Golden Chariot to introduce short train trips to attract more tourists

Golden Chariot is a luxury train, which caters to South Indian destinations, and it is famous for its signature itineraries of six to seven days. It will likely take short-haul trips for tourists who are looking for weekend options or two-three days of travelling.

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The Golden Chariot has been a hallmark for anyone looking forward to having luxurious experience in South India.
According to the managing director of KSTDC (Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation), the final call is yet to be taken before giving green signal to the plan. However, there are plans to introduce new packages that cover prominent destinations in Karnataka like Bengaluru, Mysore, Kabini and Belur in a package and Mysore, Belur, Badami, Aihole and Hampi in another package. There are no details of including other states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the short trip yet.


According to the KSTDC reports, there have been issues regarding the occupancy of the train, with the Golden Chariot running with just 40% occupancy in the last year. This amounts to just 300 passengers in one year.
The train doesn't run between April and September, as during that time it is sent for maintenance. Moreover, summers and monsoon season are neglected by the travellers due to extreme climatic conditions, which hampers the sightseeing and travelling experience.

Thus, the initiative to run short-haul trips will give many travellers a chance to gain an experience of the luxury train within their budget, and will also attract more tourists from around the world.
As expected, the next season of Golden Chariot will start in October and will come up with shorter itineraries.