Shri Ramayana Yatra: An epic journey through the world of Lord Rama
Are you fond of discovering places with a rich cultural heritage and historical significance? If you answered ‘yes’ to that, then there’s good news for you. Now, you can take a tour through all the places associated to Ramayana in just 18 days. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will launch a special tourist train on June 21 for this tour, titled Shri Ramayana Yatra. Known as Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train, this theme-based tourist circuit train will start off its journey from New Delhi’s Safdarjung Railway Station. This initiative is part of the Swadesh Darshan scheme of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
The locomotive will travel along the Ramayana Circuit across India and Nepal, covering 15 places across its 17 night, 18-day tour. In fact, it will be the first tourist train from India to cross into Nepal. Here’s all you need to know about this special tourist train.
Where all will Bharat Gaurav take you to?
The destinations covered by this theme-based tourist train will be:
- Ayodhya: Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Hanuman Garhi, Saryu Ghat
- Nandigram: Bharat-Hanuman Temple and Bharat Kund
- Janakpur (Nepal): Ram-Janki Mandir
- Sitamarhi: Janaki Mandir at Sitamarhi and Punaura Dham
- Buxar: Ram Rekha Ghat, Rameshwar Nath Temple
- Varanasi: Tulsi Manas Temple, Sankat Mochan Temple, Vishwanath Temple & Ganga Aarti
- Sita Samahit Sthal, Sitamarhi: Sita Mata Temple
- Prayagraj: Bharadwaj Ashram, Ganga-Yamuna Sangam, Hanuman Temple
- Shringaverpur: Shringe Rishi Samadhi & Shanta Devi Temple, Ram Chaura
- Chitrakoot: Gupta Godawari, Ramghat, Sati Anusuiya Temple
- Nasik: Trayambkeshwar Temple, Panchvati, Sitagufa, Kalaram Temple
- Hampi: Anjanadri Hill, Virupaksha Temple & Vitthal Temple
- Rameshwaram: Ramnathswami Temple and Dhanushkodi.
- Kanchipuram: Vishnu Kanchi, Shiva Kanchi and Kamakshi Amman Temple
- Bhadrachalam: Sri Sitaram Swami Temple, Anjani Swami Temple
Bharat Gaurav
The 14-coach train comprises of 11 AC coaches and one pantry as well as restaurant car. It has a separate coach for train staff too. The 8,000 km train travel will cost INR 62, 370 per person. Confirmed travel in third AC coaches, night stay in AC hotel rooms, onboard vegetarian meals, all transfers and sightseeing via non-AC buses, travel insurance and security arrangements for passengers and existing taxes as applicable over and above the ticket price are included as part of the epic itinerary. Apart from Safdarjung, there are five other boarding points of Bharat Gaurav: Tundla, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Kanpur and Lucknow. On the other hand, Virangana Laxmibai Railway Station, Jhansi, Agra, Mathura and Delhi’s Safdarjung railway stations are meant for de-boarding.
Only fully vaccinated passengers carrying Covid-19 vaccine certificate/Aarogya Setu app installed on their smartphones will be allowed. However, seat arrangements will be finalised only a week prior to the departure.