Sampath Bank sponsors the July monthly medal event at the Royal Colombo Golf Club – The Island

By Harischandra Gunaratna

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Ltd, in partnership with Lanka Sports Travel (LSR), an inbound and outbound tour operator based in Colombo, recently launched religious rail tours targeting the luxury market.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Promila Gupta, Managing Director, IRCTUC Group, said, “IRCTC is committed to providing comprehensive and curated travel experiences within India to international travellers by offering diverse travel packages and services.”

These tours include visits to major tourist attractions across India, with destinations including Varanasi, Rishikesh, Amritsar, Lumbini and Bodhgaya. In addition, the Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train covers almost all destinations along the Buddhist route, she said.

Gupta emphasised the value of the Buddhist Tour Train in light of Sri Lanka’s strong Buddhist heritage.

She said IRCTC had 500 bookings for its premium train package during the 2023-24 season (September-April) Maharaja’s Expressand at the moment there are already 800 bookings for the coming season 2024-2025.

Gupta said that IRCTC’s tour packages could be customized and tailored to the specific needs of special groups or corporate clients, with charges applicable for a minimum of 100 passengers for these special packages. All train journeys start from Delhi, except the Golden Chariot, which starts its journey from Bangalore.

Thilak Weerasinghe, Chairman and Managing Director of Lanka Sports Travel, said that LSR’s aim was to enhance the travel experience for discerning Sri Lankan Buddhist pilgrims and holidaymakers on the Indian Buddhist circuit by offering them luxury train journeys.

“LSR’s partnership with IRCTC will provide Sri Lankans the opportunity to enjoy a unique experience of rail travel in India, with premium hotel accommodation, luxurious onboard comfort and authentic Indian hospitality,” said Weerasinghe.