RAIL TOURISM IN INDIA
India, the seventh largest country of the world is known for its varied
and rich cultural and historical heritage around the globe. The huge
and varied geography of the country is unique in itself and gives a
chance not only to the international tourists but also to the domestic
tourists to explore the true beauty of the country.
It is rightly said that if one wants to see the real India, one must
explore the country by rail. The Indian Railways serves as the true
kaleidoscope to witness the lives, culture, philosophy, religion and
lifestyle of Indian people. The Indian Railways offers tourists one of
the most convenient and popular modes of transport for travelling
in India. The Indian Railways helps one to explore the length and
breadth of India with its lively markets, crowded places, geographical
variations, cuisines, dress styles, languages and so many other
facets of India. From the Great Indian Plains, the Thar Desert, the
Deccan Plateau, the coastal plains to the North Eastern states, a
train tour of India provides the real glimpse of the Indian culture and
lifestyle.
Bharat Gaurav Trains
Indian Railways have introduced theme- based Tourist Circuit
trains under the Bharat Gaurav Trains (BGT) Policy with an
objective to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent
historical places through professionals of the tourism sector and
other potential service providers. Under the said policy, the State
Governments, State Tourist Development Corporations or any
other potential service provider may run theme-based tourist circuit
train covering destinations of their choice. The Service Provider
offers a comprehensive package with facility of rail transportation,
accommodation, meals, local road transport, sightseeing etc. The
maiden Bharat Gaurav Train viz. Shirdi Yatra was launched on
14.06.2022 from Coimbatore to Mantralayam and Shirdi & back
covering a total distance of 2880 km.
Ministry of Railways have decided to give a concerted thrust to efforts
for promotion of domestic tourism through provision of better quality
Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches under the Bharat Gaurav Train
policy and give approximately 33% concession in the charges due to
the Railway, for promotion of rail based tourism under Bharat Gaurav
Train scheme.
The details of the Bharat Gaurav Train policy can be referred at
https://bharatgauravtrains.indianrailways.gov.in/.
Luxury Tourist Trains
Maharajas’ Express – World’s Leading Luxury Train
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Palace on Wheels
Maharajas’ Express luxury train is owned and operated by Indian
Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC), a Govt. of
India Enterprise under Ministry of Railways. Maharajas’ Express is
the flagship luxury train of IRCTC and is the newest luxury train in the
country. The train which commenced operations in 2010 has been
a frontrunner and is known for its enriching journey experiences
coupled with exquisite facilities onboard.
The 23 carriage long train houses four different types of
accommodation viz. Deluxe Cabin, Junior Suite Cabins, Suite and
the Presidential Suite named after various precious gem stones.
The Palace on Wheels is a luxury tourist train being operated by
The train has two restaurants named Rang Mahal and Mayur Mahal
Indian Railways in association with Rajasthan Tourism Development
serving a range of international and Indian delicacies. In addition
Corporation. The train comprises of 14 fully air-conditioned saloons
to the restaurants, there are 02 Bar cum Lounges in the train. The
with rich décor that evoke the age of Rajput chivalry and are named
Rajah Club and The Safari Bar serve a mix of House Pours and other
after former Rajputana states such as Kota, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer,
international brands. The House Pours are included in the package
Jodhpur, Bikaner, Alwar, Sirohi, Kishangarh, Bundi, Dungarpur,
and select international wines and spirits are on sale.
Bharatpur, Jhalawar and Dholpur. The train also has two fine dining
The train offers four exquisite journey options covering the various restaurants, a well stocked bar and a lounge car for relaxation.
princely and culturally rich states of the country:
Itinerary
• Indian Splendour (6 Nights/7 Days) starting from Delhi covering
Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur and ending in Delhi-Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur-Chittaurgarh-Udaipur-Jaisalmer-
Mumbai. Jodhpur-Bharatpur-Agra-Delhi
• Heritage of India (6 Nights/7 Days) starting from Mumbai covering Website: www.rtdc.in
Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra
and ending in Delhi. Golden Chariot
• The Indian Panorama (6 Nights/7 Days) starting from Delhi covering
Jaipur, Fatehpur Sikri, Ranthambore, Agra, Orchha, Khajuraho,
Varanasi and ending in Delhi.
• Treasures of India (3 Nights/4 Days) starting from Delhi covering
Agra, Ranthambore and Jaipur and ending in Delhi.
Owing to its exquisite services, the train has been voted as the
World’s Leading Luxury Train by World Travel Awards for eight
years in a row since 2012 and also Asia’s Leading Luxury Train Award
in 2023 by World Travel Awards. The luxury tourist train operates
its scheduled departures during the tourist season every year from
September to April whereas interested clients can also book the train
around the year on charter as per requirement.
Website: www.the-maharajas.com
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The land once ridden by formidable armies is now traversed by The Deccan Odyssey is also a luxury tourist train being operated
the world’s unique luxury train. The Golden Chariot beckons you to by Indian Railways in association with Maharashtra Tourism
discover worlds that are enriched with history and culture. Recline Development Corporation (MTDC). Experience the finest and the
and relax as the magnificent scenery unfolds outside your window best of train journeys of the world. The Deccan Odyssey is more than
with luxury on the inside, thus far reserved for royalty. The Golden a mere luxury train cruise. A lavishly decorated train that transports
Chariot presents a fine balance between a glorious yesterday and its guests on an unforgettable sojourn on different itineraries
an omnipresent tomorrow in the magical land Karnataka, Goa, covers different parts of the country. The Deccan Odyssey offers
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. The fully air-conditioned train accommodation in 40 deluxe cabins in 10 suite coaches. It also has 4
comprising of 11 passenger saloons, 2 restaurant coaches, 1 spa presidential suites in 2 cars, 1 Conference car with business centre,
and gym car and 1 bar cum lounge car began its operations in the 2 restaurants, a well-stocked bar and a spa with steam, massage,
year 2008. It is being operated by Indian Railways in association with a mini gym and a parlour. Other facilities include channel music,
Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC). intercom, wall-to-wall carpeting, money exchange / credit card facility,
safety & security arrangements, spa, bar, conference equipments.
Itineraries
• Pride Of Karnataka (5 Nights / 6 Days): Bengaluru - Bandipur - Itineraries
Mysore - Halebidu - Chikamgaluru - Hampi - Goa – Bengaluru 1. Maharashtra Splendour (07 Nights/ 08 Days): Mumbai - Nashik -
• Jewels of South (5 Nights / 6 Days) : Bengaluru - Mysore - Aurangabad - Pachora - Kolhapur - Madgaon - Sawant Wadi – Mumbai.
Mahabalipuram - Thanjavur and Chettinad - Cochin - Chertala – 2. Indian Odyssey (07 Nights/ 08 Days): Delhi - Sawai Madhopur - Agra
Bengaluru - Jaipur - Udaipur - Vadodara - Aurangabad – Mumbai.
• Glimpses of Karnataka (3 Nights / 4 Days) :Bengaluru - Nanjangud - 3. Indian Sojourn (07 Nights/ 08 Days): Mumbai - Vadodara - Udaipur
Mysore - Hampi – Bengaluru - Jodhpur - Jaipur - Agra - Sawai Madhopur – Delhi.
4. Heritage Odyssey (07 Nights/ 08 Days):- Delhi - Agra - Sawai
Website: www.goldenchariot.org Madopur - Udaipur - Jodhpur - Jaiselmer - Jaipur – Delhi.
5. Cultural Odyssey (07 Nights/ 08 Days): Delhi - Sawai Madhopur -
Deccan Odyssey
Jaipur - Agra - Gwalior - Jhansi - Khajuraho - Varanasi – Delhi.
6. Maharashtra Wild Trails (07 Nights/ 08 Days): Mumbai - Aurangabad
- Ramtek - Warora - Pachora - Nashik – Mumbai.
7. Darjeeling Mail (07 Nights/ 08 Days): Mumbai - Vadodara - Udaipur
- Sawai Madhopur - Jaipur - Agra - Varanasi – Siliguri.
8. Darjeeling Mail Return (07 Nights/ 08 Days): Siliguri - Varanasi -
Agra - Sawai Madhopur - Jaipur - Udaipur - Vadodara – Mumbai.
Website: www.deccan-odyssey-india.com
Vistadome Coach (Glass Top Coaches)
In 2017, Indian Railways introduced indigenously designed glass top
coaches with wider windows for boosting tourism. The features of
Glass Top Coaches are:
• Electrically controlled opalescence
• 360 degree rotatable push back ergonomically designed chairs
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• Automatic sliding doors Pilgrim locations in India and Lumbini in Nepal. The major destinations
• Multiple television screens covered follow the life of Lord Gautam Buddha. The itinerary covers
destinations like Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Varanasi, Sarnath,
• Wide side doors for Divyangs Kushinagar, Lumbini (Nepal), Sravasti and Agra.
• GPS based info system
The first Vistadome coach was introduced on 16.04.2017 in Train
No. 58501/02 Vishakapatnam-Kirandul passenger between
Vishakapatnam and Araku. At present 43 BG, 06 MG and 50 NG
Vistadome coaches are available over various Zones of Indian
Railways for operation in different sections/ routes with scenic beauty.
The base fare of AC Vistadome coaches is 1.1 times of Executive
class (EC) base fare of Shatabdi trains, without catering charges.
Reservation charges, GST and any other charges are levied in
addition to the basic fare. All passengers are charged at full fare.
The minimum chargeable distance is 50 Km. Catering is optional
and may be provided by IRCTC to the level of Executive Class in
Shatabdi, on payment basis.
Railways have recently introduced a swanky new air-conditioned
LHB rake for the tourist train with enhanced facilities such as sleeper
cars with personal sitting gallery, 2 aesthetically designed restaurant
cars which have been very well received by the tourists. The details
and online booking facility of the train is available at IRCTC’s
Buddhist micro-site “www.irctcbuddhisttrain.com”.
Rail Tour Packages
IRCTC under Ministry of Railways offers Rail Tour Packages with
confirmed onward and return journey rail tickets apart from other
elements of a package such as road transfers, accommodation, all
meals and sightseeing at reasonable rates on the basis of itinerary.
Rail tour packages are specially designed on the basis of demand
of customers as well as popularity of destination like Shirdi, Vaishno
Devi, Tirupati, Darjeeling, Chennai, Rameshwaram, Gangtok, Ooty,
Buddhist Circuit Special Train Goa, Puri, Kerala, etc. from various parts of India. The details and
Started in the year 2007, the Buddhist Circuit Special Train operated booking of these packages are available at tourism website “www.
by IRCTC completed 14 years of operation. This fully air-conditioned irctctourism.com” or one can visit nearest Tourism Facilitation
train runs on a 7 Night /8 Days itinerary covering all major Buddhist Centres of IRCTC.
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Travel & Tourism Portal
Tourism portal “www.irctctourism.com” is a “One Stop Travel Shop” for all travel requirements of every tourists. The portal due to its user
friendliness, had won the “National Tourism Award” in the year 2008, “Website of the Year” for consecutive three years i.e. 2014, 2015 & 2016
by “Leisure & Travel” by MatrixLab and “Indian e-retail award” for consecutive three years from 2015 to 2018 by Franchise India.
The Tourism portal of IRCTC is one of the most popular website among the travellers as it offers varied Travel and Tourism solutions such as
on-line booking of Bharat Gaurav Trains, Luxury trains – Maharajas’ Express and Golden Chariot (with micro-sites), Bus tickets, Air Tickets,
Tour packages, Hotels, Cruise packages, Medical Tourism, Retiring Room, executive lounge, etc. Some of the packages are also available
on enquiry mode and packages are also customised on the basis of requirement of customers. IRCTC has been continuously improving the
contents of the tourism website for the ease of customers to ensure seamless navigation.
Online Booking of Charter Trains and coaches
Customers can now book a charter train or coach on IRCTCs webpage www.ftr.irctc.co.in. The user friendly module includes options like
viewing the list of trains on which chartered coach can be attached, search for availability of trains between preferred destinations without
registration, placing a request for charter train or coach online, making online payment of deposit, provision to print the dossier which
contains all mandatory documents to be carried while travelling, etc. While registration is not mandatory for searching availability, PAN Card
verified user creation is required for placing a
request for chartering. By introduction of this
online module, now users can book charter
trains/coaches from any part of the country. For
bookings, one can email at charter@irctc.
com or visit www.ftr.irctc.co.in.
Tourism Facilitation Centres
IRCTC has set up Tourism Facilitation Centres
in and around various railway stations across
the country that are serving as ‘One Stop Shop’
to assist railway passengers in availing various
tourism products and services. Besides,
providing detailed information about various
rail and non-rail tourism products and services,
these facilitation centres book tour packages,
airline tickets as well as manage the departures
of passengers availing the train tour packages.
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S. No. Name Address and Contact Numbers
Platform No.1, Agra Cantt. Railway Station, AGRA-282003, Landline No.:- 0562-2420111.
1 Agra
Tel No. – 8287930920, E-mail id:- [email protected]
Concourse area, Main Entrance Bengaluru City Railway Station, Bangalore – 560023, Karnataka,
2 Bengaluru
Tel. No. 080 – 22960013, 8595931292, E-mail id:- [email protected]
Gate No.3, Main Entrance, (Opp. SMR Room) Chennai Central Railway Station,
3 Chennai Park Town, Chennai – 3, Tamil Nadu, Tel No. 8287932121, 044-25332548,
E-mail id:- [email protected]
1st Floor, Salih Arcade, 40-8194,Convent Road, Kochi-682035, Contact: 8287932082;
4 Ernakulam
0484- 2382991, E-mail id:[email protected]
Platform No. 1, Near to SBI ATM, Opposite Bihar Tourism Office, Gaya, Bihar,
5 Gaya
Tel. No. - +91- 8595937723, 9771440025, E-mail id: - [email protected]
IRCTC area office, Near booking office, Hubli Railway Station, Hubli-580023,
6 Hubli
Tel No. – 8595931293, E-mail id:- [email protected]
IRCTC, TFC Platform No 1, Indore Railway Station - 452001, Tel. No. - 8287931723,
7 Indore
0731-2522200, E-mail id:- [email protected], [email protected]
TIFC, Near Railway Retiring Room, Platform No 1, Jabalpur Railway Station,
8 Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh – 482001, Tel. No. - 9321901832 , 0761-2998807,
Email id:- [email protected]
Platform No. 1, Near to Ticket Counter, Shri C. Shahu Maharaj Terminus,
9 Kolhapur Kolhapur Railway Station, Kolhapur - 416001, Contact No: Vijay Kumbhar - 9321901847,
E-mail id:- [email protected]
Platform No. 1, Near Food Plaza, Kozhikode Railway Station, Kozhikode- 673001, Kerala.
10 Kozhikode
Tel No. 8287932098, E- mail:- [email protected]
First floor, New concourse, Madurai Railway Junction – 625001, Karnataka,
11 Madurai
Tel. No. 0452-2345757, 9003140714, E-mail:- [email protected]
Near General Booking Office, Mysuru Junction, Karnataka, Tel. No. 8595931294,
12 Mysuru
0821 – 2426001, E-mail id:- [email protected]
Main Porch, Nagpur Railway Station, Nagpur-440001, Contact : Shubham- 9321901846
13 Nagpur
E-mail id:- [email protected]
Near Cloakroom, Opp. Executive Lounge, Platform No.16 New Delhi Railway Station,
14 New Delhi Ajmeri Gate, New Delhi – 110002, Tel. No. – 8287930746,
Email id:- [email protected]
IRCTC Regional office, 1st Floor, Retiring Room No 1, Above Station Director Office,
15 Pune Pune Railway Station, Pune, Maharashtra – 411001, Tel. No. - +8287931707,
Email id:- [email protected]
Platform No.10, Beside SBI Credit Card Counter, Secunderabad Railway Station, Telangana,
16 Secunderabad Tel. No. - 040-27800580, Mob No: 9701360701,8287932228/29/30,
Email id:- [email protected]
Platform No.1, Beside Main Entrance, Tirupati Railway Station, Andhra Pradesh,
17 Tirupati Tel. No. – 8287932313/ 8287932317,
E-mail id:- [email protected]; [email protected]
Near Booking Office, 2nd Entry, Trivandrum Central Railway Station, Powerhouse Road,
18 Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – 695036, Phone: 8287932095,
E-mail id:- [email protected]
Platform No.1, Beside Main Entrance, Vijayawada Railway Station, Andhra Pradesh,
19 Vijayawada
Tel.No.–0866-2572280,8287932312/675 E-mail id:- [email protected]
Visakhapatnam Railway Station, Platform No.1, Beside APTDC Counter, Visakhapatnam-530004,
20 Vishakhapatnam
Contact: 9701360695, E-mail id:- [email protected]; [email protected]
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