Deccan Odyssey
The Deccan Odyssey is a special luxury train based on the model of Palace on Wheels to boost tourism on the Maharashtra route of the Indian Railways. It is a venture of the Maharashtra Government and the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. In addition to being a train that touches tourist spots, this aims to be a complete 5-star hotel on wheels, with two restaurants and a bar, a sauna, business center and other such amenities on board. The coaches fitted with special amenities were manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai.
| Deccan Odyssey डेक्कन ओडिसी | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | Indian Railways |
| Built at | Integral Coach Factory, Chennai |
| Family name | Luxury Trains |
| Constructed | 2003 |
| Entered service | 2004 |
| Operator(s) | Indian Railways and Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) |
| Depot(s) | Mumbai |
The train rides through the hinterlands of Maharashtra, the Western Ghats, into the Deccan Plateau as well as the Konkan regions, including Goa. It also passes through the cities of Nashik, Kolhapur and Ratnagiri within Maharashtra. En route to the capital city New Delhi, it has stops at Rajasthan at Udaipur and Jaipur. It's itinerary involves various tourist destinations of architectural as well as natural importance such as the Taj Mahal, Rann of Kutch and Madera.
History
After noticing the success of Palace on Wheels, the Maharashtra state decided to have such a train, in order to develop the tourism industry in the state and surrounding regions. This resulted in Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) along with Indian Railway started the project. On 17 January 2004, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee flagged off the train with remote control from the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai at 5.30 pm. The ceremonial inaugural run took from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station to Thane and back. The train kicked off its maiden commercial journey on 4 February 2004. At that time MTDC has appointed the Taj group of Hotels to manage the food and beverage and housekeeping on the luxury train. The train had 36 Taj staffers on board.
The Deccan Odyssey planned to operate for 35 weeks each year. It starts from Mumbai CST every Wednesday evening and returns the following Wednesday morning. From Mumbai, it will take off to Ratnagiri, Sindudurg, Goa, Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik.
In 2004, the Maharashtra government stopped its run of the Deccan Odyssey, citing poor response, but restarted it after the monsoon season.
Later MTDC started giving the train on lease to tour operators like Luxury Train, Thomson Cook (India), which changed the name of the train to Indian Maharaja and resulted in a petition filed by Harshad Gawade, a local tour operator from Sindhudurg in the Bombay high court.
From December 2010, The Deccan Odyssey train, taken on charter from Government of Maharashtra started with an aim to have a journey across four Sikh takhts, with a flight by devout and sightseers to the fifth Takht (Takht Sri Patna Sahib).
Presently Cox and Kings Pvt. Ltd , operates the train.
Gallery
Hubli based WDP 4 at Madgaon railway station hauling the Deccan Odyssey
Deccan Odyssey - EOG coach
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Parampara
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Jaltarang
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Scuba
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Gurrh
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Durg
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Ayush
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Pankh
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Waavar
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Utsav
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Gateway and Utsav
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Gateway and Kinara
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Abhang
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Tirth
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Wari
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Gunpha
Deccan Odyssey - Coach - Shraddha
Deccan Odyssey at Madgaon railway station
Deccan Odyssey - Full train
About the Train
Facilities
The Deccan Odyssey offers accommodation in 40 deluxe cabins in 10 coaches. It also has 4 presidential suites in 2 cars, 1 Conference car with business center, 2 restaurants, a well-stocked bar and a spa with steam, massage, a mini gym and a parlor. Other facilities include a library, 6 Channels DVD for your viewing pleasure at the lounges and 6 Channels of Music in each cabin.
Accommodation
10 fully air-conditioned Deluxe Cabin saloons, each with a combination of 4 twin bedded chambers and 2 fully air-conditioned Presidential Suite saloons each with 2 suites with the combination of living room & bedroom. Saloons are equipped with channel music, intercom, player, attached toilets, running hot and cold water, shower, wall-to-wall carpeting and other amenities.
Destinations
The Deccan Odyssey offers 6 different itineraries consisting of 8 days and 7 nights. The itineraries are named as Maharashtra Splendor, Indian Odyssey, Indian Sojourn, Jewels Of The Deccan, Hidden Treasures Of Gujarat and Maharashtra A Wild Trail.
Maharashtra Splendor
The journey begins from Mumbai to Goa via Nashik, Ajanta Ellora Caves, Kolhapur, Sindhudurg and back.
Indian Odyssey
This tour starts from New Delhi and travels to Sawai Madhopur, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Vadodara, Ellora Caves, then ends in Mumbai.
Indian Sojourn
This is just the upside down version of Indian Odyssey which begins from Mumbai up to New Delhi in earlier mentioned route.
Jewels Of The Deccan
This expedition starts from Mumbai and moves to Bijapur, Aihole, Pattadakal, Hampi, Hyderabad, Ellora Ajanta Caves and finally back to Mumbai.
Hidden Treasures Of Gujarat
This amazing journey to witness the beauty of Gujarat also begins from Mumbai followed by Vadodara, Palitana, Gir, Little Rann of Kutch, Modhera, Nashik and back to Mumbai.
Maharashtra A Wild Trail
This tour which helps you to enjoy Maharashtra in depth starts at Mumbai CST and move towards Ellora Caves, Aurangabad, Pench (Ramtek), Tadoba, Ajanta Caves, Nashik and finally back to Mumbai.
See also
References
External links
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