IRCTC designs package tour for Vaishno Devi

New Delhi, Jan 21: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp is launching a weekend package for people wanting to visit the popular pilgrim destination of Vaishno Devi shrine from the national capital.

Starting January 26 this year, IRCTC is launching the three night-two day all-inclusive package for just Rs 3,950, Corporation's General Manager P K Goel told sources.

The deal would entail AC three-tier train travel, transit, food, hotel stay and 'darshan' on priority basis.

The trip would start on Friday evenings from New Delhi Railway Station and end early on Monday mornings at the same place.

The journey from Delhi to Jammu would be by Jammu Rajdhani, from where passengers would be taken to Katra by a luxury bus and put up in a hotel. There would be free 'pick-up and drop' facility from the hotel to Banganga, where ascent to the hilltop cave shrine actually began.

Passengers would also get priority 'darshan' slips so that they could give serpentine queues at the temple door a miss.

The return journey would be in Uttar Sampark Kranti.

Children up to 12 years of age would be charged half the amount.

Meanwhile, in a month or two Uttar Sampark Kranti, which currently goes up to Udhampur, would run up till Katra, making the journey to Vaishno Devi simpler, comfortable and scenic.

UNI