IRCTC to launch winter trips to heritage sites, deserts

IRCTC to launch winter trips to heritage sites, deserts

ALLAHABAD: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) will start two train services that will unveil the winter charm of the country's sprawling deserts and heritage sites. 

Both the semi-luxury trains will depart from New Delhi with an array of deluxe facilities across its five days of round trip dotted with sightseeing facilities. 'Heritage Circuit' will take the passengers to Varanasi, Khajuraho and Agra while 'Desert Circuit' will cover Rajasthan's famed cities of Jaisalmer and Jaipur. 

The two trains will run eight trips till summer sets in April. 

'Heritage Circuit' will begin service from December 20 and its last trip will start on April 21. The Desert Circuit will commence in mid-December 20 and wind up on April 21. 

"Now that the tourist season is on, we expect good occupancy," IRCTC chairman and managing director A K Manocha said. 

The package, which includes intercity transfers, also features accommodation in 3-star hotels, all meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner), sightseeing and local transfers by AC deluxe vehicles, entrances at the monuments, service of English/Hindi-speaking guide, travel insurance, 24x7 security and CCTV surveillance onboard the train, besides hygienic kitchen-car facility, medical facility, transportation by AC vehicles and wi-fi service. 

The Heritage Circuit is packed with many alluring vistas for the travellers. It comprises visit to the holy city of Varanasi, serene beauty of Sarnath, sculptures of Khajuraho and Taj city of Agra. Other features include a boat-ride on the Ganga and dusk-time aarti ceremony. The Khajuraho stay features visits to eastern and western group of temples. At Agra, it's the world famous Taj Mahal, besides Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. 

On the first day of Heritage Circuit, travellers will board train from New Delhi to Varanasi, covering a distance of about 820 kms. The second day will be reserved for the visit to Varanasi and adjacent Sarnath. In the evening, they will board the train from Varanasi to Khajuraho, covering a distance of about 380 kms. The passengers will visit the historic sculptors of Khajuraho on the third day and travel from this city to Agra during night. 

On the fourth day, people will delve in the beauty of Agra and also visit Fatehpur Sikri. After overnight stay at Agra in a hotel, the journey will wind up on the fifth day from Agra to New Delhi. 

The Jaisalmer stop of the Desert Circuit will cover the city Fort, sand dunes, Gadisagar lake and Palwaon Ki Haveli. At Jaipur, the sights shown will be City Palace, Jantar Mantar observatory, Chokhi Dhani, Amer Fort and Hawa Mahal. 

Source:Times Of India