Welcome to the mesmerizing Maharashtra experience aboard the luxurious Deccan Odyssey - Pan India Tour.
The weeklong Deccan Odyssey - Pan India Tour includes several exotic destinations covering the vast expanse of Maharashtra and North India. Covering Mumbai, Aurangabad, Udaipur, Sawai Modhopur, Jaipur, Agra and Delhi
The Deccan Odyssey Luxury Train project is a joint venture of the Ministry of Railway, Government of India and MTDC (Maharashtra Tourist Development Corporation). The Deccan Odyssey 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.
The Deccan Odyssey's sheer luxury is a sight to behold. Everything in the train reflects the ways of Indian Royalty - "Maharaja". The plush interiors, an awesome cuisine and grate sites to see makes the journey memorable. Welcome aboard!
Deccan Odyssey has 21 coaches out of which 11 are passenger cars with 4 coupes each. There are 2 Presidential Suite Cars with 2 coupes per car. The train also has a conference car (can be redesigned as dance floor in the night) and two restaurant cars. There is also a lounge/bar car and one surprising addition is a Spa Car. Apart from the above there are generator cars with luggage store and staff car or spare car.
Fine Indian and Continental cuisine is served on board in two restaurant cars. The high level of on-board service is delivered by one of the prestigious hotel chain of India.
Conference Room with capacity to host 50 guests with facility for satellite communication, Internet, computer with printer and fax, and telephone exchange
• Library
• Bar
• Channel Music
• Ayurvedic Massage Centre
• Steam Bath
• Gymnasium
• Beauty Parlour
• Business Centre
• Special Suite for Physically challenged
• Fully loaded mini pantry in each coach
• Telephone in each saloon
• Television in each coach
• Plasma TV in Lounge Car
• PA System/ 6 Channel Music System
• Lounge in each passenger car
Board the Deccan Odyssey at Delhi – on to Sawai Madhopur
Welcome aboard the Deccan Odyssey.
This evening assemble at the railway station at approximately 1815 hours to complete the registration process and
check in formalities for your Indian Sojourn 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 Delhi for Sawai Madhopur
Sawai Madhopur – Ranthambore National Park
Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan is the alighting point for the famous Ranthambore National Park, and India’s efforts
to conserve the dwindling tiger population can be seen here. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the
country and the most likely place to spot one of these majestic cats.
The Deccan Odyssey rolls into Sawai Madhopur at dawn where you will disembark for an early morning safari into the park.
After the excitement of the morning, return to the comfort of the Deccan Odyssey and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. The rest of the morning is free for you to relax on board, and after lunch your next adventure into the jungle begins. Post lunch, you could also choose the option of a village safari in Ranthambore and get a glimpse of how the locals live When you’re done with the jungle, feel free to share the spoils (of your photo-shoots!) at high tea at Sawai Madhopur Lodge, the former hunting lodge of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur.
After high tea, it is time to head back to the Deccan Odyssey where you can relax with a drink before dinner on board, as the Deccan Odyssey proceeds towards Jaipur, the Pink City.
Monday
Legendary for the triumphs of its proud Rajputs, Jaipur, the City of Victory, is surrounded by the rugged Aravali hills
- crowned by formidable forts - and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens. Royal processions and parades, in all
their splendour, graced these palaces and forts once. The city is a colourful oasis in the desert and you will notice a
timeless quality to Jaipur's bazaars and its people.
After breakfast you drive to Maharaja Mansingh’s 17th century masterpiece, the Amber Fort that overlooks the beautiful Maota Lake. The fort is a sprawling complex of courtyards, halls and rooms adorned with beautiful paintings, precious stones and mirrors. Behold the Sheesh Mahal, ‘Hall of Mirrors’, where a single lamplight reflects in many mirrors, and lights up the entire room, creating a dazzling effect.
En route to Amber Fort visit the Palace of Winds, otherwise known as the Hawa Mahal, famous for its intricate pink sandstone carving and a beautiful view of the city.
Lunch at a City hotel.
After your full day of delving in the royal past of Jaipur you will return to the Deccan Odyssey as it sets off for Agra, the city of the world famous Taj Mahal.
Tuesday
Arriving at Agra, you will realize that the Mughals were not just the greatest dynasty to rule India but also its greatest
builders. After a leisurely breakfast on board, you will visit the Taj Mahal, which was Emperor Shah Jahan’s gift of
love to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and is truly the world’s most wondrous monument. The making of the Taj
is as much a fable as the edifice itself. It took 20000 men 22 years to build this unrivaled mausoleum and its
exquisite white marble was brought from 200 miles away by caravans of elephants and camels.
Lunch at a City Hotel.
Thereafter proceed to Agra Fort, another outstanding example of Mughal architecture, and the seat of Mughal reign and administration for three generations. The present structure owes its origins to Emperor Akbar who had its first buildings of red sandstone erected on the eastern bank of the river Yamuna. His grandson Shah Jahan, the most artistic and prolific builder of the dynasty, later added the impressive marbled private quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. A visit to the Diwan-e-Am, ‘Hall of Public Audience’ and the Royal Pavilions is not to be missed.
Later, you have the opportunity to visit the local markets to admire the exquisite Pietra Dura (marble inlay) artefacts and Mughal ornaments before completing your tour of this historical city. Alternately, you could choose the option of a massage at a hotel spa.
Return to the Deccan Odyssey to unwind and enjoy cocktails fixed by our bartender on board, followed by a sumptuous dinner and a well deserved rest as the Deccan Odyssey proceeds towards the Buddhist town of Sanchi. Breakfast on board; Lunch at a City Hotel; Dinner on board
Wednesday
This morning as the Deccan Odyssey travels through central India, enjoy a relaxing start to the day as you breakfast
and experience the striking panorama of India unfurl past your racing carriages, as you approach Sanchi.
Experience the richness of the Buddhist city of Sanchi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the well-preserved
Stupas, said to have been built from the 3rd century BC onward till the 12th century AD, an astounding period of
over thirteen hundred years. The Great Stupa of Sanchi is the oldest stone structure in India and bears four symbols
representing each of the four stages of the Buddha's life: birth, enlightenment, preaching of the first sermon and
salvation.
Return to the Deccan Odyssey for lunch on board.
In the evening watch the tapestry of rural India unfold while you sip a sun downer before dinner as the Deccan Odyssey steams onward towards Jalgaon for your visit to the exquisite Ajanta Caves. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board
Thursday
The Deccan Odyssey arrives at the Jalgaon station early this morning from where, after breakfast on board, you will
disembark and drive to the Ajanta Caves, a World Heritage site and an architectural marvel of its time. The 30 rockhewn
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.
After exploring Ajanta, return to the Deccan Odyssey as it takes you towards Aurangabad.
In the evening, enjoy a drink at the Mumbai-Hi before dinner is served.
Friday
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-Maqbara 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.
Return to the Deccan Odyssey for lunch on board before heading out to the Old City of Aurangabad.
If time permits, you will visit a facility that specialises in the weaving of Himroo fabric. The fabric of choice for the royalty of that age, Himroo has been associated with Aurangabad since the 14th century, when Muhammad Tughlaq made it his capital. Himroo features Persian designs woven with gold and silver threads and takes its name from Hum-ruh, which means ‘similar’ in Persian, as it is a replica of the Kum Khwab fabric that was popular in royal courts before Himroo gained precedence.
Return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner as it pulls out for the last leg of your journey winding its way up the Deccan plateau.
Saturday
Early this morning, 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.
Breakfast on board
The Deccan Odyssey will immerse your senses to soak in India’s vibrant hues, embarking on a majestic voyage unfolding a valiant past of the legendary Marathas. Traversing across magnificent landscapes, its sprawling forts, palaces, and beautifying experiences, the Deccan Odyssey offers you a peek into the Indian soul, redefining the art of elegant travel, en route exotic destinations via Ganpatipule, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Goa, Pune, Ajanta and Ellora(Aurangabad). Spread out into 21 coaches that facilitate 4 coupes each and 2 Presidential Suite Cars, it has a lounge and a state of the art Spa Car too.
• Enjoy the architectural marvels and World Heritage Sites in Agra and Jaipur
• Admire Buddhist Relics at World Heritage Sites in Sanchi and Aurangabad
• Get an adrenaline rush searching for the elusive Tiger at Ranthambore
• Shop for great bargains at the colourful and bustling bazaars of the royal city of Jaipur
# The tariff is inclusive of cost of travel, accommodation, all meals, sightseeing tours, entrance fee
(excluding video camera fee) for monuments & palaces and entertainment.
# Tariff does not include liquor, laundry and other items of personal nature.
• All Costs are in US Dollars
• The above costs are per cabin per Journey
• Presidential Suite can accommodate up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children
• (Applicable for Children below 12 years)
• Government Service tax of 3.57% is additional and will be charged extra on the published tariff
• Prices are subject to change incase of any amendment in the routing or other hikes such as fuel, taxes etc.
• Child rates are applicable from 6 to 12 years.
INCLUSION :
• Accommodation in double / twin bedded cabin with en suite bathrooms
• Soft Beverages during meals(B, L,D)
• Valet Service
• Still Camera fees
• Guided off train excursions and game drives as illustrated in the itinerary - inclusive of entrance fees, park fees, transport and services of an English speaking local guide
EXCLUSIONS:
• Taxes, Insurance , Gratuities
• Laundry, Alcoholic Beverages, Soft beverages during non meal hours
• Video and professional Still Camera fees
• Arrival and Departure transfers
• International and Domestic air tickets
• Pre and Post tour accommodation and any tour extensions unless specifically mentioned as a part of the journey
Booking Policy:
30% of ticket value at the time of confirming the booking.
Remaining 80% of ticket value 60 days prior to departure.
5% of ticket value 60 days or more prior to departure.
20% of ticket value between 59 to 16 days prior to departure.
100% of ticket value 15 days prior to departure.
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 will be decided on merits on a case to case basis. No amendment will be permissible in case of booking of groups or complete train.
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