
Govt launches 10 religious tour packages
Prayagraj: Post Maha Kumbh, the authorities of Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (UPSTDC) have launched as many as 10 special religious and historical tour packages for visitors to explore Prayagraj and adjoining holy cities of Kashi, Vindhyachal, Chitrakoot, Ayodhya and Maihar.
These 10 special
religious tour packages
include Prayag Darshan (one day), Prayagraj-Varanasi tour (one day), Prayagraj-Varanasi-Vindhyachal (two days one night tour), Prayagraj-Vindhyachal-Varanasi-Ayodhya (three days two nights tour), Prayagraj-Ayodhya (one day tour), Prayagraj-Chitrakoot (one day tour), Prayagraj-Maihar (one day tour), Prayagraj-Bandhavgarh (two days one night tour), Prayagraj-Panna-Khajuraho (three days two nights tour), and Prayagraj Heritage walk tour (weekend).
Senior Manager (UPSTDC) DP Singh told TOI, "After Maha Kumbh, the UPSTDC launched 10 special religious and adventure tour packages. Visitors apart from covering religious cities located near Sangam city, would also be able to enjoy their visit to Bandhavgarh, Panna and Khajuraho under different tour packages."
Singh said, "Packages for holy cities like Prayag, Kashi, Ayodhya, Vindhyachal, Chitrakoot, and Maihar were launched after acknowledging that the majority of devotees and pilgrims arriving in Sangam city to take holy dips want to cover Ayodhya, Vindhyachal, Chitrakoot, Maihar, and Kashi for darshan of deities."
Singh, meanwhile, said that visitors can book special tours and packages both online and offline, and there would also be pick-up and drop facilities as well. He, however, said, "The department has special tourist Urbania buses for the transportation of tourists."
Under the Prayag Darshan, visitors would get the facility to visit Sangam, Akshayvat, Hanuman Temple corridor, Anand Bhawan, CSA Park, Allahabad Museum, Central Library, Vijaynagram Hall, Khushro Bagh, and Shringverpur. Moreover, the Prayagraj Heritage walk includes visiting All Saints Cathedral, Fort, Anand Bhawan, CSA Park, Anand Bhawan, Bhardwaj Ashram, Vijay Nagarm Hall (Allahabad University) and Kushro Bagh on weekends. The heritage walk will be a four-hour tour to local spots in Prayagraj and the package includes entry fees, a tour guide, bottled water, printed literature, breakfast and transportation.
Singh, meanwhile, said, "The Prayag Heritage walk is drafted in view of visitors willing to take a glimpse of buildings with the city's rich heritage sites and historic importance."
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