New Delhi, 24th May 2024: According to ancient Indian texts, the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand is known as Manaskhand. Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board and IRCTC have jointly started a special tourist train named Manaskhand Express to promote lesser-known destinations of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, whose first journey was successfully operated with 280 tourists on 22.04.2024.

After the successful operation of the first journey of the train, now the second journey started from Pune on 22.05.2024 with 302 tourists and will reach Tanakpur Railway Station in Uttarakhand on 24.05.2024. The tourists were welcomed in the traditional Marathi way, with Drums and Musical instruments, Aarti was performed traditionally, Tilak was applied and flowers were showered. The tourists were quite enthusiastic about this tour and expected to see some of the new destinations through this tour package.

In this journey of 10 nights/11 days, all the tourists will be taken to various tourist places of Kumaon region like Purnagiri Temple, Hatkalika Temple, Kasar Devi, Katarmal, Kainchidham, Chittai Golu Temple, Jageshwar Dham, Sharda Ghat, Patal Bhuvaneshwar Temple, Nanakmatta Gurudwara, Bhimtal, Nainital, Almora, Chakori, Tea Garden of Champawat, Baleshwar Temple, Mayawati Ashram etc. will be visited. Besides, Uttarakhandi cuisine will also be served to all the passengers traveling on the train.

Train travel is in 3AC Train. However, only four persons in one Coupe have been booked to enhance the comfort of the tourists. The train’s exterior is a showcase of Uttarakhand’s rich natural, cultural, architectural, and spiritual heritage. The pantry car coach depicts various dishes from Uttarakhandi Cuisine, one of the coaches depicts various folk festivals, and on another coach, there are people wearing different attire from the State. Various temples and other places of importance are also depicted on the coaches.

The train is equipped with an air-conditioned pantry car which will serve various dishes including Uttarakhandi cuisine to the tourists during the journey. After deboarding at Tanakpur the tourists will be taken to various destinations where they will stay at hotels/homestays and visit various places as per the Itinerary with nights halts at Tanakpur, Champawat/Lohaghat, Chaukori, Almora, and Bhimtal.

Shri Sachin Kurve, Secretary Tourism/Chief Executive Officer, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board said that given the immense success of the Manaskhand Express operated in the first phase and the enthusiasm of the tourists, the department has started the Manaskhand Express from Pune in the second phase also.

Shri Kurve said that this unique initiative of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board is the first of its kind in India, in which efforts are being made to promote tourism in lesser-known places through tourist trains.