Editorial
With a view to promote rail tourism in the country and to provide reasonably priced tourism package to tourists, especially the pilgrims in the country, Indian Railways has finalized six pilgrim special tourist train packages in the first phase, which will kick start from 25th October 2014.
The Minister of Railways, D.V.Sadananda Gowda, in his budget speech in July 2014, promised to run a tourist train covering the pilgrim and tourist places of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
He also announced to run tourist trains in various Pilgrim Circuits like Devi Circuit, Jyotirling Circuit, Jain Circuit, Christian Circuit, Muslim / Sufi Circuit, Sikh Circuit, Buddhist Circuit, Famous Temple Circuit etc. The six packages starting from 25th October 2014, aim at implementing the budget announcement.
Indian Railways Corporation & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a Public Sector Undertaking of the Ministry of Railways has been entrusted with the running of all the six Pilgrim Special Tourist Trains. The tourist packages are; Sukhamngalam Yatra, Dham special with Dakshin Darshan via Lucknow, Dham special with Dakshin Darshan via Jaipur, Shikharji Circuit Yatra, Jyotirling Yatra, and Takht Parikrama.
Indian Railways has been giving special emphasis on promotion of Rail Tourism. A few more such Pilgrim Circuit tourist trains, in consonance with the Budget Announcement of the Minister for Railways, are also being planned to launch by this year-end.
The unique features of the tourist train/package would Consists of Standard (SL Class), Comfort (3A Class) and Deluxe (2A Class) categories…all coaches specially renovated.All inclusive (train journey, boarding, onboard/off board meals, road transfers, sightseeing, guide etc.) packageThe exclusive train carries only tourists.The train will have a separate pantry car to cater food to the tourists. There are dates for different Boarding/De-boarding/station in the packages.
Sukhmangalam Yatra, starting from Bangalore 25.10.14 – 03.11.14 09 nights/ 10 days Bijapur, Solapur, Pandharpur, Aurangabad, Shirdi Sai Nagar, Badami, Hampi.Boarding/De-boarding points; Bangalore, Guntakal and Gadag. Rs. 8,190 (Std) Rs. 17,730 (Comfort) Rs. 23,850 (Deluxe).
Dham Special with Dakshin Darshan, starting from Chandigarh via Lucknow 27.10.14 – 13.11.14 17 nights/18 days Ayodhya, Varanasi, Puri, Tirupati, Kanchipuram, Rameshwaram, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Aurangabad, Dwarka, Ujjain.Boarding/De-boarding points; Chandigarh, Ambala, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly , Sahajahanpur, Lucknow Rs. 16380 (Std)Rs. 35,460(Comfort)Rs. 47,700 (Deluxe)
Shikharji Circuit Yatra, starting from. Jaipur 05.12.14 – 11.12.14 06 nights/07 days Rajgir, Pawapuri, Badagaon, Parasnath, Varanasi. Boarding/De-boarding points; Jaipur, Kanpur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Sultmpur, Varanasi Rs. 6,370 (Std) Rs. 13,790 (Comfort) Rs. 18,550 (Deluxe).
Jyotirling Yatra, starting from Jaipur 13.12.14 – 24.12.14 11 nights/12 days Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Nageshwar, Somnath, Grishneshwar, Trayambkeshwar, Bhimashankar JyotirlingaBoarding/De-boarding points; Jaipur Rs. 10,920 (Std) Rs 23,640 (Comfort) Rs 31,800 (Deluxe).
Takht Parikrama, starting from. Jammu Tawi 29.12.14 – 07.01.15 09 nights/10 days Gwalior, Nanded, Bidar, Patna Sahib. Boarding/De-boarding points; Jammu Tawi, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Ambala, Delhi Safsarjung. Rs. 9,100 (Std) Rs. 19,700 (Comfort)Rs. 26,500 (Deluxe).
