The key differences will be that the former will offer a tour of the State in a luxury Volvo bus instead of the luxury train and the price of a ticket will be a mere one-fifth of the cost of the train ticket.
The proposal to introduce ‘The Silver Chariot’ was mooted in the New Tourism Policy, cleared by the State Cabinet. The tour itinerary and costs have now been chalked out by the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC).
The idea behind the launch is to cater to the tourists who would yearn to hop on to the ‘Golden Chariot’ but are held back due to the cost factor. “A luxurious as well as highly affordable tour are the USPs of Silver Chariot,” said MD of KSTDC, Vinay Luthra.
The six-night and seven-day trip will commence from the City on every Sunday morning. It will take the tourist through tourist locales at Mysore, Hassan, Bhadra and Hospet before returning to the City by Saturday afternoon.
“The Bhadra National Park has been introduced in place of the Kabini trip offered for Golden Chariot passengers,” the MD said. The all-cost encompassing package works out to around Rs 25,000 per tourist. In case of children, it is just 50 per cent of the cost for those below 12 years and free for those below five years. Tourists will stay in air-conditioned rooms at hotels in different places.
In place of the cabs provided for ‘Golden Chariot’ passengers, the bus would take them around all the places of interest. KSTDC plans to launch the package within a month. “If delayed, it would take us a maximum time period of two months,” Luthra stated.
The operational costs will not be that high in case of ‘The Silver Chariot’. The operational costs working out to Rs one crore a month that ‘The Golden Chariot’ pays to Railways as haulage charges will be the huge savings here.
Those interested in details need to contact the KSTDC call centre number: 42525555.
Itinerary of The Silver Chariot
Sunday: Departure from Bangalore in the morning. Arrival at Mysore in the afternoon, sightseeing tour there and night stay at KRS hotel.
Monday: Departure from Mysore to Hassan in the morning. Visit to tourist spots there and night stay at Hassan.
Tuesday: Departure from Hassan to Bhadra in the morning. Visit to the National Park and night halt at Jungle Lodges
and Resorts accommodation.
Wedneday: Day spent in travel from Bhadra to Badami. Night stay at Badami.
Thursday: Visit to Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole. Depature to Hampi and night halt there.
Friday: Visit to monuments in Hampi. Night stay there.
Saturday: Departure to Bangalore late in the morning.
Arrival in the City by late afternoon.
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