About Buddhist Train
With a view to continually heighten our offerings, the IRCTC Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train was envisioned for covering the most venerable sites of Buddhism, following the life path of the Enlightened One, the Buddha, himself.
His birth place, Lumbini, lies across the India-Nepal border, yet the IRCTC Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train itinerary enables all guests to pay their respects at the holy site in addition to the Mayadevi temple, dedicated to the Enlightened One’s mother. The Buddha’s moment of enlightenment, enshrined for eternity under the Maha Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya, occupies an important place in the itinerary, as much for its religious & scholarly significance as for the monumental beauty of its confluence of Buddhist traditions from all over the world.
General information
Please find below some general information to assist you with your planning for your journey aboard TO BUDDHIST CIRCUIT TOURIST TRAIN.
Buddhist Train' dining Car
Buddhist Train has two fine dining restaurants that seat 54 persons each and everyone on board dines together.
Visas
Passengers should be in possession of valid travel documents and a valid visa granted by Indian Missions abroad for entering India. Those arriving in India without visas bearing the correct validity dates and number of entries into India are subject to deportation. For Foreign nationals holding Tourist Visas with a stay stipulation of 180 days / 90 days and with a multiple entry facility; there should be a gap of at least 2 months between two visits to the country on this visa. In case there is a requirement to visit the country within two months, permission should be sought from the Head of Mission concerned indicating the specific reasons for another visit within a short period.
Pre & post hotel accommodation
It is highly recommended that you take a minimum of one pre and post night accommodation with your rail journey. Bookings and reservations can be made by contacting us at irctcbuddhisttrain.com
Customs
Customs regulations are in line with those prevailing elsewhere in the world; however, the import of prohibited items carries serious penalties. Please note that it is the responsibility of each passenger to ensure that they are in possession of any necessary and valid documentation and the Company assumes no responsibility for the consequences of any failure to apply.
Personal travel insurance
At Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC), guest safety and holiday enjoyment are very important. Therefore, travel insurance is essential; indeed it is a condition of booking with us that passengers have adequate travel insurance cover from the country of domicile for injury, illness, death, accident, loss of effects or luggage and holiday cancellation. Guests must supply IRCTC with the name, address and telephone number of the insurers, policy number and the 24-hour medical emergency telephone number. Any pre-existing medical conditions must be declared to the insurer and to us; failure to do so may invalidate your Travel Insurance Policy.
Embarkation & disembarkation
Guests are required to check-in at least 1 hour prior to departure at Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station for pre-boarding formalities. Final details will be provided in the travel documents and vouchers which will be e-mailed or handed over to you approximately 14 days prior to departure.
Following completion of boarding formalities, you will be escorted to your cabin and assisted with your luggage.
On your final night on board, the Train Manager will assist with disembarkation formalities which include luggage and clearance of extras.
Note: Due to any unforeseen delays owing to foggy weather conditions prevailing in northern parts during Dec-Jan period and due to any railway delays guests are requested to plan their post disembarkation onward journey having sufficient intermittent time.
What your journey price includes
Accommodation in AC-1 & AC-2 class in train, double/twin bedded accommodation in hotels, all meals, guided off train excursions as illustrated in the journeys inclusive of entrance fees, transport and services of a guide, complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water on board, porterage at stations.
What your journey price does not include
Any optional tours as mentioned in the itinerary, taxes, insurance, gratuities, telephone calls, laundry, alcoholic beverages, video, film and professional still camera fees and arrival and departure transfers. International and domestic air tickets, pre and post tour accommodation and any tour extensions are not included unless specifically mentioned as part of the journeys.
Travel documents
Travel Documents, which are valid only for the passenger(s) named, will be issued after receipt of full payment for your reservation and not normally later than 14 days prior to departure. Please carry your confirmation of booking with you on departure.
Clothing & travel accessories
Recommended Clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens throughout the summer and most winter days; with warm clothes for December and January and winter nights.
Please include light sweaters and light wraps for the cold mornings and evenings, It is advisable to carry sunscreen, caps / hats and sunglasses.
Note: a) Please note that with the change in weather, we recommend enough woollens while on tour.
b) Please note that for the journeys between mid of December till mid of January, the Northern India witnesses severe cold and fog, therefore it is recommended to carry heavy woolen during this period.
Currency & money exchange
India's currency is the Rupee, abbreviated as Rs. which is divided into 100 paisa. The Rupee notes come in denominations of Rs.5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, & Rs.2000. Coins are in denominations of rupee 1, 2, 5 and 10.
Foreign Exchange encashments are regulated in India. Any passenger bringing Foreign Exchange in excess of USD 5000 or its equivalent in currency notes and an aggregate total of USD 10,000 and above are required to declare the same at the port of entry in India. Please note that changing money in remote areas can be difficult and hence please change with authorized money changers or banks. Please take care not to accept damaged notes or notes with tapes attached as these are not accepted. It is always advisable to carry smaller denomination instead of Rs.2000 note as it is not easy to obtain change.
Note: Please contact your Guest Relations Manager on Board for special facilities provided to guests for their Foreign Exchange encashment.
Smoking policy
In accordance with Indian Law, smoking is not permissible on board the train. Smoking is also prohibited in all public places such as restaurants, airports, stations, shopping malls, hotels, public areas etc.
Special meals / dietary requirement / medical conditions
In case of any special dietary requirement or allergies, guests should mention the same at the time of booking and to the chef/Train Manager on Board. Our Chef shall endeavour to accommodate these as far as possible. Guests with dust related allergies are advised to carry their prescribed medication / inhalers on the journey.
Emergencies
IRCTC requires the details of the ground handler, the place of stay before and after the journey on the Buddhist Train, so that we can contact the ground handler in case of any emergencies.
Electricity
Voltage available on the train is 110 volts. International adaptors are also available on board.
Off train excursions
Since most of our Off Train Excursions involve a fair amount of walking, we recommend you pack some comfortable walking shoes. A moderate degree of physical fitness is required to participate on our off train excursions. You may encounter unpaved sidewalks, uneven surfaces and problems getting on and off the train.
Travellers with walking difficulties or any such physical condition should inform us at the time of booking. We reserve the right to refuse participation on any of our excursions to anyone who would be incapable of completing the tour or would cause unacceptable delays to the rest of the group. In these circumstances there would be no refund for any unused part of the tour.
Guides
On all off train excursions, you will be accompanied by professional and qualified English speaking guides. There's no substitute for a little local flavour, so we employ experienced local guides who provide an invaluable and in-depth view of the sights that you visit. Language speaking guides can be provided at select destinations, subject to availability. Please let us know of your requirement at the time of booking.
Health
No specific vaccinations are required for travel to India currently. However, the latest advisory in this regard may kindly be checked before departure. Foreign tourists should be in possession of a Yellow Fever Vaccination certificate conforming to international health regulations, if they are originating or travelling through Yellow Fever endemic countries. Anti-malaria precautions should be taken. It is also advisable to carry sufficient insect repellent.
It is recommended that a physician be consulted for any personal health advice based on the travel itinerary. If under prescription medication, it is advisable to carry enough supplies to last for the duration of the trip.
It is recommended that guests carry their own medicines, since all medications in India are locally manufactured and the same brand names may not be available.
Please specify any ailments at the time of booking and update the Guest Relations Manager of the same while boarding.
Luggage allowance
There is limited storage space inside the cabins. We recommend that each guest travels with luggage as per an international airline guidelines for first and business class passengers. It is also advisable to carry soft-topped luggage as it is easier to store.
Luggage storage is provided under the bed. If there is any extra luggage, it can be stored in the luggage hold, which is located in a separate cabin. It is advisable to lock your luggage with locks.
Cell phones
Kindly keep your Cell Phone on silent mode on board the train out of consideration for your fellow passengers and also while visiting certain monuments on your Off Train Excursions. Please also note that the use of cell phones and laptop computers is discouraged in all the public areas and should be used in the privacy of your cabin.
Cell phone reception
The reception can vary while the train is moving, but does improve when the train is stationary or near large cities.
Train manager
Train Manager will be available in the train throughout the journey. For special requests / problems / tour information, you may contact him.
Placement of train on platform at stations
After deboarding of the guests at the stations Buddhist Train moves to the yard for fueling and watering. Hence, timings as advised at the time of deboarding should be followed to avoid any inconvenience. In case any guest decides to return to the train before the advised boarding time, he/she should contact the Train Manager to check the availability of the Buddhist Train on the platform.
Expectation from guest
Passengers are advised to be punctual and to adhere to the prescribed timings. IRCTC will not delay departures or make provisions for late arrivals. In case any services are missed due to the late arrival of the guests, IRCTC shall not provide alternate services and shall not make any refunds for the same. The guests are expected to follow the tour to avoid any confusion. Prior information should be given to Train Manager if the guest wants to leave the group/train for personal visits/tours. Guests who repeatedly fail to follow the tour may be asked to leave the tour to avoid inconvenience to the other guests and the management.
Minimum passenger requirement
All our journeys require a minimum number of passengers to operate. Should this not be accomplished, we will offer you an alternate departure date or an alternate journey or a refund. In the unlikely eventuality of this occurring, 30 days advance intimation can be given.
Charters
The Buddhist Train can be chartered to corporate companies, agencies and individuals worldwide for incentives, conferences, weddings or any other exclusive event.
Child Policy
Buddhist Train does accommodate children but we ask parents to be mindful of the sophisticated adult atmosphere we endeavour to maintain.
1. Children below 5 years shall be allowed free, subject to sharing of berth with parents.
2. Single child (5 years - 12 years) - 50% of the adult fare, subject to sharing of double bed with parents.
3. All applicable taxes will be charged extra.
Departure dates
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Fare
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