New Glass-Ceiling AC Train to Boost Tourism in Kashmir
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

New Glass-Ceiling AC Train to Boost Tourism in Kashmir

As tourism in the Kashmir valley achieved new heights this year, the government has introduced another attraction for both locals and visitors.

In the valley, the Indian Railways launched Vistadome Coach, an all-weather glass-ceiling AC train. Seeing Kashmir's landscape via a glass carriage will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for guests.

The Vistadome would run over a 90-kilometer track from Banihal in South Kashmir to Budgam in Central Kashmir, providing stunning views of the valley's nature.

The Vistadome has been outfitted with double-wide reclining chairs that can rotate 360 degrees, giving passengers a panoramic view of the Kashmir environment.

The J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singh inaugurated the Vistadome coach in the Kashmir valley from Srinagar's railway station. ''Vistadome Coach is a state-of-the-art train with advanced features of entertainment and sitting. Local travellers and tourists travelling in Vistadome Coach will enjoy the modern-day travel experience in the valley and feel the natural beauty right from Budgam, Qazigund, and Banihal very closely. Vistadome coach offers 360-degree views of the train journey with huge glass windows. The new train will start from Budgam to Banihal while time is not far when the train will connect Kashmir with Kanyakumari,'' said Sinha.

According to the administration, the number of international visitor arrivals has increased by 350% since the G-20 working group meeting was held in the valley.

According to the administration, 18.8 million tourists visited the country last year. This next year. Till September 30, 17 million tourists had visited J&K. The government anticipates the figure to exceed 22.5 million by 2023. Glass ceilings, automatic sliding doors, luggage racks, LED lighting, and a GPS-enabled information system are all features of the Vistadome.

The officials with Indian Railways said that the coaches are fitted with air conditioning for the upcoming?harsh winters in the Kashmir valley. The train will run all through the year and a lot of people are waiting for the valley to be covered with snow to get the experience of Switzerland in Kashmir.

''Vistadome coach has wide windows, glass top, rotating chairs and air conditioning. To get the panoramic look of the beautiful locales of Kashmir valley will be witnessed by visitors on this train. It will help in boosting the tourism of the valley. There was a lot of demand from tourists and the public that they could get a view of the Kashmir valley, especially during the winter season when it is covered by snow. It will run from Budgam to Banihal. The fare would be 930 rupees (or $11.19), '' said Saqib Yousuf Yatoo, Chief Area Manager.

The Vistadome is projected to promote tourism in Kashmir Valley, and tourism stakeholders as well as the tourist agency are optimistic about its impact. The Vistadome would provide visitors to Kashmir Valley with an entirely new perspective of the mountain ranges, paddy farms, apple orchards, saffron fields, and, most importantly, the snow-clad valley. Farooq Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir and a Member of Parliament, took the maiden trip of the Vistadome from Srinagar, applauding the move.

As tourism in the Kashmir valley achieved new heights this year, the government has introduced another attraction for both locals and visitors. In the valley, the Indian Railways launched Vistadome Coach, an all-weather glass-ceiling AC train. Seeing Kashmir's landscape via a glass carriage will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for guests. The Vistadome would run over a 90-kilometer track from Banihal in South Kashmir to Budgam in Central Kashmir, providing stunning views of the valley's nature. The Vistadome has been outfitted with double-wide reclining chairs that can rotate 360 degrees, giving passengers a panoramic view of the Kashmir environment. The J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singh inaugurated the Vistadome coach in the Kashmir valley from Srinagar's railway station. ''Vistadome Coach is a state-of-the-art train with advanced features of entertainment and sitting. Local travellers and tourists travelling in Vistadome Coach will enjoy the modern-day travel experience in the valley and feel the natural beauty right from Budgam, Qazigund, and Banihal very closely. Vistadome coach offers 360-degree views of the train journey with huge glass windows. The new train will start from Budgam to Banihal while time is not far when the train will connect Kashmir with Kanyakumari,'' said Sinha. According to the administration, the number of international visitor arrivals has increased by 350% since the G-20 working group meeting was held in the valley. According to the administration, 18.8 million tourists visited the country last year. This next year. Till September 30, 17 million tourists had visited J&K. The government anticipates the figure to exceed 22.5 million by 2023. Glass ceilings, automatic sliding doors, luggage racks, LED lighting, and a GPS-enabled information system are all features of the Vistadome. The officials with Indian Railways said that the coaches are fitted with air conditioning for the upcoming?harsh winters in the Kashmir valley. The train will run all through the year and a lot of people are waiting for the valley to be covered with snow to get the experience of Switzerland in Kashmir. ''Vistadome coach has wide windows, glass top, rotating chairs and air conditioning. To get the panoramic look of the beautiful locales of Kashmir valley will be witnessed by visitors on this train. It will help in boosting the tourism of the valley. There was a lot of demand from tourists and the public that they could get a view of the Kashmir valley, especially during the winter season when it is covered by snow. It will run from Budgam to Banihal. The fare would be 930 rupees (or $11.19), '' said Saqib Yousuf Yatoo, Chief Area Manager. The Vistadome is projected to promote tourism in Kashmir Valley, and tourism stakeholders as well as the tourist agency are optimistic about its impact. The Vistadome would provide visitors to Kashmir Valley with an entirely new perspective of the mountain ranges, paddy farms, apple orchards, saffron fields, and, most importantly, the snow-clad valley. Farooq Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir and a Member of Parliament, took the maiden trip of the Vistadome from Srinagar, applauding the move.

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