For Mumbai's wildlife enthusiasts, the dream of spotting a tiger in its natural habitat just became significantly easier to plan. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched a series of organised safari packages.
A New Era of Convenience
In partnership
with the Maharashtra Forest Department, IRCTC has introduced 'Vandarshan', a new initiative designed to eliminate the complexities of planning a wildlife trip. These all-inclusive packages bundle confirmed train tickets, accommodation, local road transport, and, most importantly, confirmed safari permits into a single booking. This solves a major hurdle for many aspiring safari-goers, as securing permits for popular tiger reserves can often be a challenging and uncertain process. The tours are crafted to provide a comfortable and seamless journey, combining the convenience of rail travel with a well-structured wildlife experience. The first tours are set to commence on November 19, offering a timely option for the winter travel season.
Destinations: Maharashtra's Tiger Country
The initial launch features five distinct itineraries, primarily centred around the famed tiger reserves of the Vidarbha region. These packages offer combinations to suit different interests. Key destinations include the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, renowned for its high density of tigers, and Pench Tiger Reserve, celebrated for its scenic beauty and rich biodiversity. Other parks featured in the combination tours are Bor Tiger Reserve, Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, Umred-Paoni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, and Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. This variety allows travellers to explore multiple ecosystems and increases their chances of diverse wildlife sightings, from majestic tigers and leopards to gaur, deer, and a wide array of birdlife.
The Journey and Itinerary
Each of the five tour packages is structured as a four-night, five-day trip. The journey from Mumbai typically begins every Thursday evening aboard the Vidarbha Express (12105). Boarding is available from CSMT and other key stations like Dadar, Thane, and Kalyan. The return journey is scheduled for the following Sunday. A typical itinerary involves an overnight train journey, arriving at a destination station like Wardha or Nagpur the next morning. From there, travellers are transferred by road to their pre-booked hotel or resort near the national park. The following days are dedicated to jungle safaris, usually in shared gypsy vehicles, before the return train journey to Mumbai.
What's Included in the Package
The IRCTC packages are designed to be comprehensive. Inclusions typically cover train travel in either 2AC (Deluxe) or 3AC (Comfort) classes, all road transfers between railway stations, hotels, and safari gates in an air-conditioned vehicle, and accommodation. Most packages also include meals as specified in the itinerary (often breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the resort) and travel insurance. Crucially, the cost covers the jungle safari permits and the shared safari vehicle charges. It is important for travellers to note what is not included, such as meals during the train journey, camera fees at the park gates, and personal expenses. Due to the exclusive nature of these tours, availability is limited, with IRCTC allocating a small number of berths for each departure, making early booking advisable.
How to Book Your Wildlife Adventure
Booking these 'Vandarshan' packages is straightforward and can be done directly through IRCTC's official tourism portal. On the website, navigate to the 'Holidays' section and look for 'Tour Packages'. You can then search for the specific wildlife tours, such as 'Vandarshan (Tadoba & Bor)', to see the detailed itinerary, cost, inclusions, and availability. The website provides a step-bystep process to select the package, fill in passenger details, and complete the payment. With prices for some packages starting around ₹29,500,' these tours offer a structured and reliable option for Mumbaikars to answer the call of the wild.
