Semi-Luxury Trains in India: What You Need to Know
It’s very common we heard a lot about Indian luxury trains, but very few only know about semi-luxury trains. From past 3 to 4 years, Indian Railways introduced some semi-luxury trains in particular regions to promote tourism. Mainly, the main motive of this type of trains is to make travelers happy to enjoy the luxurious journey in a fewer cost compares to luxury trains. Simply, semi-luxury trains can easily affordable by more number of people than luxury trains.
What’s the specialty of Semi-Luxury Trains?
Specialties of the train are not more than luxury trains but they satisfy the travelers basic luxury needs and requirements. That’s why every semi-luxury train in India was equipped with primary luxury elements and facilities. But one thing special about this type of trains is its itinerary packages, why because the itinerary of these trains will be surely concentrated on one tourism aspect.
For example, Tiger Express for wildlife, Desert Circuit train for deserts, Buddhist circuit train for Buddhist tourist places, like this train itinerary will be followed on particular tourist attraction.
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Now it’s time to know about India’s top-rated semi-luxury trains. So, here you can have a glimpse of them.
1. Tiger Express:
For wildlife enthusiasts, Tiger Express is a perfect choice to experience Indian wildlife. This semi-luxury train was specially meant for wildlife tourism in India. The main idea of the train is to get in close touch with tigers that’s why the train was named as Tiger Express. For the close calls with tigers, this train circuits in Madhya Pradesh two
famous national parks Bandhavgarh and Kanha.
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Facilities
The train is fully air-conditioned and there will be an availability of AC First class and AC Two tier classes. AC First class is the best option to choose in the train because it equips locked sliding doors, so it creates personal space for travelers but AC Two tier is an open compartment type, that maybe not so comfortable.
Coming to the major facilities of the train are its dining restaurant and hotel facilities during off train trips. The dining restaurant is the best facility on the board of train to taste some delicious cuisines of India.
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Package Details
The whole package of the train is 5 nights and 6 days trip by covering four tourist destinations. And here are the complete package details of the train according to the selection of occupancy.
To book this train you have to visit IRCTC official website for fast and reliable booking.
AC First Class
| Occupancy Type | Price Per Person |
| Single Occupancy | 37,500 INR |
| Double Occupancy | 36,500 INR |
| Triple Occupancy | 35,500 INR |
AC Two Tier Class
| Occupancy Type | Price Per Person |
| Single Occupancy | 31,500 INR |
| Double Occupancy | 30,000 INR |
| Triple Occupancy | 29,000 INR |
Itinerary of the train:
Delhi Safdarjung – Katni – Bandhavgarh – Kanha -Jabalpur – Delhi Safdarjung. In this trip, Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park, and Dhuadhar waterfall in Jabalpur are the major tourist attractions to enjoy.
Note: At present this train service not available.
2. Desert Circuit Tourist Train
Desert Circuit Tourist Train was implemented to cover the desert attractions of India. This train was introduced to cover the cities of India which were close to the desert. The main motive of this train is to witness the desert environment and its attractions. To round up the desert destinations this semi-luxury train circuits in Rajasthan. The one who wants to explore the Indian deserts Desert Circuit Tourist Train is the best option to choose.
Facilities
As like as Tiger Express, the train also equips AC First Class and AC Two tier classes. The AC first class equips two or four beds with sliding doors and AC Two tier will comprise four beds with open compartment type. A dining restaurant will available in the train to have delicious cuisines and also 3-star hotels will be arranged during off-train excursions.
Package Details
The train offers 5 days and 4 nights trip by covering three destinations. The package details of the train according to occupancy selection.
AC First Class
| Occupancy Type | Price Per Person |
| Single Occupancy | 43,900 INR |
| Double Occupancy | 40,500 INR |
| Triple Occupancy | 40,150 INR |
AC Two Tier Class
| Occupancy Type | Price Per Person |
| Single Occupancy | 36,600 INR |
| Double Occupancy | 33,500 INR |
| Triple Occupancy | 33,000 INR |
For reservation of Desert Circuit Tourist train, you have to visit IRCTC official website.
Itinerary of the train:
Delhi Safdarjung – Jaisalmer – Jodhpur – Jaipur -Delhi Safdarjung. Through this trip, you can explore the Sam Dunes and sightseeing tours in Jaisalmer and Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur and finally, in Jaipur, you can enjoy sightseeing of many tourist attractions such as Amber Fort, Chokhi Dhani village, City Palace etc.
Note: At present this train service not available.
3. Heritage Circuit Tourist Train
To promote Indian heritage and culture, Heritage Circuit train was introduced. This semi-luxury train will cover the three major places in India which were known for rich heritage and culture. Through this train UNESCO heritage sites Khajuraho temples and Taj Mahal can be explored and also you can experience Varanasi’s spiritual side. To get aware of India’s heritage and culture in a glance Heritage Circuit is a worth train to embark.
Facilities
Almost the facilities of the train was similar to both semi-luxury trains Tiger Express and Desert Circuit trains with AC First Class and AC Two tier. But this train equips AC 3 Tier also. And 3-Star rated hotels and AC bus will be arranged during off-train excursions.
Package Details
The package comprises 5 days and 4 nights trip through three places and remaining all ticket fares for occupancy were disclosed here.
AC First Class
| Occupancy Type | Price Per Person |
| Single Occupancy | 35,900 INR |
| Double Occupancy | 32,900 INR |
| Triple Occupancy | 31,900 INR |
AC Two Tier Class
| Occupancy Type | Price Per Person |
| Single Occupancy | 26,200 INR |
| Double Occupancy | 23,200 INR |
| Triple Occupancy | 22,700 INR |
AC Three Tier Class
| Occupancy Type | Price Per Person |
| Single Occupancy | 21,790 INR |
| Double Occupancy | 18,790 INR |
| Triple Occupancy | 18,290 INR |
For the reservation process, you have to visit IRCTC official website to book on this train.
Itinerary of the train
Delhi Safdarjung – Varanasi – Khajuraho – Agra – Delhi Safdarjung. With this train, you can experience the spirituality at Varanasi by visiting Saranath and Ganges river. After this, you can witness the marvelous architectural styles and heritage of Khajuraho temples, Taj Mahal, and Agra Fort.
Note: At present this train service not available.
4. Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train
Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train is the present running semi-luxury train in India. This train was initiated to cover the all Buddhist tourist destinations in India.When compared to all semi-luxury trains in India Buddhist Circuit train is the most advanced and luxurious train with many best-class facilities. For Buddhist followers, Buddhist Circuit train is the best one to cover all place simply in a week.
Facilities
The train accommodates fully air-conditioned AC-First class, AC-2 tier class, and AC-First Coupe classes. Every class will be available with sliding doors and all basic amenities will be arranged also. In the train, a dining car will also available so you can happily enjoy food on the train with your family or friends.
Package Details
The train offers 8 days / 7 nights trip throughout seven Buddhist destinations. An interesting thing is we can opt any one of the destinations in the itinerary or you can travel throughout the trip.That’s why during booking there will be two options as cost per night and cost per trip.
| Class Type | Cost per Night | Cost per trip |
| AC First Class | $165 and 11,760 INR | $1155 and 82,311 INR |
| AC 2 Tier | $135 and 9,620 INR | $945 and 67,345 INR |
| AC First Coupe | $165 and 11,760 INR | $1305 and 93,000 INR |
To choose this train, you have to visit IRCTC official website for booking procedure.
Itinerary of the train
Delhi – Bodhgaya – Nalanda / Rajgir – Varanasi / Sarnath -Lumbini – Kushinagar – Sravasti – Agra. Through this trip, you can completely study the life of Lord Buddha from birth to death. Because every place in the itinerary was witnesses of Lord Buddha’s life instances.
Departure Dates
The recent upcoming departure dates of the train in the years 2019-20.
- In the year 2019, dates are September 21, October 5 and 19, November 2, 16, and 30,December 14 and 28, January 5 and 19, February 2 and 16, and March 2 and 23.
- In the year 2020, dates are January 11 and 25, February 8 and 22, and March 14 and 28.
If you wish to travel in Luxury trains. Most popular luxury trains in India are:
Frequent Asking Question on Semi Luxury Train
Q. How many Semi-Luxury Trains are there in India?
A. There are four semi-luxury trains in India equipped with all basic amenities and accommodations.
Q. Which is the best Semi-Luxury Train in India?
A. The best-rated semi-luxury train is the Tiger Express, this train gives tourists a closer look into wildlife tourism into Kanha and Bandhavgarh National parks in Madhya Pradesh.
Q. What is the most famous Semi-Luxury in India?
A. The Desert Circuit tourists train is one of the famous among semi luxurious train. It gives tourists a glimpse of the major desert attraction of India in elegant style. The attractions covered by this train are Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Jaipur.
Q. Which is the fastest semi-luxury train in India?
A. The Buddhist Circuit Tourists train is one of the advances and fastest semi luxurious train which covers all Buddhists destination in just 1 week.
Q. Which is the slowest Semi-luxury train in India?
A. The Tiger Express is slowest Semi-luxury, it runs in four destinations in 180 km and takes 5 nights 6 days to complete the tour.
Q. Which are the longest Semi-luxury train routes in India?
A. The Buddhist Circuit Tourists train takes 8 days 7 nights to take tourists on every Buddhist temple in India.
Q. What is the difference between a Semi-luxury and luxury train?
A. The semi-luxury train provides only basic amenities to the tourists at minimal price meanwhile luxurious trains provide extravagantly luxury at higher costs.
Q. What is the facility of a semi-luxury train?
A. The semi-luxury trains provide basic facilities like fully air-conditioned class coaches, dining facilities, off trains excursion facilities, etc.
Q. What is the maximum fare of semi-luxury?
A. The maximum fare among semi luxurious trains in India is of The Buddhist Circuit Tourists train in AC first Coupe which costs 93,000 INR per person for the entire trip.
Q. What is the minimum fare of semi-luxury?
A. The minimum fare by tourists train is off the Heritage Circuit tourists train which charges a minimum of 18,290 INR for triple occupancy in AC three-tier class.
Q. Is Desert Circuit Tourist Train a semi-luxury train or luxury train?
A. The desert circuit tourist train is a semi luxurious train equipped with AC first class and AC two-tier class and a dining restaurant and provides 3-star hotels at the off-train excursion.
Q. What is the price of the Buddhist Circuit Tourist semi-luxury train?
A. The price of the Buddhist Circuit Tourist train starts from 9,620 INR for AC 2 tier per person per night and 11,760 INR in AC first class per night.
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