Just that the 450 kms drive from Pune to Goa would cost you around Rs 1.5 lakh. You may call it the ‘Palace on Wheels’ for road travel, the Grand Chariot is targeted at all those busy top executives from the corporate sector who want to make best use of available time.
Pune-based transportation firm Girikand Logistics has launched a customised luxury caravan targeting the high-end leisure and business travellers. Girikand has invested Rs 1.5 crore in creating ‘Grand Chariot’ and plans to have 10 more such vehicles in the next one year. The vehicle is priced at Rs 150 per km for minimum of 250 km traveling.
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“Use of such caravan is a very common phenomenon in European countries and the US. The Indian market is now ready for such high class services. Girikand has procured All India Permit for ‘Grand Chariot’ so the users can take it to any part of the country. We plan to add more such caravans and have at least 10 such vehicles in our fleet in the next one year. This business is growing in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to promote the tourism,” said Akhilesh Joshi, director Girikand Logistics.
The caravan can seat six people - four in two-opposite-two configuration – and has one independent bedroom complete with wardrobes and a chemical toilet cubicle with facility for a shower. The driver cabin is separated from the living area. Girikand has tied up with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation to provide them with the camping ground facilities, which will add an all new dimension to tourism in the state.
The caravan is built on chassis of an Isuzu bus and is being modified by auto design master Dilip Chhabria at his factory in Akurdi near Pune.
When asked if such a high tag would be something that the Indian traveller is ready for, Joshi said, “There is hardly any such services in the country. Whatever is available is used by film stars for inter-city commute. No one has used it for long road trip. There surely is a market for such service in India.”