The Deccan Odyssey
Romance on the Railroad
by Rita Cook

I knew that traveling India’s countryside from Mumbai to Goa would be a journey of the mind as much as the body. The sights and sounds that this ancient country offers is breathtaking, complete with century old forts and an enigmatic culture steeped in time.

Add to that the chance to experience a train built for royalty winding through the countryside and stopping at small towns while allowing travelers to revel in the traditional way of life found only in this part of the world. The romance of it all couldn't be sweeter.

If you combine all these components together you have a journey that will never be forgotten.  Alas you have a journey aboard the Deccan Odyssey.

The Deccan Odyssey is India’s newest addition to the tourist market and it is every bit as luxurious as the Blue Train of South Africa, the Orient Express of Europe and the Eastern and Oriental of South East Asia.

Three years in the making, the Deccan Odyssey is a dark blue affair highlighted with gold stripes. The coaches are named after well-known forts, monuments and sites throughout India and they are names you will become familiar with on your eight-day journey.

The Deccan Odyssey travels up to 60 miles per hour as it coils its way through Maharashtra beginning in the famously well-known city of Mumbai (formerly Bombay until 1976) and ending up in the very Portugal-influenced Goa. Following Goa the Deccan Odyssey turns around to head back to Mumbai via an entirely new route away from the coastline. It’s the small towns and beaches as much as the impressive large cities that will allow you to see an India that most travelers are not afforded the chance to experience.

So it was day one of my journey that I found myself in Mumbai. Mumbai is known for many things, but the most important at the moment seems to be Bollywood. While it’s not Hollywood, California, you can still find India’s version of its well-known celebrities plastered on row after row of billboards. Mumbai has a modern feel; it’s relatively new in many parts with a modern architecture accentuated by old-world gothic style buildings.

It wasn’t until the evening that we boarded the Deccan Odyssey, treated to a local Indian dish and waiting for the journey to properly get started. For the most part, the train traveled in the evening and stopped during the morning and afternoon for passengers to discover the ancient land.

As I awoke on day two, I was treated to hot coffee and toast brought to me by my valet. Always attentive, each car’s personal valet is continuously on call and I remained surprised at how our valet always seemed to appear at just the right time whether it was my stopped up drain, my lack of hot water or even the afternoon when I locked myself inside my cabin. Like magic, he was there to fix the problem and he did it with a smile, although I couldn’t help wondering what he was thinking behind his friendly façade.

Day two was a welcome ceremony in Ukshi station, mountains and backwaters calling us onward as we were taken to Rai Jetty for a boat ride alighting on the other side at the famed 17^th century Jaigad Fort. We also had the chance to experience the Konkan village, which is a must on your trip since there is no access via road or rail to this area of India.

We reveled in the opportunity to enjoy a Konkan lunch followed by rest and relaxation on the beach in Ganapatipule with the Arabian Sea as an enticing backdrop.

In the evening we were hurried back again to the comfort of our temporary home where dinner awaited, and I gathered with my new friends from other around the world to talk about the day’s adventure.