I grew up travelling in trains across India, from Jammu to Varanasi, Ambala to Aurangabad and numerous other big and small trips. Train journeys were fascinating for various reasons but a train that remained a dream for a long run was 'Palace on Wheels'. I had only read about it–the luxuries it offers and how guests are treated like royals. As they say, live with your dreams and they would take the shape of reality one day. Years later, I got an opportunity to spend seven nights on the Deccan Odyssey–the latest luxury train that takes you across Maharashtra and Goa. Destinations did not matter, what I was excited about was the experience of luxury living on a train for seven nights.
On the designated day, post lunch I reached the Mumbai's famous Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. I looked around for a special train that is not in the usual blue or red railway colors. I could not find any but was thankfully directed towards the back of the terminus where on the last platform stood this decorated train. The boarding process was like an airport, luggage was checked in, cabin allotted and asked to wait for boarding announcement. Traditionally dressed Maharashtrian women came forward to do a traditional welcome. I was one of the few Indians boarding the train so it was amusing to see the whole decked up scene. I looked at the train that was similar to our usual trains except that it was in royal blue colour with the logo of Deccan Odyssey at regular intervals. The doors were still closed and that kept my curiosity buzzing.
At around 5 PM the doors opened, and we stepped into the lap of luxury. A butler took our hand luggage, showed us our cabins–that duly carried our nameplates on the doors. Pleasant drinks came along with a fresh towel. We were told about the high tea in the lounge. We took our time to settle down in our cabins–to be honest, I was busy exploring this new avatar of railway cabin. It was the same size and shape, but the space I was standing in had two beds with a large window. The en-suite bathroom was small but so well designed that you do not mind the small size. It had everything that you need to enjoy your shower. A fine bottle of wine was also provided at service. I walked out of my cabin and traversed the long narrow path through the cabin connecting to the lounge and dining car. As the door of the lounge car was opened for me I was awestruck with the well-designed interiors of the coach that I was stepping into. What made this space extra special was the glass windows on both sides with the silk curtains framing them. Einstein must have defined relativity for such moments–while we were moving and the world outside was stationary, it is the world outside that looked like a moving film. It was like a picture perfect setting for having a conversation, or to just sit back with a book or your favourite playlist.
In the evening we would discover a similar dining room but with a different decor. Staff in Peshwa caps served us the best of Indian and international cuisine. For seven days we were treated to a melange of cuisines and tastes. I do not recall anything being repeated throughout our Deccan Odyssey sojourn.
Every day the train would make a stop at a destination–Tarkarli Beach, Sindhudurg, Goa, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Nasik. Every time we got down a station, the station was decked up to welcome us. At Aurangabad we were welcomed with a Ganapati dance, at Ratnagiri it was Palki dance, in Goa it was a band playing for us, at Nasik there was a lovely Rangoli all over the platform and in Kolhapur we were welcomed with orange phatas that were tied on our heads. We did the sightseeing, relaxed at beaches, and we enjoyed the culture kaleidoscope of Maharashtra. Lavani that we saw at Kolhapur still fills me with sheer energy. Young Maratha girls performing martial arts in Saris with swords in their hands is hair-raising, to say the least. They handled the sword with so much ease as if was just an extension of their hands.
