Indian Odyssey – Incredible Luxury Experience

(7 Nights/8 Days)

(Delhi –Sawai Madhopur – Agra – Jaipur –Udaipur – Vadodara – Ellora Caves – Mumbai)

(approx. 2910 Kms)

Welcome to Indian Odyssey, a spectacular train journey in inimitable royal style and luxury on one of India’s iconic trains, the Deccan Odyssey. The Odyssey will take you on an 8-day extravaganza, through the fascinating, ever-changing vistas of a colourful, vibrant and ancient India, from its capital Delhi to its premier metropolis Mumbai, traversing ancient kingdoms and their historic traditions as you attempt tiger spotting at Ranthambore, visit the glorious Taj Mahal at Agra, the effervescent city of Jaipur, the lakes and palaces at Udaipur , view the beautiful monuments of Vadodara, and visit some of the most prominent & unexplored destinations of west-central India, with a trip to the unrivaled Ellora Caves . A railroad journey like none other, in a land like no other, we welcome you on board the Deccan Odyssey.

Embarkation & disembarkation

The point of embarkation and disembarkation for the specific journeys is as follows:

Journeys	Check-in Venue	Departure Station	Arrival Station
Indian Odyssey	Safdarjung Railway Station, Delhi At 1700 hrs.	Safdarjung Railway Station, Delhi At 2030 hrs.	Chhatrapati Shivaji Station, Mumbai

Day 1(Saturday) DELHI / SAWAI MADHOPUR

Welcome aboard the Deccan Odyssey.

This evening assemble at the railway station at approximately 1800 hours to complete the registration process and check in formalities for your Indian Odyssey journey, as you receive a traditional Indian welcome and enjoy a refreshing welcome drink.

After completion of all formalities, you will be shown to your delightful cabins. As you settle in, the Deccan Odyssey shall depart Delhi for Sawai Madhopur

Dinner on board

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 2(Sunday) SAWAI MADHOPUR / RANTHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK

Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan is the alighting point for the famous Ranthambore National Park, and India’s efforts to conserve the dwindling tiger population can be seen here. The park is one of the finest tiger reserves in the country and the most likely place to spot one of these majestic animals.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before you set out for your village safari.

The people of Rajasthan’s villages are mostly tribal who subsist on farming and hunting. These friendly folk are warm and welcoming, happy to show guests around their villages, giving deep insights into their daily lives. The women here wear bright colours to offset the drab desert, and most people live in mud huts. Visit a local home and interact with the family.

When you’re done with the village safari, return to the comfort of the Deccan Odyssey. Enjoy a leisurely lunch before you set out for a game drive.

Ranthambore is home to several other species as well; you can see herds of Chital and Sambhar deer as well as wild boar, Nilgai antelope and chinkara gazelles. There are also sloth bear, a few leopards and crocodiles. Extensive bird life includes jungle fowl, partridges, quails, the crested serpent eagle, woodpeckers, flycatchers etc. There are also water birds like storks, ducks and geese at the lakes and waterholes. If it’s your lucky day, you could spot a tiger lolling around lazily in the sun, or feverishly hunting down deer around the lakes!

After a fulfilling afternoon, proceed for high tea at the Sawai Madhopur Lodge, the former hunting lodge of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur. Feel free to share the spoils (of your photo-shoots!)

After high tea, it is time to head back to the Deccan Odyssey where you can relax with a drink before dinner on board, as the Deccan Odyssey sets off for Agra, the city of the world famous “Taj Mahal”

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board; High tea at Taj Sawai Madhopur Lodge

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 3(Monday) AGRA

Arriving at Agra, you will realize that the Mughals were not just the greatest dynasty to rule India but also its greatest builders. After a leisurely breakfast on board, you will visit the Taj Mahal, which was Emperor Shah Jahan’s gift of love to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, and is truly the world’s most wondrous monument. The making of the Taj Mahal is as much a fable as the edifice itself. It took 20000 men 22 years to build this unrivaled mausoleum and its exquisite white marble was brought from 200 miles away by caravans of elephants and camels.

Thereafter proceed to Agra Fort, another outstanding example of Mughal architecture, and the seat of Mughal reign and administration for three generations. The present structure owes its origins to Emperor Akbar who had its first buildings of red sandstone erected on the eastern bank of the river Yamuna. His grandson Shah Jahan, the most artistic and prolific builder of the dynasty, later added the impressive marbled private quarters and the mosque while Aurangzeb added the outer ramparts. A visit to the Diwan-e-Am, ‘Hall of Public Audience’ and the Royal Pavilions is not to be missed.

Lunch at a City Hotel.

Later, you have the opportunity to visit the local markets to admire the exquisite Pietra Dura (marble inlay) artefacts and Mughal ornaments OR choose from an array of optional activities available for you.

Late evening, you return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner and your onward journey to Jaipur, The Pink City.

Breakfast on board; Lunch at a City Hotel; Dinner on board

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 4(Tuesday) JAIPUR

Legendary for the triumphs of its proud Rajputs, Jaipur, the City of Victory, is surrounded by the rugged Aravali hills – crowned by formidable forts – and beautiful palaces, mansions and gardens. Royal processions and parades, in all their splendour, graced these palaces and forts once. The city is a colourful oasis in the desert and you will notice a timeless quality to Jaipur’s bazaars and its people.

After breakfast you drive to Maharaja Mansingh’s 17^th century masterpiece, the Amber Fort that overlooks the beautiful Maota Lake. The fort is a sprawling complex of courtyards, halls and rooms adorned with beautiful paintings, precious stones and mirrors. Behold the Sheesh Mahal, ‘Hall of Mirrors’, where a single lamplight reflects in many mirrors, and lights up the entire room, creating a dazzling effect.

En-route to Amber Fort, visit the Palace of Winds, otherwise known as the Hawa Mahal, famous for its intricate pink sandstone carving and a beautiful view of the city.

Thereafter you will visit the famous City Palace of Jaipur, an overwhelming complex of exquisite palaces, gardens and courtyards, decorative art and carved doorways. The palace museum houses collections of rare manuscripts, armoury, costumes and carpets.

Lunch at a City hotel.

Following lunch you may choose to participate in one of the optional tours. Enjoy spa facilities at a palace hotel OR have the opportunity to explore the colourful bazaars of the Pink City which offer a wide range of ethnic handicrafts produced in the city-centre and its outskirts.

After your full day of delving in the royal past of Jaipur you will return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner on board as it departs for Udaipur.

Breakfast on board; Lunch at a City hotel; Dinner on board

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 5(Wednesday) UDAIPUR

The Deccan Odyssey rolls into Udaipur in the morning. Set on the shores of the placid Lake Pichola, Udaipur, known as the City of Lakes, is easily one of the most romantic cities of India, surrounded by scenic hills. Enjoy your breakfast as you admire the picturesque landscape of the Aravali hills.

You will then disembark to visit the famous City Palace, the largest palace complex in Rajasthan, with its scalloped arches, fretted balconies, and cupolas, which also houses the spectacular Crystal Gallery.

Later, board a ferry to ride on Lake Pichola to reach Jagmandir, a 17^th century Palace located on an island on the picturesque lake, for an exquisite lunch. Allow the sounds of the Tabla and the unique Jal Tarang to soothe your inner rhythm as you glance out to the lovely views of one of the most romantic cities of Rajasthan.

Later embark on a walking tour through the Old City of Udaipur. On this tour you will explore the Old City’s lively, busy and old fashioned colourful bazar which still retains local charm and feel. As we walk along on the serpentine narrow streets, the place gives us the opportunity to see the shops selling spices, tea, bamboo baskets, flowers, sweets and other household items.

Thereafter you return to the Deccan Odyssey for a relaxed evening and dinner as we depart for Vadodara.

Breakfast on board, Lunch at Jagmandir & Dinner on board

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 6(Thursday) VODODARA

Today you arrive at the capital of the Gaekwads, Vadodara, located along the seasonal river Vishwamitri.

Breakfast on board the Deccan Odyssey.

Post breakfast, you will disembark and proceed to visit Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only complete and unchanged pre-Mughal Islamic city in India. This concentration of largely unexcavated archaeological, historic and living cultural heritage properties is cradled in an impressive landscape. Marvel at the Jami Masjid (Great Mosque ) built in 1513 representing a perfect blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture which was a model for later mosque architecture in India.

Return to Deccan Odyssey for lunch on board.

Drive back to the Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum, originally constructed as a school for the Maharaja’s children. Today, art lovers can view a large number of works of art displayed in the museum including a collection of the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and other renowned European Masters as well as a collection of sculptures in marble and bronze.

Enjoy high tea at the resplendent Laxmi Vilas Palace, built in 1890, and the residence of the Royal family even today. Reputedly four times the size of Buckingham Palace, its overwhelming Durbar Hall boasts a Venetian mosaic floor, Belgian stained glass windows and walls with intricate mosaic decorations. The palace also houses a remarkable collection of old armoury and sculptures in bronze, marble & terracotta by Fellici. Witness a folk performance typical of the region as you savour some of the special delicacies from the Royal kitchen

Return to the Deccan Odyssey for dinner as it pulls out for Aurangabad.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board: High tea at Laxmi Vilas Palace

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 7(Friday) AURANGABAD / ELLORA CAVES

Aurangabad, named after the last Great Mughal Aurangzeb, is an industrial town in Maharashtra and the stop from where to head out to visit the exceptional Ellora Caves, a World Heritage site. The city itself has deep Mughal influences and there are several monuments of note here; the Daulatabad Fort, Bibi-ka-Makbara and the city’s 52 gates, each with its own history, amongst them.

Today brings a late start, leaving the morning free for you to enjoy a languid breakfast and enjoy some of the activities available on board. Later, as you savour lunch, the Deccan Odyssey arrives at Aurangabad, from where a scenic drive takes you to the Ellora Caves, carved into the side of a basaltic hill 30 km from the city. The finest specimen of cave-temple architecture in India, the site encompasses 34 rock-cut shrines representing Buddhist, Jain and Hindu art dating from the 4th to 5th century AD. The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre Hindu, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. The most remarkable is the Kailash temple, meant to be a replica of Shiva’s celestial abode on Mt. Kailash. It is the best example of rock cut architecture and an engineering marvel.

After exploring Ellora, return to the Deccan Odyssey.

This evening relax with a sun downer at the Mumbai-Hi before dinner is served.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on board

Overnight on Deccan Odyssey

Day 8(Saturday) MUMBAI

Early this morning, after breakfast, you will disembark at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station, Mumbai.

Bid farewell to the Deccan Odyssey as your royal passage through the grand vistas of India comes to an end.

Departure dates

Season 2020-21
Months	Departure Dates
September, 2020	26
October, 2020	17
November, 2020	14
December, 2020	26
January, 2021	09 & 30
February, 2021	–
March, 2021	06
April, 2021	03

Indian Odyssey Price for 2020-21 (USD

Foreign National Per Cabin per Journey Price for 07 nights/ 08 Days

Occupancy	Deluxe Cabin	Presidential Suite	Description
Single	US$ 7320	US$ 15855	Single Cabin
Twin	US$ 10500	US$ 15855	Twin Sharing Cabin
2 Children	US$ 7878	US$ 7878	In a Separate Deluxe Cabin

Important Note

5% GST will be extra as applicable.
USD 500 + 5% GST additional supplement for double bedded deluxe cabin
Presidential Suite can accommodate upto 3 adults or 2 Adults and 2 children ( One child upto 5 years of age and second child up to 12 years)
The tariff is inclusive of cost of travel, accommodation, all meals, soft breverges, sightseeing tours, entrance fee 10% of the prevailing tariff will be charged for the children below 05 years.
(excluding video camera fee) for monuments & palaces and entertainment.
Tariff does not include liquor, laundry and other items of personal nature

Child Policy

Deccan Odyssey does accommodate children but we ask parents to be mindful of the sophisticated
adult atmosphere we endeavor to maintain.
One child up to 5 years of age shall be allowed free of cost in the Deluxe Cabin, subject to sharing of double bed with parents. This is subject to availability of double bed at the time of booking.
For families, with a child between 6-12 years of age, or, with two children with one child below 5 years and another between 6-12 years, we recommend the Presidential Suite which has a double bed in the bedroom and can be shared with a child below 5 years and a sofa cum bed in the living room which can accommodate the older child. In this case, the child/children will be accommodated free of cost.
In case of two children between 6-12 years of age travelling with their parents, you will have to take 2 cabins. The first child pays 25% of the adult fare and the second child will have to pay 50% of the adult fare. One of the parents will have to be present with the child / children in the cabin.

The above Tariff is subject to change without notice.

GST is subject to change as per the government of India directives.

Reservation / Cancellation – Terms & Conditions

Booking Policy:

20% of ticket value at the time of confirming the booking.
Remaining 80% of ticket value 45 days prior to departure date.

Cancellation Policy:

No cancellation on cancelling 60 days prior to the departure date.
Retention of 20% of ticket value on cancelling 59-45 days prior to the departure date.
Retention of 50% of ticket value on cancelling 44-30 days prior to the departure date.
Rentention of 100% of ticket value on cancelling 29 days prior to the departure date.

For USD bookings: The payable amount in INR should be credited in our account as per the rate of exchange

(ROE) of the previous day of the date (www.rbi.org.in) of transferring the amount by the agent.

No show/ En route termination of tour/amendment:

No Show – In case of No Show / Non-arrival of the guest, no refund or adjustment in future travel will be possible. The whole amount shall be treated as forfeited
En route termination of tour – In case of termination of tour by the guest, for any reasons, no refund or adjustment for future travel will be possible. The amount for unused portion of the tour shall be treated as forfeited.
Amendment – Is only possible under the circumstances like Natural Disaster / Natural Calamity Or Serious Health Problem’s (this needs to be supported by doctor’s certificate) and is subject to availability. No refunds are possible and every case will be decided on merits on a case to case basis. No amendment will be permissible in case of booking of groups or complete train.