The Golden Chariot - Splendour of South

Splendor of South is a special Luxury Train that runs for 7 nights and 8 days. The train covers Banglore, Chennai, Mamallapuram, Pondicherry, Trichirapalli and Tanjore, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Thiruvananthapuram, Backwaters and Kochi/ Allepey and ends at Banglore.

The journey of this coach takes through the historical temple cities of Tamilnadu and Luxurious Beaches of Kerala. The tour covers the two states of South India Tamilnadu and Kerala starting from Banglore and ending at Banglore. The coaches of this tour resemble the coaches of The Golden Chariot Train.One can enjoy the colourful splendour of the southern region of India

The tariff (it is subjet to change every year) for October 2013 - March 2014 (For Indian Nationals) Single - 26400 per person/night 184800 for 7 nights per person Double - 19800 per person/night 138600 for 7 nights per person Triple - 16500 per person/night 115500 for 7 nights per person The tariff for International travellers Single - 831 USD per person/night 5817 for 7 nights per person Double - 627 USD per person/night 4389 for 7 nights per person Triple - 545 USD per person/night 3815 for 7 nights per person. For children upto 5 years 10% of the tariff For kids between 5 and 12 half fare Tour Cost Includes: Drive with the hotel train "The Golden Chariot – Splendor of The South“ in a deluxe cabin with attached bathroom All meals, including tea, coffee and mineral water Gala Dinner in Poovar Kathakali dance show in Kochi Transport for sightseeing’s with an air-conditioned deluxe bus Entrance fees to monuments and museums Accompanying German and English speaking guides Local Taxes and fees Travel documents Tour Cost Does Not Include: Alcoholic beverages Personal expenditures like tips, Spa Wagon, Business - centre, etc. Visa for India Flights

Learn Info about Trains through SMS

The simplest way to check Railway Ticket Status using SMS messages are:
For Train Help - HELP TRN to 54959 
The reply one will get is - For PNR Sms HELP PNR
                                  - For Available sms HELP TRNAV                   
                                  - For Trains Between Stations sms HELP TRNBT 
                                  - For Train Schedule sms HELP TRNSH
To obtain PNR Status    - Sms PNR <10 digit="" no.="" pnr=""> to 54959
To obtain Ticket Availability
                                 - Sms TRNAV to 54959
To know about trains between two stations 
                                  - Sms TRNBT to 54959
To know train schedule (send the first few charecters of the train name)
                                  - Sms TRNSH to 54959
To know train schedule by train no. 
                                  - Sms TRNSH to 54959
To access via WAP (Mobile Browser) 
                                  - Sms TRNLINK to 54959

Class Codes and Abbrevations given in Train Tickets of Indian Railways

The various class codes available for accomodation in the Indian Railways. The abbrevations are used mainly in the tickets both physical booking and etickets.

1A - These are first class air-conditioned coaches which have Berths for sleeping at night and seats by day. (This code is given to AC Executive class Chair Car in Shatabdi Express for the purpose of fare).

2A - These are air-conditioned 2 tier sleeper coaches. The seats are used for sitting by day and berths are for sleeping by night.

FC - These are non airconditioned coaches with Berths for sleeping by night and seats by day.

3A - Air conditioned 3 tier sleeper. Berths for sleeping in the night and seats in the day time.

3H - 3 tier high capacity air-conditioned berths.

CC - Air-conditioned chair cars. Only sitting accomodation is available. In Southern Railways and South Western Railways these are refferred to as Second Class AC Chair cars for the very purpose of distinguishing them from the Executive Chair Cars.

CH - High-Capacity version of air conditioned chair cars with individual chairs sitting accommodation.

EC - Executive Class or First Class Air conditioned chair car with only sitting accommodation.

SL - Sleeper class for sleeping at night and seats by day.

SH - High capacity sleeper class with berths for sleeping at night, seats by day. The number of berths are 81.

2S - Second class sitting. Only sitting accommodation is available with bench style seats.

ACC - No longer used in booking. First class Air conditioned sleeper with coupes of 2 and 4 berths each.

The fares differ from train to train.

Things to be noted while booking tickets in Mahaparinirvan Express

1. The first class AC Coupe is only for two passengers on a cabin sharing basis during the journey.
2. Tour costs are for per peron per night on a twin sharing basis. Kids in the age group of 5 to 12 years sharing the same room will be charged half fare. Age proof of the kids is to be provided at the time of booking tickets.
3. Rates are subject to change due to currency fluctuation.
4. On request IRCTC will arrange Airport to hotel transfer, hotel accomodation and sight seeing in Delhi at a very attractive rate.
5. For individual travellers who donot wish to share a room, have to choose that option during ticket booking itself by either paying $50 per day or $200 for the entire tour.
6. Tickets are booked on first come first serve basis. For those who wish to opt for the side berths in AC two tier, have to book well in advance, and if it is not available the inner berths will be allocated at the rate of inner berths and the vice versa is also applicable.
Package Price Includes:
*Journey by exclusive airconditioned train.
*Road and other transport by AC coaches as per the itenery
*Sight seeing
*Accomodation
*Meals
*English/Hindi speaking tour escort
*Entrance fees at Monuments and other places applicable
*Travel Insurance

Package price does not include:
*Visa fees to India and Nepal
*Laundry, Medicine
*Road transfers to and fro from Delhi-Safdarjung Railway station
*Hotel stay before and after the journey in Delhi
*Air ticket to Delhi
*Services that are not mentioned in the Package.
*Fees for cameras both still and video at the monuments and other places.
The tickets booked for the trip can be cancelled too at a specified cost.
If it is cancelled before 45 days - 10% of the package cost is deducted
Within a period of 44 days to 15 days(which excludes departure date) - 25% of the package cost is deducted
Within a period of 14 days to 7 days(which excules departure date) - 50% of the package cost is deducted
Within a period of 7 days or before the scheduled departure - 100% of the package cost is deducted and no refund is given.

Instead of availing of the full tour, partial tour can also be opted. And for such trips, the reporting time at the Railway station or hotel would be 7.00pm(19.00 hrs). To extend the tour beyond that time, addinitional charges need to be paid.

The Mahaparinirvan Express - Buddisht circuit Tour package by IRCTC

The Buddhist Mahaparinirvan express is an Exclusive Train for the Buddhist Circuit Tour.
* The train is an exclusive air conditioned train for this circuit tour destinations that carry passengers who have booked only for this tour.
* Each coach is provided with a private security gaurd and ensures the safety of passengers all through the journey.
* The onboard kitchen car provides hotmeals both veg and non-veg as per the choice of the passengers. Snacks and cool drinks are also provided for the passengers. Ample quantity of packaged drinking water, tea and coffee are also available for the passengers.
* Accomodation at highly comfortable hotels all through the circuit is arranges.
* Passengers are provided with the Travel Insurance Cover for the particular duration of the tour.
* Medical support is provided through the Indian Railway Medical facilities.
* On booking in advance, tourist guides of various languages are provided for a reasonable sized group of passengers.
*As one of the destination is Lumbini in Nepal, the tourists have to obtain proper Visa to visit that place, but IRCTC provides assistance to obtain Visa at the time of entry in Nepal.
The Mahaparinirvan express covers:
Delhi -> Bodhgaya -> Nalanda/Rajgir -> Varanasi/Sarnath -> Kushinagar -> Lumbini(Nepal) -> Sravasti ->Agra/Delhi

Itenery of the tour:
The entire tour is for 8 days.
Day 1 departure from Delhi and it reaches Gaya in the next day morning. The dinner is served on-board and stay overnight is also on-board.
Day 2 arrival at Gaya. Early morning tea/coffee is provided on board. Breakfast is provided at a hotel. Visit to Mahabodhi temple and Niranjana River followed by a Lunch at hotel. Visiting Thai and Japanese temple and Buddha statue. Dinner and  overnight stay at a hotel.
Day 3 Breakfast at hotel followed by a visit to Bimbisara Jail and Gridhkut hill. Lunch is provided at hotel. After lunch visiting the ruins of the Nalanda University and Nalanda Museum. Departure to Varanasi by train with dinner and overnight stay on-board.
Day 4 Early morning tea/coffee is served on board before arrival at Varanasi. Breakfast is served at a hotel in Varanasi. Visiting Sarnath, Dhamekh Stupa and Askhoka Pillar followed by lunch at hotel. Visiting to Ganges ghat followed by a boat ride and aarti at Ganges. Departure for Gorakhpur. Dinner and Overnight stay on board.
Day 5 early morning tea/coffee on board and on arrival at Gorakhpur, stay is arranged at a hotel. Breakfast is provided at the hotel followed by a visit to Mahaparinirvan temple, Rambhar Stupa and Matakutir temple. Lunch and dinner served at hotel and overnight stay is at hotel.
Day 6 early morning coffee/tea and breakfast at hotel. Reaching Lumbini by bus. Lunch at hotel followed by a visit to Mayadevi Temple and Ashoka Pillar. Departure to Gorakhpur Railway station and proceed to Gonda by train. Dinner and Overnight stay on board.
Day 7 early morning coffee/tea on board before arrival at Gonda. Travel to Sravasti and check-in at hotel followed by breakfast. Visiting Jetvana Vihara and Pakki Kuti and lunch at hotel. Return to Gonda Railway station to depart to Agra. Dinner is served on-board followed by stay on-board.
Day 8 tea/coffee on board before arriving at Agra. Breakfast at Agra followed by a visit to Taj Mahal. Departure to New Delhi by train. Lunch and evening tea are served on board and the train reaches Delhi Safdarjung Railway station in the evening.

Tarriff and Fare
Class of Travel                             Sep 2011 to May 2012 (per night)             Full Tour
AC- First Class                   US$                   160                                            1120                                                 INR                 7520                                          52640
AC – 2 Tier Inner Class       US$                   130                                             910                                                 INR                 6110                                          42770
AC – 2 Tier Side Berth        US$                  110                                               770                                                INR                 5170                                           36190
AC – 3 Tier Class               US$                  105                                               735                                                INR                 4935                                           34545
AC First Coupe                  US$   160 +(USD 150 Per Pax for Partial/Full Tour)    1270                                                INR                    -                                              57150