Indian Railways Has Launched the Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train

IRCTC has been initiating a lot of projects in the country lately for the comfort of travelers and to boost tourism. The recent project of Indian Railways is to launch a Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train and here are all the details for that –

Those who are aware of the Mahaparinirvana sutra are well aware of the story. For those unknown, in this instance, Lord Buddha talks to his followers about how they can achieve merit and take a noble rebirth.

This can happen if they visit the pilgrimage places of Lumbini (where he was born), Bodhgaya (where he gained enlightenment), Sarnath (where he first taught), and Kushinagar (where he attained Nirvana).

The Commencement of Buddhist Train

The Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train that is launched would take the travelers through each of these pilgrim places so that they can get a first-hand experience of the life of Lord Buddha and get closer to his discipline.

India is a nation where Buddhism has an immense connection with the memories of Lord Buddha and as a part of its strictness, only a limited kind of architecture was supported – Stupas. Those were the stone molds that commemorated the Buddhist relics. Viharas (monk cells) and Chaityas (prayer halls) were also supported.

When tourists hop on the Buddhist train, they will go to all those places and gain a truly rich religious experience. This is going to be your path toward enlightenment. It would be an 8-day travel trip that would commence from Delhi and end in Agra.

The other places covered would be Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, and Rajgir, Varanasi, Lumbini, Kushinagar, and Sravasti. Passengers can select from three seating options – AC-first coupe, AC-first class, and AC-2 tier. In the first-class compartments, 96 guests can be accommodated whereas the second-class compartments are suitable for 60 passengers.

The cost for AC first class is ₹88060 whereas it is ₹72030 for AC two-tier. The cost on a per night basis in AC first class is ₹12580 and ₹10290 for two-tier.

The tour commenced on the 11th of March from the Safdarjung Railway Station and end on the 18th of March at the same place.

Project Announcement

The project idea was officially announced in 2014 by the Ministry of Tourism and it was a part of the Dekho Apna Desh Initiative under the scheme of Swadesh Darshan. This tourism plan based on a particular theme would not only attract locals but international tourists as well. The purpose of this circuit train is to encourage tourists to visit different places and explore everything.

This would also shed light on the places that are still India’s hidden gems. A single trip would help the tourists understand what has been deeply penetrated into the roots of the country. If you are curious about the teachings and disciples of Lord Buddha then this can be a great experience for you. Keep a check on the next travel time and plan your journey accordingly!

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