&w=3840&q=100)
IRCTC to offer Kashmiri veg meals on Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat train
The newly launched Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar is set to significantly cut down travel time between the two places by two to three hours. Adding to this convenience is the promise of a rich culinary experience featuring traditional Dogra and Kashmiri dishes prepared in vegetarian style.
Kashmiri cuisine onboard Vande Bharat Express
According to IRCTC officials, passengers on the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will enjoy an assortment of regional delicacies. For breakfast, the train will serve ambal kaddu (a sweet-and-sour pumpkin dish from Dogra weddings), babru (a stuffed puri popular in the hilly regions), and the classic Jammu paratha.
Lunchtime meals will feature Kashmiri dum aloo, Jammu rajma, and paneer chaman, offering a well-rounded taste of Jammu and Kashmir's rich vegetarian cuisine. For passengers preferring regular options, IRCTC will also serve popular Indian breakfast items such as poha, upma, and vegetarian cutlets.
This move is expected to enhance the overall travel experience for tourists and pilgrims heading to Vaishno Devi and exploring Kashmir, making it not just a journey, but a taste of local culture.
Katra to Srinagar Vande Bharat Express: Route, schedule & frequency
The Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express will run six days a week, excluding Wednesdays. Two trains will operate daily between the two cities via Banihal. The schedule is as follows:
Departure from Srinagar: 8:00 AM
Arrival at Banihal: 9:02 AM
Arrival at Katra: 10:58 AM
On the return journey:
Departure from Katra: 2:55 PM
Arrival at Srinagar: 5:53 PM
This streamlined schedule is designed to offer better connectivity for locals, tourists, and pilgrims, while reducing travel time and improving comfort.
Vande Bharat Express: Special features
The Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express is fully electric and built to handle extreme cold, even as low as -20°C. Its front glass (windshield) has a heating feature that melts snow and clears fog, helping the driver see better. It also includes a special air-drying system and a 5 kVA transformer to keep things running smoothly.
The train has air-conditioned coaches, automatic doors, CCTV cameras, and charging points for your phone—making the ride comfortable and modern.
Even in freezing weather, a smart heating system keeps the train warm using a vacuum-based system. The washrooms are also designed to stay warm, so the water tanks and pipes don't freeze.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
'Lost Passport, Visa, Cash': Indian Entrepreneur Recounts 48-Hour Ordeal In Spain
An Indian entrepreneur has documented his horrific experience after his passport, visa and cash were stolen abroad. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ayush Panchmiya revealed that he had gone to Spain, where he endured the worst 48 hours of his travel life and how he managed to come out of it. The incident happened when Mr Panchmiya and his team were "editing content for a couple of clients" at a Starbucks outlet. "We had just landed in Barcelona after a heavy week at Ethereum Community Conference & Workshop (ETHCC) Cannes. It was a chill morning for us. Our team was at Starbucks, editing content for a couple of clients," wrote Mr Panchmiya. "I stepped outside for a quick call, left my small black bag under the table, something I'd done a hundred times on trips like these." Having only been gone a few seconds, Mr Panchmiya returned to his bag being gone which had his passport, visa, credit cards and a "good chunk of cash". Despite approaching the authorities and begging them to show the CCTV, Mr Panchmiya was left hapless. With the Indian embassy shut down over the weekend, he was left with no option but to wait till Monday. "Walked in as soon as they [embassy] opened. And I cannot thank them enough, they issued me an emergency certificate (a temporary passport) in just 4 to 5 hours. That same evening, I was back on a flight to India." The entrepreneur said he was sharing his experience not to rant but to help people understand their options if they find themselves in a similar situation. "If you travel often, especially around Europe, this can happen to anyone," he said. "Ask for an emergency certificate. If your flight is close, they can issue one in hours." See the viral post here: I lost my passport, US visa, and all my cash… in Spain. Let me walk you through the worst 48 hours of my travel life and how I got out of it. We had just landed in Barcelona after a heavy week at ETHCC Cannes. It was a chill morning for us. Our team was at Starbucks, editing… — Ayush Panchmiya (@lets_ash) August 2, 2025 Also Read | Auto Driver Drops Woman Passenger Midway, Questions Her Life Choices: 'Why'd You Take The Job...' 'Not to be rude but...' As the post went viral, a section of social media users empathised with Mr Panchmiya while others questioned why he had kept the bag out of his sight with the important items. "Not to be rude but Barcelona is literally the most renowned city for pickpocketing. Leaving a bag unattended with your passport in it is insane," said one user, while another added: "In general avoid traveling day to day with your passport on you. It's infinitely safer in your hotel lock box."
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Sri Lanka starts issuing temporary driving license to tourists at airport
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Colombo, Aug 3 (PTI) Sri Lanka on Sunday launched a programme to issue temporary driving licenses to tourists at the international airport. 'Foreign tourists and even Sri Lankan visitors to the country, who are not dual citizens, would be issued these licenses valid for a month," Kamal Amarasinghe, the chief of the Motor Traffic Department, said here. The tourists getting these temporary licenses would, however, be not eligible to drive heavy vehicles and three wheeler tuk-tuks, Amarasingha said. Currently, any tourists could have obtained a license at the Department's Colombo suburban facility following the due process, he said, adding, the new arrangement is a more swift process where tourists can self drive. PTI CORR NPK NPK First Published: August 03, 2025, 20:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Technical snag: Air India cancels Singapore-Chennai flight; offers refunds and hotel stay
Representative image Air India on Sunday cancelled its Singapore to Chennai flight AI349 following a technical issue that required extended maintenance work. The flight, scheduled to be operated using an Airbus A321, was grounded after a pre-departure check flagged the problem. In a statement issued on Sunday, the airline said, 'Flight AI349 scheduled to operate from Singapore to Chennai has been cancelled due to a maintenance task identified prior to departure, which required additional time for rectification.' As per news agency PTI, arrangements are underway to fly the affected passengers to Chennai at the earliest. The airline is offering hotel accommodation and has assured full refunds or complimentary rescheduling, depending on each passenger's preference. Air India also said that its ground staff in Singapore are making "every possible effort" to minimise inconvenience for the passengers caused by this unforeseen disruption. This latest cancellation adds to a spate of recent technical snags reported on Air India aircraft. On Thursday, a Delhi-London flight (AI2017) operated on an ex-Vistara Boeing 787 Dreamliner had to return to the terminal after the pilots suspected a technical issue. 'The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off run following standard operating procedures and brought the aircraft back for precautionary checks,' an Air India spokesperson said. An alternative Dreamliner was later arranged for the journey. Similarly, on July 25, an Air India Express flight bound for Doha was forced to return to Calicut airport due to a fault in the cabin air conditioning system. 188 passengers were on board, and the flight landed safely after two hours in the air. The airline later provided food and water to passengers and arranged a replacement aircraft. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
