Chugging on the tracks of religion, the ‘Panj Takht Express’ — connecting all five takhts (temporal seats) of Sikhs — would embark on its journey from January 14, the next year.
Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, sharing the information to this regard with his cabinet colleague and SAD MP from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal, said that the Centre has agreed to start Panj Takht Express from January 14 next to connect five sacred takhts of Sikh religion.
To be run by the Railways catering and tourism arm — Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the special tourist train would start its journey from Delhi while taking the passengers to all the five takhts, including three in Punjab.
The train would cover all the five temporal seats — Sri Akal Takht Sahib at Amritsar-Punjab, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib at Bhatinda-Punjab, Takht Keshgarh Sahib at Sri Anandpur Sahib-Punjab, besides Takht Sri Hazur Sahib at Nanded-Maharashtra and Takht Sri Patna Sahib at Patna-Bihar — in its 10-day-long journey.
Notably, the special tourist train was announced on the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhs’ first master, Guru Nanak Dev.
As per available information, the three-tier AC train would have 800 seats, covering five takhts in nine nights, ten days trip.
With Rs 15,750 tour price for each, the tour package would include three vegetarian meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner, nights stay, wash and change in hotels or Gurudwara, transfers and sightseeing, tour escorts, security on trains, travel insurance, among other things.
ROUTE
The train will start its journey from Delhi’s Safdarjung railway station. Firstly, the train will go to Huzoor Sahib in Nanded, where the passenger-devotees will stay for one day and one night. The next day train will leave Patna Sahib, where the stay is for one day and one night. After this, the train will leave for Punjab to cover Anandpur Sahib, Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar and then Damdama Sahib.
