Seeking to tap the festive travel rush during Onam, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced a special Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train connecting Kerala with some of India’s most iconic tourist destinations, including the Golden Triangle circuit, Ahmedabad and the Statue of Unity.
The 11-night, 12-day all-inclusive tour will commence from Thiruvananthapuram North on August 22 and is being operated under the Government of India’s ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ and ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiatives aimed at promoting domestic tourism.
Covering iconic destinations
The specially designed Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train will cover nearly 6,895 km, taking travellers to Ahmedabad, Ekta Nagar, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur before returning to Thiruvananthapuram North on September 2.
The itinerary includes visits to several landmark attractions such as Akshardham Temple, Sabarmati Ashram, Adalaj Stepwell and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rani Ki Vav in Ahmedabad. At Ekta Nagar, tourists will visit the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue.
The tour will also cover Delhi’s Red Fort, India Gate, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple and Rajghat, followed by the Taj Mahal in Agra and Jaipur’s Amer Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar.
Multiple boarding points across Kerala
The train can accommodate 662 passengers and offers Sleeper, AC 3 Tier and AC 2 Tier travel options.
Passengers can board or deboard at Thiruvananthapuram North, Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Thrissur, Shoranur Junction, Kozhikode, Kannur and Mangaluru Junction, making the package accessible to travellers across Kerala and neighbouring regions.
Packages start at ₹21,190
IRCTC has priced the all-inclusive package from ₹21,190 per person for the Economy category. The package includes train travel, hotel accommodation, sightseeing, road transport, vegetarian meals, tour escorts, travel insurance and doctor-on-call services.
Higher categories offer AC train travel and upgraded hotel accommodation, with tariffs going up to ₹52,870 for the Superior package. Customers can also opt for EMI payment through Paytm and Razorpay payment gateways.
Focus on safety and comfort
The LHB rake is equipped with CCTV surveillance and security personnel in every coach. IRCTC said health and safety measures have also been put in place throughout the journey, including doctor-on-call facilities.
Bookings are open on a first-come, first-served basis through the IRCTC tourism portal.