Friday, 09 February 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) signed an agreement to operate a special tourist train from different parts of India to promote the lesser known destinations in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.
Speaking on the occasion, the Tourism and Culture minister Satpal Maharaj said that it is proposed that the Manaskhand Express will first start operation from Kolkata in April this year. The train will bring passengers to Kathgodam and from there they will be taken by road to various temples and other destinations. The proposed sites include Purnagiri, Hat Kalika, Patal Bhuwaneshwar, Mayawati, Baleshwar, Jageshwar, Golu Devta-Chitai, Nanda Devi, Kasar Devi, Katarmal-Almora, Nanakmatta Gurudwara in Khatima and Naina Devi in Nainital. He further informed that the train will accommodate 500 passengers and that all its coaches will be 2 AC. Food including Pahadi dishes, will also be provided during the train journey. The IRCTC will provide hotel accommodation, bus for touring, guides and other aspects as part of a tour package during the journey.
In the future, the train shall be deployed from different parts of the country like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha among others to promote destinations in Uttarakhand. A train will also be operated to promote destinations in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, Maharaj added. The agreement was signed between UTDB additional CEO Harish Rairtolia and IRCTC group general manager Sunil Kumar.
