IRCTC's Buddhist Circuit Special Train to 2015-16 season journey from today

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The Buddhist Circuit Special Train, owned and operated by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), will commence its first journey of the new season today from the Safdarjung Railway Station with 52 passengers, including 44 foreigners on board.

The popular train, which will chug out from Delhi Safdarjung railway station at 2.30 p.m., has an itinerary of seven nights and eight days, covering most of the landmark sites associated with Lord Buddha. These include Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Lumbini and Shravasti.

For the benefit of travellers, Agra has also been included where they can visit the famous Taj Mahal.

A 'mini Ratna' PSU of Indian Railways, IRCTC had launched the Buddhist Circuit Special Train in the 2007, with the objective of offering a safe, comfortable and reliable tour package for international as well as domestic travellers on the Buddhist Circuit. The fully air-conditioned train has a capacity of 274 seats comprising 72 berths in first AC, 138 berths in second AC and 64 berths in third AC.

The all-inclusive tour package includes confirmed rail ticket, hotel accommodation, road transport, tour guide services, tour manager services, all meals, travel insurance, security and monument admission fees.

A winner of the prestigious National Tourism Award of Excellence by the Union Ministry of Tourism in 2009, the train was later upgraded with a number of additional facilities and amenities for providing better services to the passengers.

During the last eight seasons, pilgrims, tourists, travel agents and tour operators from more than 35 countries have experienced the unmatched services provided on this train tour.

"It is a premier train owned by IRCTC and has become very popular with the pilgrims and tourist across the world. The tariff for the journey is quite competitive and is also all-inclusive," said Dr. A K Manocha, Chairman and Managing Director of IRCTC.

The other departure dates of the train during the season 2015 - 16 are December 26, 2015; and January 9, February 13 and March 12 next year.