Luxury train coach to offer destination weddings soon

Golden Chariot, Karnataka’s plush train coach, will soon offer destination weddings.
The luxuriously appointed coach has already hosted weekend getaways and corporate outings. Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) is now working on introducing wedding and honeymoon packages.

An official said this would be the first destination wedding offer in the country on any luxury train. With this, KSTDC hopes to revive the fortunes of the loss-making Golden Chariot. The official said KSTDC was keen to capture the growing demand for destination weddings.“Quite a few are keen on making their wedding a small affair at an exotic place.’’

Once a wedding party books the train, KSTDC will arrange for decorations, hire transport from the railway station to the wedding hall, and even book priests. The KSTDC will also take care of pre-wedding rituals such as sangeet, mehendi and reception. The cuisine can be customised. KSTDC plans to offer a variety of national and international alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.  Guests and family will be ferried around in luxury AC buses, while the couple are driven around in plush cars. The couple will also be sent off on a honeymoon if the package covers it. They get two additional days if they choose to stay at a KSTDC hotel.

Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge told DH the details and the rates were being worked out. If the wedding is solemnised on the coach, the number of guests can’t exceed 86, but outside, no restrictions apply. The rates for a package are expected to be between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh. KSTDC is also talking to the railways to fix the haulage, the fee to be paid for use of the tracks. If all goes well, the packages will be on offer within a month.


Marriage in a carriage
Golden Chariot is a luxury train coach
Weddings can be solemnised on board
Alternatively, it can take guests to a location
Package includes sangeet, mehndi, reception
Decorations can be theme-based
KSTDC arranges for food and drink
Packages between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh