Thursday 03 October 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The long-awaited Badri- Kedar and Sree Kartik Swami Express departed from Mumbai on Thursday and will reach the Yognagri Rishikesh station on Saturday. According to railway officials, the train departed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus at 1525 hrs with 270 people- hailing from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh- on board. The State tourism department officers said that an initiative of Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board in association with IRCTC, the package offers pilgrims a comprehensive journey to these revered religious destinations in 11 days and 10 nights.
Hailing the launching of this special train, the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that his government is committed to facilitate tourists from different parts of the country to visit the thriving centres of faith and hidden gems that Uttarakhand houses. “The Sree Kartik Swami temple is slowly becoming a popular pilgrim destination and the government is planning to enhance tourist facilities in the adjoining villages,” he added.
The 3AC train adorned with 14 coaches, including 10 guest coaches, one electricity operated modern AC kitchen car, one staff coach and two generator coaches serves Uttarakhandi cuisine to passengers along with other popular dishes.
The State tourism minister Satpal Maharaj said that the train’s exterior is a kaleidoscope of Uttarakhand with its places of pilgrimage, cuisine, natural bounty and cultural heritage depicted on the exterior of the train’s coaches. “The tourist train is a first of kind initiative in the country by any State government to promote its lesser known destinations along with the cuisine and culture of Uttarakhand,” he added.
