The Luxury Trains in News & Media

Combining pilgrimage with pleasure in five-star comfort

Posted: Fri Dec 31 2010, 23:14 hrs
The Luxury Trains plans to organise another journey in March this year
Jagmeeta Thind Joy Tags : Anandpur Sahib railway station, Deccan Odyssey, five Sikh Takhts

Platform 1 at Anandpur Sahib railway station was unusually busy on this cold and wet December morning. It all started when the navy blue train with its large dark windows with painted golden edgings chugged in early in the day. It was the first halt for the Deccan Odyssey, a luxury train modeled on the lines of a Palace on Wheels, which has changed tracks to take its passengers on a spiritual journey to the five Sikh Takhts. The luxury train, which has been chartered from the Maharashtra government, started its nine-day journey from Delhi on December 29. It made its first halt at Anandpur Sahib on Thursday morning.

On board the 21-coach train ¿ which packs in two presidential suites, five-star rooms, a spa, beauty parlour, gym, two restaurants, a conference hall, business centre and a bar ¿ is a motley mix of passengers, both from within India and abroad. Among them is Darshan Dhaliwal, a middle-aged entrepreneur from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA along with his family and relatives.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for us and a great initiative to club spirituality with culture and travel. Even though I got to know about the trip less than a month ago, I managed to rope in many relatives as well. We are a group of 24 people on board,” said Dhaliwal, who is accompanied by his American wife Deborah and teenaged daughter Simrat Dhaliwal. “I have been to India a couple of times but this time on the train is different,” said Simrat.

Joining the Dhaliwals is Hallah Vertovec, a German teenager. “It’s my first visit to India and a unique start. I am looking forward to discover India,” said Vertovec. Also on board is UK-based businessman John Athwal, who was awarded the Asian of the Year 2010 last month.

The nine-day trip costs more than Rs 2 lakh per person at least, which includes stay, food, travel, airfare, sightseeing, guides et al, and is managed by the Taj Group of hotels. Destinations include Keshgarh Sahib, Akal Takht, Damdama Sahib, Hazur Sahib and Patna Sahib. Along the way, the 105 passengers will also get to visit Jaipur and Agra. “It’s a pilot project for us in the region and the response has been encouraging. If all goes as planned we hope to roll it again in March 2011. The aim is to have at least four trips every month,” said Sajivve Trehan, CEO of The Luxury Holidays and organiser of the spiritual journey.

One of the most anticipated events on the itinerary is the New Year’s eve visit to Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar. “The best part is that traveling is comfortable and luxurious,” Mohini Bawa, a passenger from Kapurthala, remarked as she sipped her morning tea sitting in the train’s spiffy restaurant. Joining her on the journey are her two sisters ¿ Hong Kong-based Rani Gidwani and Pushpa Kalsi from Bangalore. “Our brother, who is in the UK, gifted this trip as a New Year present,” said Bawa.

Wishing the train and the passengers a safe and spiritual journey on Thursday morning was Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC president, who trooped in with his entourage at the Anandpur Sahib railway station. “It’s a good initiative and we hope the Punjab government will have its own train soon,” he said.