NEW DELHI:

on Saturday flagged off a new deluxe train for Buddhist pilgrims, called the

. It will traverse through the Buddhism sites in India such as

, Rajgir (Nalanda), Varanasi (Sarnath), Lumbini, Kushinagar and Sravasti, before ending with a tour of Taj Mahal — because who doesn't want to see the Taj.

This comes a few months after the Railways launched the

which covers destinations associated with the life of Lord

Rama

in a 16-day package. The 'Shri Ramayana Yatra-Sri Lanka' pilgrimage has two components -- one each in India and Sri Lanka. The train running from Delhi makes its first stop in Ayodhya, followed by Hanuman Garhi Ramkot and Kanak Bhawan temple. It then covers Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Varanasi, Prayag, Shringverpur, Chitrakoot, Nasik, Hampi and Rameshwaram.

Ramleela artists during the flagging off ceremony of Shri Ramayana Express train (PTI Photo)

Before this, there was the senior citizen Tirtha Yatra Yojana train, which lets senior citizens travel to Shirdi, Nasik and Trimbakeshwar on a seven-day tour.

The IRCTC used to provide a Buddhist tourism package, but travellers who avail of it take the regular Rajdhani trains. But considering the growing foreign tourist arrivals in India, especially from destinations like Japan, China, Thailand and Sri Lanka, Railways have now introduced a dedicated train.

The Buddhist Circuit train comprises 12 high-speed and shock-resistant

(LHB) coaches -- 4 first-tier and 2 second-tier AC coaches, 1 kitchen car, 2 dining cars, 1 staff car and 2 power cars. The first AC coaches provide facilities such as individual locker and shower with geyser.

The coaches have increased water capacity, digital lockers for each passenger in AC I coaches, Venetian windows, decorative lighting, separate pantry for vegetarian and non-vegetarian passengers and bio-toilets with vacuum evacuation. The dining car is provided with plate dispenser, microwave oven, coffee machine, bottle chiller, and a dish wash machine.

Tickets for a full tour starts at $945 (nearly Rs 67,000).

The Ramayana Express, however, is priced much lower — the Rs 15,120-tour package covers travel, food and accommodation. As a result, one travels in a 'passenger-class' train "stripped to the basics of Indian Railway travel".