The Deccan Odyssey

Following the success of Rajasthan's luxury Palace on Wheels train, India introduced a Maharashtra counterpart, the Deccan Odyssey. Traveling first-class on Indian trains in the heyday of the British Raj was a comfortable, lavish experience, with chefs and bearers (waiters/attendants) taking care of your every need in royal surroundings as your train chugged through breathtaking countryside. This feeling is replicated aboard this train. Over seven nights and eight days you travel down the Maharashtra coast to Goa and then swing upwards to its cultural bastion Pune and then head to Ajanta and Ellora before returning to Mumbai. Such an excursion will set you back $285 per night in triple sharing accommodation, $350 in double-sharing accommodation and $485 for single occupancy rail cabins. The train has several restaurants, lounges, and even a gym. For more information visit www.deccanodyssey.com and www.irctc.co.in/deccanodyssey.html.