Travel bucket list idea:
Maharashtra, India
This luxury train journey began operating through the state of Maharashtra in southern India in 2005.
Densely forested hills are a common backdrop to areas of coarse grasses and scrub edging areas of cultivation. The richness of post-monsoon colours gradually give way to ochres and browns as memory of the rains fades.
Six different itineraries, all lasting eight days, encompass a variety of bucket list experiences, though some are weighted towards wildlife or heritage, for example. Highlights include the 5th-century Ellora Caves, maharajas’ palaces, the Konkan coast and Sindhudurg Fort, and Asiatic lions in Gir Forest National Park.
India’s luxury trains benefit from the country’s wider track gauge, meaning more space for the 80 passengers. All sleeping cars are en suite. Besides lounge and bar cars, there is a spa car with sauna and a small gym. Among the gastronomic delights onboard are a wine tasting at one of India’s top vineyards and a Goan feast, and the cuisine on the train encompasses Maharashtrian, Goan, Chines and continental dishes.
Trains leave from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus. Smart casual is the norm on the train, and naturally earth-coloured attire for wildlife safaris. It can be surprisingly cold in the pre-dawn mornings when rising early to see the sunrise or visit a national park.
The train normally operates for up to 35 weeks of the year. The best months are the winter months of October to March when it’s cooler with clearer skies and often a gentle breeze. The monsoon lasts from June to September, when it’s unpleasantly sticky and wet.
Our writer’s recommended tour operators to book with
Altrincham, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom (UK)
UK-based operator of some of the world’s most iconic and luxurious rail journeys over the last 30 years, notably Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, Mongolia, China, Central Asia and India.
