VELLORE: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will organise two pilgrimage tourist circuits, for the benefit of tourists of South India, to visit other parts of the country.
According to an official press release, the first train ‘Sukhmangalam Yatra Special’ would leave Bangalore on October 25, 2014 for ten days, covering the historical and pilgrimage destinations of Karnataka and Maharashtra, comprising Bijapur, Solapur, Pandharpur, Aurangabad, Shirdi, Badami, and Hampi.
The second train ‘Janana Purthi Thirth Yatra Special’ would leave Bangalore on November 5, 2014 for 14 days via Chennai Central, covering Puri, Varanasi, Allahabad, Dwaraka, Vijayawada, and Rameswaram. The trains would have 13 coaches each comprising 7 sleeper class, 2 AC three tier and one AC two tier coaches, a pantry car, and two power cars. The total carrying capacity of these trains would be 700 tourists each.
The trains would cater vegetarian food, offer tour escorts and security in each coach, public address system for announcements and religious discourses and would carry only tourists. The train tours can also be availed by government/PSU staff as part of their LTC tour guidelines.
The package is all inclusive and categorised as standard, comfort and deluxe. Under standard category, the tariff would be Rs 910 per person per day (second class train journey, hall accommodation, veg meals, non-AC road transfers on seat in coach basis), Rs 1970 per person per day for comfort category and Rs 2650 for deluxe category. For reservations, contact Katpadi station at 9840948484.
For online booking, log on to: www.irctctourism. com.