Dec 2, 2011 - PATNA: Encouraged by the successful launch of 'Mahaparinirvan Express' linking Buddhist shrines in the country, the railways has decided to introduce a special train, 'Takht Express', linking Sikh shrines across the country to fulfill the needs of devotees.
According to a Railway Board official, the railways is working out details in consultation with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in this connection. The fares, composition of bogies and other details are being worked out. "If everything goes well, the railways intends to launch this special train from Chandigarh on December 23, 2011," he said. According to him, it would be a luxury train which would cover six Sikh shrines located at different places in the country, including Amritsar and Patna Saheb. The railways intends to provide full comforts to devotees travelling by Takht Express special train which would include boarding, lodging and meals. "Though the period of journey could be about seven to 10 days, the railways is keen to extend its proposed plan of entire tour by a few days more depending on its requirement," he said.
IRCTC managing director Rakesh Tandon confirmed the proposed plan of the railways to run a special train for pilgrims intending to visit Sikh shrines in the country. It has been tentatively decided to run it from Chandigarh on December 23. The booking will start soon after getting final nod from the Board, he said and added there has been a popular demand for Takht Express train from Sikh devotees living in India and abroad.
According to ECR CPRO Neeraj Ambastha, the recently launched Buddhist circuit special train has evoked a good response across the country. The flow of tourists from foreign countries has been high this time yielding good revenue to the railways, he said, adding the Buddhist circuit covers places like Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Varanasi, Sarnath, Lumbini, Sravasti, Kushinagar and Agra.
Besides, the railways has also been running special trains for various places like Vaishno Devi (Jammu), Shirdi (Maharashtra), Puri (Orissa), Kanyakumari (Kerala) and some other religious places located in south India.
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Related article:
Punjab govt agrees to offer support for connecting all five holy ‘Takhts’ of Sikhs
http://www.sikhnet.com/news/punjab-govt-agrees-offer-support-connecting-all-five-holy-takhts-sikhs
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Watch a detailed narrative of the Sikh Takhts below: