Jewels of the South 8 days/7 nights

In the afternoon, we invite guests to the Taj Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram, where we will complete the final formalities before departure. Then, at the Kochuveli station, there will be a traditional, ceremonial welcome of the guests, and they will be served a delicious dinner on board the luxurious Maharajas' Express train. At 21:15 p.m. the train sets off towards Chettinad, the land of the most influential trading community in India - the Chattiars.

The luxurious Maharajas' Express train reaches Chettinad. After breakfast on board, guests will visit the famous Chettinad Mansions and the Athnagudi Pottery Factory. Then they will go to one of the Chettinad Heritage Hotels where I will have the opportunity to participate in workshops on how to arrange Mundu, Dhoti and Sari costumes, decorate the body with henna, etc.

For dinner, the guests return to the train. The Maharajas' express sets off for Mahabalipuram, and on the way, in the evening we invite guests for dinner.

After breakfast, around 8:00 a.m., guests leave the luxury train to visit Mahabalipuram, a historic port city where trade with Asian countries flourished for centuries. The old town is 40 minutes away. bus rides. In Mahabalipuram there are temples and sculptural monuments dating back to the Pallava dynasty of the 10th-30th centuries. The Olakaneswara temple, built on a high rock in the XNUMXth century, was used as a lighthouse. A fire was lit on its flat roof to help ships reach the port. Here, guests will visit the Five Chariots (Pancha Rathas) - a complex of five Shaivite temples (ratha), named after the five Pandava brothers, carved from one block of rock. Then they will have the opportunity to admire the famous bas-relief of Gangavatarana - The Birth of the Ganges. It is XNUMX m high and XNUMX m long. The bas-relief shows the moment when Arjuna brought the Ganges River to the dry land. The complex of monuments in Mahabalipuram is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

For dinner, guests will go to an exclusive restaurant. The meal will be accompanied by traditional folk dances. Afterwards, it's time to get back on the train to Mysore. Dinner will be served during the trip.

After breakfast served on board the luxurious Maharajas' Express train, guests will visit the Mysore Palace located in the Old Fort - the residence of the royal Wodeyar family, which ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 to 1950. This palace is one of the largest in South India, containing m... .among others two state rooms surrounded by a series of courtyards, gardens and other buildings. We will invite guests to the Lalitha Mahal Palace hotel for dinner. This heritage building was built by the Wodejars in 1920 for the private use of the Viceroy of India. In appearance, especially due to the central dome, it resembles the Cathedral of St. Paul in London. Inside there is the viceroy's audience hall, a ballroom and a restaurant. After lunch, guests can return to the train or optionally visit Srirangapatna, the capital of Sultan Tipu, a place of great religious, cultural and historical importance. After dinner, the Maharajas' Express train departs for Hampi.

Note: Shoes are required to be removed inside Mysore Palace.

After an early breakfast, guests set out to visit Hampi - a complex of temples inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Victory Castle). Hampi is located on the site of the former capital of the Hindu state of Vijayanagar, the remains of which have been preserved to this day. The city was founded in 1336. After a six-month siege, it was captured and destroyed by Muslim troops in 1565. After the plundering, only the remains of temples, houses and tombs remained. The complex odorizing systems of tanks and temples in the unparalleled Dravidian style of the Vijayanagar empire have survived. The most important monuments are Ganesha statues, the Virupaksha temple dedicated to Shiva, the Naransinha monolith, elephant stables and the Vittala temple complex, which includes the temple of Musical Pillars and the Stone Chariot. Guests will admire these extraordinary monuments during a tuk-tuk or melex tour. They will return to the train for lunch. After lunch, at approximately 15:45 p.m., guests will set out to visit the village of Anegudi, which, together with Hampi, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The history of this village hidden in the forest dates back to the Neolithic period. Guests have the opportunity to meet its inhabitants and participate in workshops to learn more about rural life. Alternatively, as an option, guests can choose a spa treatment session at one of the luxury hotels in the area. Then everyone returns to the train for dinner.

After breakfast on board, the luxury train reaches Goa, where in North Goa guests will visit, among others: the Basilica of Bom Jesus, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, where the tomb of Saint. Franciszek Xavier. They will also visit the Se Cathedral standing opposite, built to commemorate the capture of Goa by the Portuguese after defeating the Muslim army. A walk through the streets of Old Panjim will allow guests to experience the fusion of local and Portuguese culture. For lunch, guests return to the train, but in the afternoon they return to Goa for an evening of dancing and music. On the way, they will visit the Goa Chitra Museum, one of the best private ethnographic institutions in the region. The museum has a collection of pottery, agricultural tools, musical instruments, carts and palanquins. Then we invite you to a unique evening of Goa carnival music, after which guests will have dinner in an exclusive restaurant.

After breakfast aboard the luxurious Maharajas' Express train, guests will disembark in Ratnagiri to visit the ruins of Ratnadurg Fort, and the Palace and tombs of Thibaw Min, the last king of Myanmar from the Konbaung dynasty, who died here in exile after his abdication. Fort Ratnadurg was built during the Bahamian period. In 1670, Maharaja Shivaji captured it by recapturing the fortress from Adil Shah of Bijapur. The Maharaja added defensive towers, and the Citadel was strengthened by Kanhoji Angre in the 1818th century. In XNUMX, the fort was captured by the British. Guests will visit the Bhagavati temple located inside. After the sightseeing, lunch will be served on the train, and then - when the train departs for Mumbai, guests will take part in an Indian Evening on board - Bollywood dance and music shows, and dinner.

Early in the morning - around 8:15, the train ends its journey in the financial capital of India, Mumbai. However, before the journey ends, we will serve breakfast to the guests.