Deccan Discovery... Archaeology, Ancient Temples & Train Journeys in South India

14 days from £7,480 for 2023 per person

• Sultans Battery
• Kabini
• Mysore
• Bangalore
• Goa

The Deccan is the cradle of some of India's greatest civilizations and is home to some of its most monumental and evocative religious sites. Until recently these treasures could only be witnessed by hardy travellers who were willing to put up with bad roads and basic hotels. With the arrival of Golden Chariot, one of India most luxurious trains this whole region has opened up and can now be explored in comfort and style.

This unusual cultural tour combines stays in hotels together with the Golden Chariot train and explores the varied topography of this region from its verdant coastal plains, lush coffee plantations and pristine jungles to its hilly boulder strewn plateaus, ending in a historical cliffside fort in northern Goa. Sites include the sandalwood city of Mysore, the Rajiv Gandhi National Park at Kabini, the scattered ruins of the mighty Vijayanagara capital in Hampi, as well as the world heritage sites at Badami and Pattadakal and the extraordinary Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebid.

This is purely a suggested itinerary, so it can be booked as it is or used as a starting point for creating your own luxury tailor-made holiday in India. If you'd like to see similar trips, take a look at our Epic Journey and Family Holiday collections; as well as our favourite Wildlife, Beach and Culinary Tour itineraries.

Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.
Lisa St. Aubin de Teran