Luxury Train Linking MAJOR NE SPOTS

North East India has the highest number of tourist places in a limited region. But there were not many efforts to cover most of the important places in one go so far. There are tourist triangles within each state or with neighbouring states, but not one composite route. This long  felt  deficiency is now fulfilled with the Indian Railways coming up with an amazing way to discover the beautiful pilgrim and tourist spots of the entire North Eastern region in one broad tour.

The new “North East Discovery: Beyond Guwahati” tour has been specially designed to take visitors on a journey through the stunning landscapes, rich culture, important tourist as well as places of pilgrimage of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.The journey will be conducted on the luxurious Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train, which departed this  month.  It will cover various destinations, including Guwahati, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Kaziranga, Unakoti, Agartala, Udaipur, Dimapur, Kohima, Shillong, and Cherrapunji- all prominent places of interest of the region.

The seasonal holiday  special train is fitted with deluxe AC coaches having various luxurious features. It has two fine dining restaurants, a contemporary kitchen, shower cubicles, sensor- based washroom functions, foot massagers, and even a  mini- library. The fully air-conditioned train provides two types of accommodation, AC I, and AC II. The train also has enhanced security features, such as CCTV cameras, electronic safes, and dedicated security guards appointed for each coach. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Railways and IRCTC have taken several measures to ensure the healthy security of tourists. The train and all common areas will be regularly sanitized.

This train holds special significance as it is started on the eve of Chaitra Navratri and Gudi Parva. It is indeed a gift for all of us,” said Meenakashi Lekhi, Minister of State for Culture while flagging off the train. The guests will be travelling about 5800 kms in this entire tour by train alone.The first stop of the train is Guwahati, where tourists will visit Kamakhya Temple, Umananda Temple, and enjoy a sunset cruise on the Brahmaputra River. The train will then depart for Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, from the Naharlagun Railway Station.

Further, the itinerary includes a visit to Sivasagar, the old capital of the Ahom Kingdom,   Jorhat’s tea gardens, and an overnight stay at Kaziranga followed by an early morning jungle safari at Kaziranga National Park. The train will then depart from the Furkating Railway Station for Tripura, where tourists will visit famous heritage sites such as Unakoti, Agartala, the famous

Ujjayanta Palace, and the Neermahal palace and Tripura Sundari mandir at Udaipur which is also a Shakti Pitha like Kamakhya. Post-Tripura, the train departs to Dimapur for visiting Nagaland. From Dimapur station, tourists shall be taken to Kohima by buses for visiting the local sites, including a tour of the Khonoma village to experience the Naga way of life. The next halt for the tourist train will be Guwahati, and tourists will be taken to Shillong, by road, with a pit stop at the majestic Umium

Lake en route. The next day starts with an excursion to Cherrapunji nestled in the East Khasi Hills. Shillong Peak, Elephant Falls, Nawkhalikai falls, and Mawsmai caves are a part of the day’s sightseeing. This 15-day all- inclusive tour package covers train journey in respective class, night stay at AC hotels, all meals), all transfer and sight-seeing in buses, travel insurance, and services of guide. The price ranges from nearly a lakh to one and half lakh rupees depending on the types of the AC classes including coupes with EMI facilities.

The basic aim of the unique tour package is part of “Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat” and “Dekho Apna Desh” initiatives to encourage people to explore the diverse culture, heritage and beauty of India through domestic tourism. By offering an all-inclusive tour package covering multiple states, the Indian Railways is making it easier and safer for people to travel hassle free and experience the unique charm of the North Eastern region of India.