Special budget train for Buddhist sites

[kirtu]

Special budget train for Buddhist sites

The Indian Railways will launch its maiden special train covering the Buddhist circuit across the country, with a visit to Nepal also thrown in.

...

The pilgrims get to see 11 Buddhist sites starting with the paintings and sculptures in Ajanta and Ellora Caves. The other sites are: the massive stupa at Sanchi; Sravasti, capital of the ancient kingdom of the same name; the birth place of Gautam Buddha in Lumbini, Nepal; the Mahaparinirvana Temple in Kushinagar; Vaishali, where the Buddha preached his last sermon; the evocative ruins of Buddhist monasteries and temples of Nalanda; Rajgir, where Buddha preached two of his most famous sermons; Bodh Gaya where the Buddha attained enlightenment; Sarnath where he preached his last sermon; and the excavations of Nagarjunakonda.

Kirt

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

This is pretty cool. Does anyone know how the pricing compares to that of pilgrimage services offered by other tourist operators?

Metta,
Retro.

[kirtu]

This is pretty cool. Does anyone know how the pricing compares to that of pilgrimage services offered by other tourist operators?

Well this is about $500 at any of the three pricing levels.

Kirt

[Clueless Git]

£500 (20,000 Rupees?) is virtualy peanuts to us for a holiday like that.

As a very rough guide to the value of 20,000 Ruppees in terms of Indian spending power: When my daughter was last in Bangalore a decent meal out for 5 cost 50 Rupees.

[kirtu]

£500 (20,000 Rupees?) is virtualy peanuts to us for a holiday like that.

As a very rough guide to the value of 20,000 Ruppees in terms of Indian spending power: When my daughter was last in Bangalore a decent meal out for 5 cost 50 Rupees.

20,000 INR = £271 = $US 433

20,000 is about the lowest level in the 3 levels but the highest is only about 26,000 INR. Note that the train was intended for pilgrims from Asian countries so people from the West may not be eligible.

Kirt

[retrofuturist]

Greetings Kirt,

That would be pretty discriminatory if that was the case! I suspect it just says that because that's where most Buddhists live, and because in terms of proximity, they're closer to India than UK, Us, Australia etc.

Retro.

[kirtu]

Actually 20,000 INR is the middle level:

Twin-sharing accommodation comes for Rs.23,650 per person, while triple-sharing accommodation costs Rs.20,600 and for hall or dormitory accommodation, the fare has been pegged at Rs.16,650. Accommodation will be provided in budget hotels.

Kirt

[Anders]

Greetings Kirt,

That would be pretty discriminatory if that was the case!

And fairly common in Asia.