 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Get ready for a great safari across some of the best national parks in the country, courtesy the Indian Railways.
The new luxury train- The Tiger Express - chugs through expansive Indian rail network taking tourists on a tranquil wildlife circuit, covering the famous Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks in Madhya Pradesh.
The swanky train with a dining car will also take the guests to Dhuadhar waterfall in Bedhaghat near Jabalpur. The Kanha National Park is known for tigers, Swamp Deer, and the Barasingha.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu flagged off the inaugural run of the Tiger Trail Circuit Train from Delhi’s Safdarjung Station on World Environment Day.
He took personal interest in conceptualising this train, which aims to create more awareness about the tiger and the need to protect the endangered species.
Interestingly, the Kanha National Park is recognised as the source of inspiration for the famous writer Rudyard Kipling for his famous novel, ‘The Jungle Book’.
Operated by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) the train with a itinerary of 5 days/6 nights will start from Delhi’s Safdarjung railway station and travel via Katani, Jabalpur, Bandhavgadh, Kanha.
The train takes tourists to the famous Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks in Madhya Pradesh. The Kanha National Park is known for tigers, Swamp Deer, and the Barasingha.
The Indian Railways plans to launch more tourist circuit trains like elephant circuit, desert circuit through IRCTC.
The Bandhavgarh National Park is home to the largest number of tigers in India. The park has a large breeding population of leopards and various species of deer.
The 5 days/6 nights itinerary of the Tiger Express includes three Tiger Safaris, giving tourists an oppoutnity to see wild cats in their natural environment.
Monthly trips of the fully air-conditioned train, which has been vinyl-wrapped with motifs of the wildlife, will begin from October.
IRCTC’s package includes journey by the exclusive semi luxury air conditioned train, accommodation in air-conditioned rooms of three star equivalent hotels for three nights (one night in Bandhavgarh and two nights in Kanha in Mogli Resorts), sightseeing and road transportation by air-conditioned vehicles, buffet meals, game safaris, inter-city transfers and travel insurance.
The itinerary has a tariff structure starting from Rs 38,500. For travelling in 1AC, tariff has been fixed at Rs 49,500 for single occupancy, Rs 45,500 for double occupancy, Rs 44,900 for triple occupancy and Rs 39,500 for child with bed (5-11 years).
The fares for those travelling in AC 2-tier is Rs 43,500 for single occupancy, Rs 39,000 for double occupancy, Rs 38,500 for triple occupancy and Rs 33,500 for child with bed (5-11 years).
An additional surcharge of Rs 4,000 per person will be charged from foreigners for the Safari booking at Bandhagarh and Kanha.
Regular monthly trips on this train will start in October this year.