Railway’s first Buddhist circuit train will start from October 19 and will travel to places related to Gautam Buddha spread across India and Nepal till October 26. In a statement issued by the Railways, it was said that IRCTC will operate this train. The train will visit places associated with Lord Buddha such as Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, Bodh Gaya (where he attained enlightenment), Sarnath (where he gave his first sermon) and Kushinagar (where he attained nirvana), the statement said. ‘The importance of these places can be seen in the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, in which Lord Buddha tells his followers that by visiting these places they can attain a transcendent and elevated rebirth.’
The cost of travel as per Indian currency will be Rs 1,23,900 for two persons in AC First Class and Rs 1,01,430 for AC Second Class. The journey of the Buddhist Circuit Special train will be of 8 days and 7 nights. In its all-inclusive package, along with rail travel, accommodation in luxury hotels, pick-up, tour guides in different languages will be arranged in air-condition buses. Fresh food will be served inside the luxury train through a pantry car. The Buddhist Circuit train will have 12 coaches, in which four coaches will be of First AC coach, while two coaches will be second AC coach, two dining cars, one kitchen car, one staff car and two power cars.
The train comprises 96 seats in four AC First Class coaches, 60 seats in two AC Second Class coaches, two Special Dining Cars with a seating capacity of 64 and a Pantry Car. The train will be engraved with exclusive images promoting Incredible India and will be equipped with private digital lockers, special cubicle showers, foot massage facilities, separate sitting area and sofa. Railways said that private security guards will be deployed in every coach.