{"id":11343,"date":"2017-12-14T10:00:12","date_gmt":"2017-12-14T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/?p=11343"},"modified":"2024-06-18T07:36:20","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T11:36:20","slug":"traveling-deccan-odyssey-pt-3-palaces-caves-bollywood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theprofessionalhobo.com\/traveling-deccan-odyssey-pt-3-palaces-caves-bollywood\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveling on the Deccan Odyssey (Pt 3): Palaces, Caves, and Bollywood!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I’m not sure if it’s the Deccan Odyssey and its decadent ways, or if it’s India (and its decadent ways), but while on board this epic train ride, palaces were certainly a theme. In my last two days on the train, it was palaces, and caves. Oh yeah, and Bollywood. But we’ll get to that later.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Here's<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This post was originally published in 2017. It has since been updated for accuracy of links and content. <\/em>

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Traveling through India on the Deccan Odyssey (the most luxurious train in the world<\/a>) was akin to a dream come true for me. I’ve experienced (and written extensively<\/a> about) long-distance train travel. But when I booked a mistake air fare to India on a whim, I had no idea I’d follow my cheap flight with such a decadent experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because let’s get it right: I don’t exactly earn an income in keeping with a trip like the Deccan Odyssey, which is super-deluxe-luxury stuff. Although I’ve often said that financially sustainable travel is not synonymous with budget travel (some full-time travelers earn six figures; so they can spend accordingly), I’ll also admit that my<\/i> current income<\/a> is definitely not in keeping with this trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So it’s important to disclose that this trip was free for me, many thanks to Cox & Kings (India’s favourite tour company and the world’s longest-standing one) who actually owns<\/i> the Deccan Odyssey train; some personal connections I made with the folks at Cox & Kings while speaking at a travel conference a few months prior paved the way to this experience.
2021 Update: Cox & Kings is out of business.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I may not earn a ton of money, but this job definitely has its perks. <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Laxmi<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n


Four Days on the Deccan Odyssey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My four days aboard the Deccan Odyssey train in India flew by. After boarding in Jaipur<\/a> (halfway through it’s journey from Delhi to Mumbai), I spent the first day getting acquainted with the train’s many <\/i>amenities<\/a> while the passengers were out touring. The following day was a full one in Udaipur<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Deccan<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Unfortunately I awoke the following morning with a migraine so I missed the morning’s activities in Vadodara. Luckily everybody returned to the train for lunch and I was shipshape to join them for the afternoon visit to Laxmi Vilas Palace (the largest palace in India, and close to the largest in the world).<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"itinerary<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The following day, the morning was spent doing my absolute favourite thing to do on trains (lie in bed and watch the world go by); something I’d have liked a bit more of, but I’m in the minority in that club – most of the Deccan Odyssey passengers saw the train more as a means to tour around India’s destinations, rather than the train being the destination unto itself. (But I’m weird that way<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"dancers<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Ellora<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

That afternoon, we visited Ellora Caves in Aurangabad; an extensive network of caves that have been hand-carved into temples of beauty, mythology, and acoustic grace. When we returned to the train for our collective last night on board the Deccan Odyssey, a surprise was awaiting each of us in our cabins: specially chosen traditional Indian outfits (saris for women) and a Bollywood party to attend! I’m not sure if my crazy Bollywood-esque moves impressed or horrified the guests and staff alike, but either way I was a great source of amusement for all.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"dressing<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n


Join me for my Last Two Days Aboard the Deccan Odyssey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the kind of trip that is best experienced through (moving) pictures, not words. Check out the video below to see the largest palace in India, catch me singing a song in one of the Ellora cave echo chambers, and kickin’ it Bollywood style to cap it all off!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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