the golden chariot is a luxury tourist train that connects the important tourist spots in the indian states of karnataka, goa, kerala & tamil nadu as well as pondicherry, depending on the selected itinerary. it is named after the in the vitthala temple at hampi. the 19 coaches on the train are coloured purple and gold, and sport the logo of a mythological animal with the head of an elephant and a body of a lion. "the golden chariot" is operating between the months of october–march for 2015/16 season with a departure every week, on monday and had its maiden commercial run on 10 march 2008.