Day  2 - Jaigad, Ganpatipule & Ratnagiri

Alight in the morning at the Bhoke Station nestled amidst majestic mountains and scenic backwaters. Enjoy the short ride in a luxury bus to Raj Jetty. Cut through the mesmerizing silence of the scenic backwater accompanied by an impressive number of exotic birds on the way to the historical Jaigad Fort. Relish an almost unique view of Konkan village life, impossible to get either from road or the rail. This romantic journey brings you to Jaigad Jetty, situated at the foothills of the Jaigad Fort. And at a short distance stands the legendary Jaigad Fort, high and proud on a cliff with spectacular view of the ocean and Ganapatipule, the next destination.

After Jaigad Fort, its’s time to travel to Ganapatipule by road, and experience by itself. The vast ‘Konkan’ stretch abounds with scenic greenery, red earth and the roofed houses with clean courtyards add a quaint touch to the panorama.

The serene beach of Ganapatipule bathe in the golden sunshine and silver moonlight, lapped by gentle foam-flecked waves from the expanse of the Arabian Sea. It’s laced with the unforgettable aroma of fruits, flowers and mangroves. And the timid whispers of swaying coconut tress carry you away into a land, that’s serene, sedate and unspoilt.

Feast your taste buds over a vast spread of ‘Konkan’ cuisine and spend some time in the company of the locals, who are as warm and cheerful as their surroundings. Even ready to chat with you and make you feel at home. Visit the holy temple shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesh, flocked by millions every year. Walk down the beach to the rune of the splashing waves. Head out towards Ratnagiri, the land of the world famous ‘Alphonso’ mangoes, in the comforts of the luxury A/C bus.

Ratnagiri is also the birthplace of Lokmanya Tilak, the important freedom fighter who was the first Indian leader who moved the Indian independence cause from the closed rooms of the intellectuals to the ordinary people.

Temples, forts and virgin beaches, you would wish you could say a little longer. But the train whistles and you are off to yet another beautiful destination feasting over a royal spread served on board.

Day 3 - Sindhudurg, Tarkarli & Sawantwadi

Next day the train chugs in to the tip of the Konkan coast, Sindhudurg Nagari station. A luxury A/C bus transfers you to Malvan Jetty from the station. Settle in a comfortable boat, arranged just for you, and enjoy the mesmerizing view of flora, birds and caressing waves on the ride to Sindhudurg Fort.

Next stop the one time naval base, stubbornly guarded, till today by the unconquered Ocean Fort of Sindhudurg. As you approach the fort from Malvan jetty past a rocky reef, marvel at the hard work of over 6000 skilled hands that worked round the clock for 3 years. Within its premises are temples dedicated to Bhavani, Mahadeo, Jarimari, Mahapurush and Shivaji. Walk on the two-mile long rampart walls and watch the breathtaking view of the vast open sea as it fires a volley of spray 30ft. below. And at times even 30 feet high, an amazing experience indeed.

Head out to Tarkarli by luxury A/C bus. A virgin beach at the confluence of river Karli and Arabian Sea with silver soft sands and pristine clear waters. The wide river, the beautiful sailboats, the tiny islands, the hamlets at the river bank, all contribute to the picture-postcard beauty of Tarkarli. Enjoy a relaxed lunch at the well-appointed MTDC Beach Resort, complete with twenty 'Konkani' style cottages. Indeed a perfect place to enjoy the mouth-watering 'Malvani' cuisine and then unwind.

Next stop, Tarkarli Jetty, for a romantic boat ride through the Tarkarli creek up to Walawal Jetty. Move on to Sawantwadi by luxury A/C bus, situated on the southernmost point of Sindhudurg. This elite heritage destination is the entry point to Goa. The colorful town, once an estate capital, is home to the Chitar Ali. Shilpa Gram is yet another place you must visit. A craft village, where you can watch local craftsmen manufacturing handicrafts and what's more, you can buy some mementos too.

The evening promises a traditional meal in the train. As the train heads to Goa from Sawantwadi, you will leave behind this coastal paradise rich in history and natural splendour.

Day - 4  Goa

As the train pulls in to Goa, get ready to explore an exotic destination frequented by tourists from all corners of the globe. Brilliant lush green fields surrounding village and hamlets, white washed churches standing out against occasional empty patches of startling red soil. Welcome to Goa, the land of India’s finest golden sand beaches, jungle clad hills, imposing ancient churches and elegant mansions, splashed with color of bougainvillea. Goa is indeed a great collage of sights, experiences and history.

Once in Goa, you can start off with Old Goa. Take a walk amid the ruins, ramble in the vast gardens and grounds of the old church buildings. Basilica of Born Jesus, Se Cathedral and the Church of St. Francis of Assissi, that began as a mosque but now is an archaeological museum for Goan antiques.

Visit Fontanhas, the Latin quarters at Panjim, the capital of Goa State. Soon, it’ll be time for an afternoon laced with heady traditional music, dance and finger licking Goan delicacies.

The day has ended, but in Goa, it is just the beginning. Non Stop fun, virgin beaches, ancient sites and caves, religious icons and shrines are set deep in your mind as you head back to the Madgaon station. Wine and dine on board the royal train. It’s true, no matter much time you have in Goa, it will always seem too little.

Day - 6  Aurangabad

Next morning, traveling along the rolling hills and picturesque ruins of the past, you travel way back in time to Aurangabad. Founded by Aurangzeb, Aurangbad’s heritage is rich and varied.

After breakfast in the train, a luxury bus takes you to the majestic fortress of Daulatabad. An impregnable defense in its day, it still stands tall and proud. Walk around the ruins, which tell you extraordinary stories of bravery and valour.

Next stop is the world famous Ellora Caves. Just 30 kms from Aurangbad the historical Ellora caves in now a World Heritage Site. This Hindu, Jain and Buddhist caves at Ellora are among the finest in India. Lying on the ancient trade route, the caves are thought to be the work of priests and pilgrims who used the route. Abandoned and forgotten for a few centuries, the 34 caves were cut out of volcanic rocks of the Deccan trap. 12 are Buddhist (600 to 700 AD), 17 Hindu (800-1000AD) and five Jain (1000-1300 AD). The Buddhist caves belong to the Vajrayana sect of the Mahayana School. The caves include ‘viharas’ (monasteries) and ‘chaityas’ (chapels) where the monks worshipped. The Hindu caves lie in the centre of the group. The most famous of them being the Kailasanatha Temple (8th century). It is the most magnificent of all rock-cut structures at Ellora. Completely open to the elements, it is the only building that was begun from the top. The Jain caves, less grand in comparison to the others are richly carved with lotus, elephant, lions and ‘tirthankaras’ of Lord Mahavira. They offer an aura of peace and simplicity.

Come back to Aurangabad for lunch at the Taj Hotel with live cultural entertainment.

Move on to the Bibi-Ka-Maqbara, a tribute of the Emperor’s son to his mother. A replica of Taj Mahal, the fairy tale Maqbara stands out as the only piece of Moghul architecture on the Deccan Plateau. Spend some time browsing through Paithani and Himroo showrooms for a perfect memorabilia.

Soon, it’s time to go back to the station for a mouth-watering feast in the train and then to travel even further back in time.