Chandigarh: Residents of Chandigarh and adjoining areas now have an opportunity to visit prominent religious destinations in South India. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced a special tour package titled “Dakshin Bharat Yatra” under its Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train initiative. The special train is scheduled to depart from Ferozepur on April 24.

Route and Major Boarding Points

The train will pick up passengers from multiple stations across Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. According to IRCTC officials, the designated boarding stations include Ferozepur, Bathinda, Sirsa, Hisar Junction, Jakhal, Dhuri, Ludhiana Junction, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Chandigarh, Ambala Cantonment, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Delhi Safdarjung, Mathura Junction, Agra Cantt, Gwalior Junction, and Veerangana Lakshmibai Jhansi station.

Key Pilgrimage Destinations

The tour has been curated to offer devotees a safe, comfortable, and well-organised spiritual journey. Major destinations covered under the package include:

• Tirupati Balaji Temple (dedicated to Lord Venkateswara)

• Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram

• Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai

• Kanyakumari

• Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple

Local transport arrangements for sightseeing will be provided at all destinations.

Package Details and Pricing

The journey will be conducted in 3AC (Economy) class coaches. IRCTC has introduced two package categories:

• Standard Category: Priced at ₹35,995 per person. The package includes non-AC accommodation on a multi-sharing basis and non-AC buses for local sightseeing.

• Comfort Category: Priced at ₹41,750 per person. This category offers AC hotel accommodation and AC buses for local transport.

Both packages include rail travel, pure vegetarian meals, local sightseeing, bus services, travel insurance, security arrangements, and all applicable taxes.

Booking Information

Interested travellers can obtain detailed information and book tickets through the official IRCTC Tourism website (www.irctctourism.com). Bookings can also be made at the IRCTC office in Chandigarh or through authorised agents. DeshGujarat