Indian Railways' New Year Pondicherry Package to start from December 29

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced a ‘New Year Pondicherry Package with Tirupati Balaji Darshan’ for 4 nights/5 days. Reportedly, this train journey will cover Kolkata, Tirupati, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Pondicherry and Mahabalipuram.

As per the IRCTC website, the tour will start from December 29, 2021, to January 2, 2022, and only 20 tourists can be a part of this package.
Reports have it that the tariff for the trip starting from Kolkata will cost INR 45180 per adult; for adults on twin share, it will cost INR 34710 per person. However, for those booking tickets for three adults, the fare will be around 32760 per person.

The Tirupati Balaji Darshan package will include air ticket for Kolkata-Chennai, Chennai-Kolkata, all sightseeing and transfers by AC Vehicle, deluxe category, breakfast and dinner, accommodations, sightseeing as per the itinerary, travel insurance, and VIP Darshan ticket of Tirupati Balaji.
COVID-19 related guidelines

To ensure safety of tourists in view of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, IRCTC has issued an advisory, which will include thermal screening for all passengers, e-registration will be required, whereas rules regarding COVID will be updated from time to time.

Things to remember before starting trip:

• All passengers must download the Aarogya Setu App.
• Travellers should carry an RT-PCR negative test report that has been taken within 48 hours of journey. Anyone found without a negative RT-PCR report, will be sent back to origin on the same day.
• Handwritten reports will not be accepted.