In view of the rising demand, Indian Railway’s Una in Himachal Pradesh, is once again for the second consecutive year, the starting point for a special tourist train under it’s ‘Bharat Dharshan’ itinerary.

The tourist package of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) ‘Gangasagar Puri Darshan Yatra’ NZBD193 is scheduled to start from Una in HP on April 18 and will cover various religious destinations that include Varanasi, Gaya, Gangasagar, Puri, Bhubneshwar, Konark and Jasidih.

Originating and ending at Una, has boarding and de-boarding points at Una, Nangal dam, Anandpur Sahib, Chandigarh, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Delhi cantt, Rewari, Jaipaur, Bharatpur, Agra fort, Kanpur, Lucknow.

The journey by sleeper class train is offering the budget-friendly package for pilgrims at a tariff of Rs.10,465 (including service tax) per adult for 12 days and 11 nights.

The special train will have 9 coaches facilitating 70 passengers per coach.

have extended its rail line to Una with a broad gauge line only a few years ago.

IRCTC, Chandigarh chief regional manager Gulshan said, “The package ‘GangaSagar Puri Darshan Yatra’ is part of the railways mass tourism package for the year 2017. This is for the second time we have Una as the origin and ending point, first having been introduced last year. Last year’s tourist circuit ‘7 Jyotirling Yatra’ had different religious sites.”

He further said that the origin point from Una has been selected in view of the growing demand.

IRCTC had introduced such tourism packages since almost a decade which includes train journey, road transportation for site seeing at various locations, accommodation and on-board and off board meals, he added.

This year IRCTC has rolled out 13 special tourist trains under the IRCTC’s Bharat Darshan for various religious and tourist circuits.

‘Bharat Darshan’ Special Tourist Train, of IRCTC is one of the most affordable all inclusive tour package, covering all the important tourist places in the country.

The bookings of the Bharat Darshan Special Tourist Trains have already started and is available on the IRCTC offical website and also can be done through the railways tourist facilitation centre, zonal offices and regional offices across the country, he said.