Enjoy a Pilgrim cum Luxury Trip on the Buddhist Tourist Train
IRCTC, a division of Indian Railways, has initiated a new travel program with special departure dates for passengers interested to learn more about the Buddhist spiritualism. The Buddhist tourist train is designated as the Mahaparinirvan Express takes you through Buddhist India that existed more than 2500 years ago. Mahaparinirvana Sutra is the place where Buddha preached his final discourse of teachings. The journey covers several of the Buddhist pilgrimage sites like Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Rajgir, Gaya, Sarnath, Shravasti, Agra, etc.
Features of the train:
The Buddhist tourist train is an ideal and comfortable transportation where both Indians and foreign tourists. It is not exactly a luxury train like the other IRCTC operated luxury trains. The focus here is to provide comfortable accommodation during the 8 days of travel. The compartments are those that are generally used in Rajdhani Express.
The train has a kitchen where fresh food is prepared under strict hygienic conditions. The bathroom cubicles have showers. Passengers are welcomed with garlands and given an educative Buddhist guidebook. It is a guided tour and the in-city tours are all by airconditioned coaches. The tour escorts speak both English and Hindi.
The Buddhist tourist train itinerary, costs, and departures:
The first departure is in the last week of September and ends in the last week of March. The tour is of 7nights/8 days and costs Rs. 76,800 per person for AC 1st class and Rs. 62,850 for 2nd AC. Passengers can opt for short tours with select places so long as they reserve for a minimum of 3 nights. For the shorter tours travel by AC 1st Class costs Rs. 10,980 per night while in AC 2nd Class it is Rs. 8,980 per night per person.
GST is included in the tour cost although visa fees if applicable for India and Nepal are not included. Liquor, beverages, laundry, medicines, transfers are not included in the tour costs. IRCTC is offering a discount of 10% on the net fare excluding GST and any other tax on the tour cost provided the booking is done before 6th October. 72 guests can be accommodated in the AC1st class while the 2nd AC coach has a capacity for 92 guests.
The Buddhist tourist train starts and culminates at Safdarjung railway station at New Delhi in the afternoon.
Day 2 has a stop at Gaya. Visit Bodhgaya temple.
Day 3 covers Rajgir and Nalanda
Day 4 in Varanasi, Sarnath. Visit the holy Ganges river for an Aarti in the evening
Day 5 covers Kushinagar
Day 6 a full day trip to Lumbini in Nepal
Day 7 in Gonda visiting Shravasti
Day 8 in Agra visiting Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri etc. Return to Delhi Safdarjung railway station by 6.00PM.
Other amenities in the tour
The Buddhist tourist train includes full day trips by road in some cases. Due to the intensive climatic conditions, foreign tourists sometimes find it difficult to cope up. The operators provide breaks in between at nearby hotel where the passengers can freshen up. The train is well maintained, cleaned each day, linen changed every morning. Food includes both Indian, European, and American cuisines.
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