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Have you always wanted to experience a Train Journey in India and see a bit more what the Country has to offer (without going too far?)
Well now here’s your chance. Let ‘Lawrence of India’ guide you on this Cultural Tour of Karnataka, showing you some of the sights & delights the State has to offer.
The Tour was introduced last year and had an overwhelming response with many dates selling out during the season. Lawrence composed the Tour himself so it’s not something you would find anywhere else. Lawrence is a fun, friendly, approachable person, not to mention professional and passionate. Along with his wealth of knowledge and his interesting facts & stories he is the difference of what makes a good Tour a really great one.
Featured by Chris Tarrant on his Extreme Railway Series your journey will start on the Konkan Railway on-board the passenger train from Margao to Udupi. The Konkan Railway runs down the west coast of India connecting the port cities of Mumbai and Mangalore. Although the British Empire built 40,000 miles of track across the vast sub-continent between, they stayed clear of this narrow, boggy strip of land as it was such a treacherous and difficult environment in which to build a railway.
As a result, Western India remained undeveloped until over 100 years later when a brave Indian engineer took on the daunting task. Known as 'The People's Railway' it opened in January 1998, finally connecting the remote villages along the route to the outside world. Be entertained by the Train Vendors who come up & down the carriages selling things from tea & coffee to snacks & playing cards, you never know what’s coming next. Sit back, relax & take your positions for the day as you chugger through towns & villages and watch the local people go by.
Spend your evening relaxing in the Hotel’s Bar & Restaurant or sample some local cuisine in one of many nearby places. Ensure you get some rest and wake up feeling fully recharged for the action-packed day that lies ahead.
First stop of the day will be Agumbe View Point, located 2000 feet above sea level it is the highest point in Southern India and receives the most rainfall. We’ll be taking the Agumbe Ghat Road, an engineering marvel of the British age built in 1839 and because of the narrow, winding, twisting bends it's considered to be one of the most challenging roads to drive in Karnataka. Agumbe is famously known as the Cobra Capital of India due to the number of Cobra’s that are found here.
Get your cameras and be ready to capture the magnificent views of the Karnatakan Countryside.
Next, we’ll be making our way to Kavaledurga, a hidden gem in the Western Ghats. A combination of natural beauty and trekking terrain but is best known for its Fort which was built in the 9th century. Once covered by vegetation it was Archaeologists that uncovered the Fort & discovered the Queens Palace. The Fort rests on the top of a hill amidst a dense forest surrounded by Rice Fields and Banana Plantations. Once at the summit you can you’ll be able to take in the breath-taking 360-degree views of the surrounding area.
What awaits you next is Vidyashankar Temple, a 1000-year architectural beauty in Sringeri. There are 12 pillars representing the 12 signs of the Zodiac. You’ll be in awe of the cleverly constructed masterpiece where the morning rays of sun fall on the Pillar representing the Zodiac Sign for that month. Very interesting to see, it’s no surprise it’s on many peoples Bucket Lists. The river flowing alongside the Temple has a Fish Sanctuary and is home to thousands of fish. The Mahseer Fish is an important icon in India and is worshipped in several Temples. It is customary for the devotees who visit the Temple to feed the fish with puffed rice, bread or toast so make sure you pick up an extra slice at breakfast. You’ll get to meet the temples Royal Elephants too Amruta & Bhanumathi. Both Elephants were rescued from the villages but are now owned by the Temple Administration.
Come say 'hello', give them a stroke & have your picture taken. You'll also have the opportunity to be blessed by them which is said to bring you good luck.
You must be gagging for a Cuppa Tea now, right? Well you’re in luck as we make our way to Balanoor Tea Factory which produces around 625 tons of Tea per year. The owners run the estate with the help of their dedicated passionate staff & workers. They have a total of around 300 staff & provide free housing, a hospital, a school and crèche facilities. They feel the standard of living for their workers has to be as good at theirs & by providing these facilities they will take pride in their work and be loyal to them. Here you will see the process of how Tea is made. Be mesmerised by the ladies plucking tender leaves in the fields and fascinated by the modern-day machinery in the factory turn those leaves into high quality Tea.
Then it’s on to Karkala, a quaint town in the Udupi district of Karnataka.
With great historical significance it is blessed with several ancient Temples but the must visit attraction here is the statue of Bahubali, also known as Gomateshwara.
Carved from a single block of granite, standing 17 meters tall it is the second largest statue of this kind and can be seen from 19 miles away.
Last stop of the day is Saavira Kambada Basadi, more commonly known as the Thousand Pillar Temple. Considered to be an architectural wonder the Temple was built in 1430 and took 31 years to complete the construction. It is full of elaborate sculptures and decoration and the doorway of the Temple has intricate carvings and is enclosed with ornate walls. The 1000 pillars have exquisite detail and an interesting fact is that no two pillars are said to be the same.
In the evening we visit a famous Hindu Temple where a 400-year cultural festival of Udupi takes place. This is a special event where the Deity is invited out from the Temple and is taken on a Chariot ride. Hundreds of people wait patiently for the Deity to leave his Temple, then when everything is in place, he takes part in a pleasure ride with all his Devotees. The Chariot also known as Ratha is a vehicle made of wood and is manually pulled along by human beings, elephant or horse. The Chariot event takes place to impress Lord Krishna who in return is said to fulfil your wishes and bring unity among people. Join in the fun, pull the ropes & bring Lord Krishna into your hearts.
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