Maharashtra splendor

Welcome aboard the Deccan Odyssey at Mumbai. You are all set to head off to Nashik. You would start your journey at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in the late afternoon after completing the registration process and other formalities for the grandeur journey – the Maharashtra Splendor.

You would be welcomed aboard in the traditional Indian style and would be served refreshing drink as you take your seats in your respective cabins. Once settled, your journey begins from Mumbai to Nashik.

Dinner will be served on board. Stay overnight on board Deccan Odyssey.

The ancient holy city of Nashik receives you this morning. Known for its links to the epic Ramayana, the city has been gaining popularity as the wine capital of the country. Have your breakfast onboard before disembarking to take a walk along the Godavari Ghats famous for a hotspot of several important Hindu rituals being performed. The colorful and lively market by the Ghats are worth paying a visit that sells practically everything from grocery to vegetables to sea food and even cow dung cakes to name the basics.

Up next is a drive to the Grover Zampa vineyards to experience one of the finest Indian wine producing facilities laden with Chenin, Chardonnay and Shiraz grapes. Get delighted with a wine tasting experience as the sommelier would let you taste the finest creations of white, red, rose and sparkling wines, and would also serve the right one during your lunch at the vineyards.

Post lunch, come back to the Deccan Odyssey for your ongoing journey to Aurangabad.

You will be served dinner onboard before spending overnight in the Deccan Odyssey.

Enjoy your breakfast onboard at the Deccan Odyssey before arriving Aurangabad from where you head off to visit the Ellora Caves – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located around 30 km from the city nestled in a basaltic hill. Ellora Caves stand out as the finest specimen of cave-temple architecture in India with 34 rock-cut shrines representing Buddhist, Jain and Hindu art that date back to 4th-5th century AD. The Kailash Temple is the most striking among those dedicated to Lord Shiva’s celestial abode on Mt. Kailash.

The city of Aurangabad has its own heritage and architectural charm inherited from the ancient Mughal influences reflecting in several of the monuments like the Daulatabad Fort, Bibi-ka-Makbara and the city's 52 gates to specifically mention few of them.

Come back to Deccan Odyssey and join in for a leisurely lunch platter served as you travel through the ever-changing color and landscape of Maharashtra outside the window.

Dinner will be served onboard, as you stay overnight in Deccan Odyssey.

After your breakfast, disembark and drive to the Ajanta Caves as you reach Jalgaon station. Another of the most remarkable tourist spots and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ajanta Caves are an architectural marvel that spread over a huge area covering 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves that speak for its mesmerizing sculptures and paintings of the religion, art, and culture that equally balances the fusion between Buddhist and Hindu faith.

Come back for lunch as your journey continues on to take you to the next spot - the versatile city of Kolhapur.

Dinner will be served onboard before you spend overnight in the luxury train.

Enjoy your breakfast and relish the beautiful nature sweeping past outside your window. The day till lunch is at leisure as the Deccan Odyssey rolls into Kolhapur, your next destination to be explored at its best.

Have an early lunch onboard before disembarking for a city tour of Kolhapur.

Take a visit to the New Palace Museum to experience the amazing architecture of the Kolhapur rulers portrayed on the 19th century octagonal palace made of basalt and sandstone. Up next is the Town Hall Museum which is a neo-Gothic building remarkable for its towers with steeply pyramidal metal roofs.

Once visited these places, you would be taken to take a stroll around the local markets to pick a souvenir or two – and a pair of handcrafted Kolhapuri chappals is a must buy. Experience the enchanting Lavanya Sandhya, a vibrant folk performance after sipping a cup of special tea. Next on the travel list is the 1300 years old Mahalakshmi Temple (Shakti Pethas) and a show of traditional martial arts performance named “Mardani Khel” which means “masculine games”.

Come back to Deccan Odyssey before dinner onboard as you start off for your next destination – the most favorite vacation spot of India – Goa.

Overnight stay in the Deccan Odyssey.

Get excited, as you would be exploring Goa on this day. Have your breakfast before disembarking and getting driven to Fontainhas, Goa’s Latin Quarters in Panjim that portray Portuguese style houses still preserved well. Experience the UNESCO World Heritage Walk around the Fontainhas, famous for its winding alleyways beautifully ornamented with tiled-roofed houses mostly shaded in the hues of blues and red.

Continue with your tour ahead to Ribandar to take a walk through the heritage churches and the ruins of St Augustine tower that still stand tall defining its massive structure defying the hurdles of nature. Get driven for a traditional Goan feast in the Sahakari spice plantation. This is an elaborate meal that combines the Hindu tradition and culture heavily influenced by 400 years of Portuguese rule. The meal includes the Arabian sea-shrimps, kingfish and mackerel topped with some “feni”, the local liquor made from cashew. After lunch, enjoy a Goan folk performance and take a tour of the plantation.

Conclude your day tour to Goa with a visit to an old Portuguese house to get a close look into the typical Goan lifestyle.

Come back to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner, as you move ahead to the next destination Sindhudurg through the Konkan. The route is one of the most scenic ones in all over the country, encircled by the Arabian Sea on the West and Sahyadri Hills on the East.

Overnight stay onboard Deccan Odyssey.

Have your breakfast onboard before reaching Sindhudurg, a beautiful location situated on a rocky island off the Malvan coast. You would be disembarking to visit Pinguli Village and Sawantwadi Palace this day. Savoir an experience of the traditional Thakar folk arts and crafts of the local museum before heading towards the majestic Sawantwadi Palace for a grand luncheon.

Return to Deccan Odyssey and have your dinner before retiring for overnight as your journey heads back to Mumbai.

Have breakfast and get down at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai. It is time to bid goodbye to your luxurious travel Deccan Odyssey, as your royal journey across some of the major attractions of India wraps up.