Good time awaits tourists in Mussoorie; IRCTC offers stay, food in Carlson hotel

Tribune News Service

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Mussoorie, June 8

Tourists looking for weekend retreat to hills to beat the blistering summer heat and planning a hassle-free holiday in Mussoorie have something to cheer about. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has come up with a novel idea with an objective to provide a convenient stay to tourists in Mussoorie. It has launched the Mussoorie Rail Tour Package that includes confirmed rail ticket reservation, meals, sightseeing and stay in a reputed hotel in Mussoorie.

The scheme launched recently provides AC chair car travel in the New Delhi-Dehradun Shatabdi train (12017/18) every Friday and Saturday. The duration of the package is 2 nights and 3 days. Passengers availing of the package are transferred from Dehradun to Mussoorie in comfortable vehicles and are made to stay at Country Inn and Suites by Carlson, Mussoorie. During the stay, buffet breakfast

and lunch/dinner are provided at the hotel. For its patrons, the IRCTC also provides complimentary pick up and drop from the hotel to Mall Road. Further, there is a one-day sightseeing tour of Company Gardens (the cost of entry tickets to be borne by guests) and Kempty Falls. Also, there is sightseeing of local temples and MDDA Park in Dehradun during the return journey.

“The biggest attraction of the package is that it is customised to take care of the entire needs of passengers. They don’t have to worry about finding a hotel or fleecing by cab operators, which is a normal phenomenon at these destinations during the summer,” said an IRCTC official.

“Also, our patrons are made to stay, that too during weekends, in Country Inn and Suites, which is a branded property. “Mussoorie is an ideal hill place during the summer with its salubrious climate, serenity and scenic beauty. The IRCTC has taken utmost care to make the package memorable one for its patrons,” he added.

The IRCTC, a 16-year-old Mini Ratna PSU of Indian Railways, has separate verticals for e-ticketing, food catering and tourism promotion. Hoteliers, BJP and Congress leaders from Mussoorie have hailed the move. They are demanding more such packages from other parts of the state in association with the Indian Railways.

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Sandeep Sahni, president of Uttarakhand Hotel Association, says “It is a step in the right direction and the Uttarakhand Hotel Association will support all such endeavours of the Central government. I request the IRCTC to start more such packages in other tourist destinations of the state and include other hotels in the budgeted tourist section”.

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Vijay Ramola, a hotelier, says “The Railways has done a good job as its association with the tourism industry of the state will prove fruitful for both business community and tourists. The state government

should try to upgrade infrastructure and various tourist destinations so that tourists availing of these packages are not let down when they visit Uttarakhand and don't go back disappointed.”

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Senior Congress leader Megh Singh Kandari says “The effort of the IRCTC is commendable and the state government should also reciprocate by providing more such packages to tourists from other states using the large rail network present in the country so that it gives boost to tourism in the state.”

* AC chair car travel in the New Delhi-Dehradun Shatabdi train (12017/18) every Friday and Saturday

* Passengers availing of the package are transferred from Dehradun to Mussoorie in comfortable vehicles

* Stay at Country Inn and Suites by Carlson, Mussoorie

* Buffet breakfast and lunch/dinner at the hotel

* Complimentary pick up and drop from the hotel to Mall Road

* Sightseeing of Company Gardens and Kempty Falls, besides a visit to local temples and MDDA Park in Dehradun during return journey

Package rates up to June 30:

Occupancy Prices (Per Person)

Single Occupancy Rs 20,470

Double Occupancy Rs 13,519

Triple Occupancy Rs 12,361

Child With Bed Rs 11,714

(5 to 11 years)