The Indian Railways is all set to make boarding and disembarking at Varanasi railway station an experience in itself. What will bring about this experience is the executive lounge recently started by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation which promises enhanced travel experience for passengers.

Talking about the lounge, IRCTC’s official statement said, the new ''state-of-art'' executive lounge aims to provide all services and facilities required for comfortable waiting for the passengers during pre-departures and post arrivals.

The lounge will offer an array of services – both complementary and paid. These include channel music, Wi-Fi internet connection, TV, train information display, hot and soft beverages, multi-cuisine buffets, recliners, spacious luggage racks, restrooms with wash and change facilities, shoe shiners, newspapers and magazines on display. For those wanting to work, there is a fully operational business centre with computer, printer, Photostat and fax facility, said IRCTC.

To attract passengers, IRCTC has decided to charge a nominal entry charge of Rs.85 plus taxes for an hour and Rs.60 plus taxes for each extra hour of stay. IRCTC added that “the entry charges will include a host of services such as comfortable seating facilities, Wi-Fi internet facility, retailing of books and magazines, complimentary tea coffee and refreshing drinks too.”

Providing an artistic touch to the place, a souvenir shop has also been incorporated to promote Varanasi’s art and craft culture.

The statement said: "The design concept is achieved by the balance of ‘Panchtattva’ (Earth, Sky, Fire, Air and Water) that allows tuning our biorhythms to those of the spaces around, bringing in greater balance and deeper cosmic connection to our lives.”

Also read: Varanasi to be India’s first and world’s third city to have ropeway public transportation