccan Odyssey.

About Indian Rail

Since the advent of the railways in India, train journeys have been the subject of much fascination and mystery. Indian Royalty and the British aristocracy would often set out on a shikaar or on celebrations, out in the wilderness, or deserts or mountains, traveling in the luxury of their private palaces on wheels. Today, the Deccan Odyssey continues this legacy of princely sojourns by introducing fascinating journeys covering the lengths and breadth of the exotic and enchanting landscape of India.

Deccan Odyssey's Journeys

Each journey on the Deccan Odyssey is an exploration of India's diversity, exotic locals and discovery of her timeless traditions; where you breathe in the vibrancy, sounds and colors of India's cities and her countryside. Mysteries, intrigues unfold as the train snakes her way through royal cities showcasing the opulence and extravagance of the palaces, the traditions and culinary wonders of cities and villages well protected from the sands of time.

Departing to India by scheduled flight.

You will arrive at Mumbai's International Airport early in the morning. Following customs, immigration formalities and baggage collection, our representative will meet you as you EXIT the arrival terminal building after which you would be transferred to the hotel for check-in, where accommodation will be already held for immediate check in from the previous night.

At 10.00AM breakfast at the hotel, then proceed to a half day tour visiting the sprawling, unfathomable Mumbai.

Afternoon at leisure for relaxation.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

 

Breakfast at the hotel then morning at leisure for relaxation. Later, our representative will meet you at the hotel and you will be transferred to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

Welcome aboard the Deccan Odyssey! Early this evening assemble at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus at approximately 15:30 hours to complete the registration process and check in formalities for your Maharashtra Splendor journey, as you receive a traditional Indian welcome and enjoy a refreshing welcome drink.

After completion of all formalities, you will be shown to your delightful cabins. As you settle in, the Deccan Odyssey shall depart Mumbai for Nashik.

Dinner on board. Overnight on Deccan Odyssey.

 

This morning the Deccan Odyssey brings you to the holy city of Nashik, which is rapidly gaining

the status of being the wine capital of the country. After breakfast, disembark and spend the morning walking along the Godavari Ghats observing several important Hindu rituals being performed.

Continue through the lively market by the Ghats which sells everything from vegetables to lentils, dried seafood to cow dung cakes and many things in between.

Thereafter drive to the Grover Zampa vineyards for an exclusive tour of one of the finest Indian wine producing facilities. Walk through vines laden with Chenin, Chardonnay and Shiraz grapes. Be taken through the age old ‘méthode traditionnelle’ used to make one of the best known brands of sparkling wines in India. Allow the sommelier to acquaint your taste buds with their finest creations of white, red, rose and sparkling wines and experiment pairing them with your meal at the vineyards.

After a sumptuous lunch, return to the Deccan Odyssey and set forth for Aurangabad

Breakfast on board; Lunch at the vineyard; Dinner on board.

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey.

 

Aurangabad, named after the last Great Mughal Aurangzeb, is an industrial town in Maharashtra and the stop from where to head out to visit the exceptional Ellora Caves, a World Heritage site.

The city itself has deep Mughal influences and there are several monuments of note here; the Daulatabad Fort, Bibi-ka-Makbara and the city’s 52 gates, each with its own history, amongst them.

As you enjoy breakfast, the Deccan Odyssey arrives at Aurangabad, from where a scenic drive takes you to the Ellora Caves, carved into the side of a basaltic hill 30 km from the city. The finest specimen of cave-temple architecture in India, the site encompasses 34 rock-cut shrines representing Buddhist, Jain and Hindu art dating from the 4th to 5th century AD.

The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre Hindu, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. The most remarkable is the Kailash temple, meant to be a replica of Shiva’s celestial abode on Mt. Kailash. It is the best example of rock cut architecture and an engineering marvel. Savor a leisurely lunch on board as the hinterland of Maharashtra sweeps past, with its ever-changing colors and landscape. In the evening, sit back, unwind and enjoy cocktails fixed by our bartender onboard, followed by a sumptuous dinner and a well deserved rest as the

Deccan Odyssey proceeds towards Jalgaon to visit the exquisite Ajanta Caves.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board.

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey.

The Deccan Odyssey arrives at Jalgaon station this morning from where, after breakfast on board, you will disembark and drive to the Ajanta Caves, another World Heritage site and an

architectural marvel of its time. The 30 rock-hewn Buddhist caves at Ajanta have been masterfully carved and are adorned with sculptures and paintings of Buddhist religious art, depicting universal pictorial art and are known to depict the fusion between Buddhist and Hindu faith.

Lunch will be on board the Deccan Odyssey as it continues to the multifaceted city of Kolhapur.

The rest of the day at leisure for you to relax and enjoy some of the activities available on board. Watch a movie, learn the rules of ‘carrom’, a popular Indian board game, from a Deccan Odyssey team member or book yourself a relaxing massage in our spa on board. In the evening watch the tapestry of rural India unfold as you sip a sun downer before dinner.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board.

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey.

 

Watch the hinterlands of Maharashtra sweep past as you relish breakfast. Enjoy time at leisure as the Deccan Odyssey rolls into Kolhapur, a city of many hidden treasures, all waiting to be discovered!

After an early lunch on board you will disembark for a tour of the city. Visit the New Palace Museum, a lovely basalt and sandstone octagonal Palace from the 19th century. Behold its beautiful architecture and memorabilia of the Kolhapur rulers. Continue to the Town Hall Museum, a somber neo-Gothic building, its front porch flanked by towers with steeply pyramidal metal roofs. Explore the local markets for a pair of beautifully handcrafted Kolhapuri chappals that you can carry back with you as a souvenir, before you proceed to a special venue for tea followed by Lavanya Sandhya, a vibrant folk performance.

You will then visit the 1300 year old Mahalakshmi temple, also called Shakti Pethas, or place associated with the Goddess Shakti, said to be the consort of Lord Vishnu. Following your temple visit, witness a traditional martial arts performance called ‘Mardani Khel’ literally translated to mean masculine games. After your sojourn into Kolhapur, you return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner as we depart for India’s most happening destination - Goa.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board.

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey.

 

Today you arrive at Goa, India's smallest state, with strong Portuguese influences, having been a colony of Portugal till as late as 1961.

After breakfast, you will disembark and drive to Fontainhas, the Latin Quarters in Panjim which still has some well preserved houses built in Portuguese style architecture. Experience the UNESCO World Heritage Walk around Fontainhas with its winding alleyways adorned by tiled-roofed houses in spectacular shades of blue and red.

Continue to Ribandar, the erstwhile capital of Goa, for a walk through ancient churches and the ruins of the once lofty St. Augustine tower that continues to valiantly withstand the vagaries of nature. Drive to the Sahakari spice plantation for a traditional Goan feast, a meal that has Hindu origins but is heavily influenced by 400 years of Portuguese rule and pays ode to the fruits of the Arabian sea - shrimps, kingfish and mackerel washed down with some ‘feni’, a potent liquor made from cashew. After lunch, enjoy a Goan folk performance and a tour of the plantation. Complete your day in Goa with a visit to an old Portuguese house and get another peek into Goan life.

Return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner as it departs for Ratnagiri traversing through the Konkan, one of the most scenic railway routes in the country, bound by the Arabian Sea on the West and Sahyadri hills on the East, a marvelous feat of engineering, that made it possible to tunnel the tracks through the seemingly insurmountable hills.

Breakfast on board; Lunch at the spice plantation; High Tea at Palacio de deao; and dinner on board.

 

The Deccan Odyssey brings you to Ratnagiri this morning - a veritable jewel on the Konkan coast. A land so blessed by sun and fertile alluvial valleys that it is abundant with a bounty of cashew nuts, Alphonso mangoes, coconuts, bananas, jackfruits and rice.

Disembark after breakfast and head to the Ganpatiphule temple - called thus because of a legend about Lord Ganpati who took umbrage at a remark made by a native lady and moved to Pulé (Marathi for a few km ahead of the town) from his original abode of Gulé. Thus, the region was named Ganpati-pulé. The 400 years old idol here is said to have sprung from the soil.

From here, make your way to beach to enjoy the lovely coastline that the region offers. Have a relaxed morning at the beach. Make your way back to the Deccan Odyssey for lunch and to relax a while.

Disembark once more and make your way to a mango and cashew plantation and watch the workers labour at producing the king of all fruits in India. Walk around and soak in the goodness of nature. Post the farm, take a walk through the town and exploring the ‘wadas’ or the local Maharashtrian neighborhood and the markets selling the lovely produce of the region.

Head back to Ratnagiri station and board the Deccan Odyssey after a lovely relaxing day. Enjoy dinner on board as the Deccan Odyssey makes its way back to Mumbai.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board.

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey.

 

Early this morning, and after breakfast, you will disembark at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station, Mumbai. Bid farewell to the Deccan Odyssey as your royal passage through the grand vistas of India comes to an end.

After breakfast on board.

Transfer to Mumbai International Airport.