Pics: Daya Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Jul 12: Vistadome coach in the train that goes from city to the state capital has opened up a new world for the passengers. The first train having Vistadome bogies was flagged off from the city on Sunday, July 11.
The Western Ghats are known for their natural beauty for ages, having lush green vegetation, valleys, hills, waterfalls and clouds of snow. The passengers can watch this marvel closely because of the transparent glasses provided on the train.
After the train crosses Padil, a world of India opens up for the public. It gives the rural view of India with paddy fields on both sides and farmlands filled with areca nut and coconut trees which are shining green in monsoons.
The 55 km stretch from Subrahmanya Road to Sakleshpur is like the cherry on top of the cake. The passengers, sitting on seats that revolve 360 degrees can enjoy the deep valleys, tunnels, bridges, the sound of gushing water from the falls with foamy water covered by lush green thick forests.
At a certain stretch, a person feels that the Western Ghats are sleeping in the green bed due to the greenery because of the monsoon. However, in the next moment, there are clouds of fog that appear like a wonderland. Below is a valley that is hundreds of feet deep and above one can see the waterfalls flowing on the hills.
The Vistadome coach can be easily called a suite of a five-star hotel. Seats that revolve around, GPS-based system, mobile charging sockets, small refrigerators, a small dining hall and facility of the micro oven make this coach look like a plane cabin rather than a train. The foldable dining tables are very well suited to have food. Automatic sliding doors, LED display and transparent glass roof are the main attraction in these bogies.
The inclusion of a Vistadome coach in the train from Mangaluru to Bengaluru will surely increase the revenue of railways as this will definitely attract the tourists who visit holy places of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts as well as the beaches. The journey has 57 tunnels and 32 bridges.
The Vistadome train from Mangaluru to Bengaluru is the fifth one in the country. Already these kinds of coaches are operating in trains that ply from Ahmedabad to Kavadia, Vishakapatnam to Araku Valley, Mumbai to Madgaon and Mumbai to Pune.
YouTubers from Jammu, who got the information of Vistadome train and the beauty of Western Ghats were there on the first trip. They were in awe of the natural beauty of Western Ghats.
The train with Vistadome will leave every Sunday at 9.15 am from Mangaluru Junction and reach Yashwantpur of Bengaluru at 8.05 pm. On weekdays it will start at 11.30 am and reach Yeshawantpur at 8.20 pm. It leaves from Yashawantpur every day at 7 am and reaches Mangaluru Junction at 5 pm.