Religious tourism is finding favour among Tricity residents. The Bharat Darshan trains of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to religious places are packed to capacity whenever a special train is plied.

Among the most popular are the packages to Shirdi. Over the past year, special packages have been offered twice by IRCTC for Shirdi. The first train plied in August last year. Seeing the response, another package was launched and passengers embarked on their journey in December.

To encash on this popularity, two Bharat Darshan trains have been proposed in May to Somnath and Shirdi-Shani Shignapur as well as Tirupati and Ujjain. Prior to this, a special train to the seven Jyotirlings has been proposed for April. The train, which will commence its journey on April 18, will take passengers on an 11-day journey to the seven Jyotirlings. The package will cost Rs 6,156 per passenger, including tickets, accommodation and meals.

“The response to religious tourism packages has been encouraging. That is why packages have been offered repeatedly to some places like Shirdi,” said IRCTC Chief Regional Manager R K Sondh. “In fact, there was a long waiting list for the previous two trips. This is why the package is being offered again.”

The Bharat Darshan packages cost around Rs 500 per day per passenger, apart from taxes. Even passengers availing the special package to Goa would be given a tour of the temples apart from other places of tourist attraction at the place.