IRCTC’s Maharajas’ Express to announces 2 new tourist circuits in South

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) has decided to start two new circuits of its flagship luxury train Maharajas' Express, this year. Named as `Southern Sojourn' and `Southern Jewels', the two new circuits will cover prominent destinations in West and South India.

The Southern Sojourn will cover Goa, Hampi, Mysore, Ernakulam, Kumarakom and Trivandrum.

The Southern Jewels will cover Chettinad, Mahabalipuram, Mysore, Hampi and Goa.

Though regular trips on these two new circuits will begin in September 2017, the new tour circuits are being planned for the monsoon period of June-July with a view to cater to domestic travellers.

Tariff has been introduced for the Monsoon Special itineraries. Lucrative offers to attract domestic travellers have also been planned. For instance, booking by first adult traveller on twin sharing basis at full cost, enables a second adult to share the same cabin on a complimentary basis. Moreover, a guest booking a Deluxe Cabin gets a chance to upgrade to a Junior Suite by paying only 50 per cent of the difference in tariff between Junior Suite and Deluxe Cabin.

For the very first time part journey has been introduced in the Monsoon Special itineraries of Maharajas' Express. Passengers are allowed to avail part of the total journey on a fixed price of $500 (Rs33,250) per day per person on twin sharing basis. On single occupancy basis the charges would be $800 (Rs53,200). The prices are exclusive of taxes and limited to a maximum of 2 nights and 3 days.

The Southern Sojourn – Monsoon Special will start from Mumbai on 24 June 2017 and stop at Goa, Hampi, Mysore, Cochin, Alleppey before terminating at Trivandrum.

The Southern Jewels – Monsoon Special will depart from Trivandrum on 1 July 2017 and terminate at Mumbai covering Chettinad, Mahabalipuram, Mysore, Hampi and Goa. Each journey will be of 8 days and 7 nights duration.

The regular trip of Southern Sojourn will start from Mumbai on 9 September 2017 and Southern Jewels will start from Trivandrum on 16 September 2017.

In addition to visits to monuments and sight-seeing at each destination under these trips, the guests will have the opportunity to enjoy traditional cultural performances at Cochin, visit a coir factory and enjoy a cruise with lunch at Alleppey, savour traditional Chettinad cuisine and much more on these fabulous journeys.

The booking and other details for this train can either be done online on the official website of Maharajas' Express at http://www.the-maharajas.com or on the official website of IRCTC http://www.irctc.co.in and http://www.irctctourism.com.

For guests booking online or directly through phone, a special facility is being offered free of cost in the form of redeemable voucher of $250 (approx Rs16,000) for each individual guest. Although the vouchers cannot be encashed, they can be redeemed against all off-board extras like settling liquor bills, on-board boutique purchases and laundry bills.

Maharajas' Express commenced its operations in 2010, and since then the train has become the Leading Luxury Train of the World with comparisons to the Royal Scotsman and the Eastern and Oriental Express. The train is the recipient of the coveted Leading Luxury Train of the World Award for the last five years in a row since 2012.

The 23-coach Maharajas' Express, with a capacity of 88 guests, has state of the art features with on-board water filtration plant, spacious cabin sizes with no bunk beds, two bars cum lounges, two restaurants and of course a well-trained on-board team to cater to passengers.