Karnataka - Bangalore

Posh train sets luxurious trail in tourism industry

Photo: K. Gopinathan

Swanky: A view of the restaurant inside The Golden Chariot. —

BANGALORE: Heralding a new chapter in the State’s tourism sector, the Golden Chariot, Karnataka’s luxury train, has joined two others — the Palace on Wheels of Rajasthan and the Deccan Odyssey of Maharashtra — in an elite club. The Golden Chariot also became the first luxury train of the South.

From its commercial launch on March 20, the train, fitted with opulent interiors and comforts, has completed 20 runs successfully, carrying with it the well-heeled travellers from across the globe.

The train takes travellers to tourist destinations across Karnataka including Mysore, Belur, Halebid, Hampi, Badami and Aihole, on a six-day and seven night sojourn. A joint venture between the Indian Railways and the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), the train was completed in a record time of nine months to coincide with the Golden jubilee celebrations of the formation of Karnataka State.

“The launch of the train gave Karnataka an edge in the tourism sector, as the State has something for everyone. In its first year, the train is slowly becoming popular among travellers,” a Tourism Department official said.

Apart from the launch of the Golden Chariot, the department also unveiled the Draft Tourism Policy till 2012, that is expected to provide a fillip to the tourism industry, one of the largest sources of employment — directly and indirectly.

The policy has identified core tourism regions such as Hampi, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Bijapur, Mysore, Madikeri and the unspoilt coastline between Ullal in the South to Karwar in the North.

Specialised areas such as cruise tourism, ecotourism, health tourism, heritage tourism and others have been given a thrust in the policy. The popular homestays in Kodagu and Chickmagalur will have little regulation and made more accessible to budget tourists.

Besides, concessions and incentives will also be provided to new tourism projects.

An effort was also made to woo investors to the State’s tourist destinations by offering land wherever available. “The department is in the process of creating a land bank to enable investors to identify their areas of investment, and many private land owners are also coming forward for joint development,” the official said.

Several projects including the Jungle Trail in the Western Ghats, funded by the Union Government, are under implementation, while the Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR), one of the leading ecotourism organisations, is also on expansion mode in the State.

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