GUWAHATI, July 7 - The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) will undertake a number of packages specifically for the people of the North East in the coming months.
IRCTC, a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, has decided to operate three Bharat Darshan tourist train trips from this region.
�The Bharat Darshan trips organised last year were well appreciated by the people of this region and received a huge response. So, continuing with the initiative, IRCTC has decided to operate three Bharat Darshan trips for the people of the North East this year,� said Nripen Bhattacharya, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
The first trip will cover the religious circuit of Haridwar-Rishikesh-Mathura.
�The entire trip will be of eight days� duration and will start from the Guwahati Railway Station on August 26. This trip is suited best for the people who desire to take a dip in the holy river Ganga. Tourists will be taken for sightseeing of Ganga Aarti in Har-Ki-Pauri, Lakshman Temple, Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula, and Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The cost payable by the passengers for availing this trip has been fixed at a very nominal price of Rs 8,505 per person. The train will halt at New Bongaigaon, New Cooch Behar, New Jalpaiguri and Katihar for passenger boarding and de-boarding,� said Bhattacharya.
The second trip of the Bharat Darshan tourist train for people of the North East is scheduled from the Agartala Railway Station on November 3. It will cover Mata Vaishno Devi and Amritsar.
�Seeing the huge demand among the people for this circuit, IRCTC has planned to organise the trip to Mata Vaishno Devi and Amritsar. The duration of the trip will be of 10 nights and 11 days with the cost fixed at Rs 10,395 per person. Those who book the trip will be taken to the Vaishno Devi shrine, along with Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh and also to witness the Beating Retreat Ceremony at the Wagah Border,� said the NFR PRO.
The third trip for 2019 will cover Puri and Konark. The trip will start from the Dibrugarh Railway Station on December 4 and will be of duration of seven nights and eight days with halts at Guwahati, New Bongaigaon, New Cooch Behar, New Jalpaiguri and Malda Town for boarding and de-boarding. Those who join the trip will be taken to the Jagannath Dham, the Puri beach and the World Heritage Site of the Sun Temple at Konark. The cost of the trip per person is Rs 8,505, Bhattacharya said.
�The Bharat Darshan tourist trains are currently the cheapest rail package tour in the country. These are all-inclusive trips, which includes entire train journey in Sleeper class, vegetarian meals, non-AC accommodation at the places of stay, non-AC bus for sightseeing and road transportation, travel insurance, packaged drinking water bottles, among other things,� he added.
Tour escorts and security guards are deputed in each train coach.
�For onboard entertainment during the journey, passengers will be provided with carrom boards, ludo, chess and other such games. This special train is also equipped with an onboard Public Address System to relay timely and important information to the passengers. Sufficient guides will be provided for the passengers during sightseeing and road transfers. These trips can also be availed by people who intend to travel on LTC,� said Bhattacharya, adding that booking for the Bharat Darshan trips have started.
Bookings can be done online through the IRCTC website as well as visiting the company�s office in Guwahati, besides through authorised IRCTC e-ticketing agents and travel agencies without paying any extra amount.
