Starting on May 18, the Bharat Gaurav Special Tourist Train will cover several iconic spiritual destinations of North India.
The Indian Railways have time and again adapted to evolving travel trends, introducing various new services catering to different preferences. Now, as more and more people are on a quest for spirituality, the railways have introduced a multitude of trains dedicated to connecting common people with spirituality. And the latest addition to the list is the Bharat Gaurav Special Tourist Train which is all set to kick off its journey on May 18.
The Bharat Gaurav Special Tourist Train is a part of the central government's initiatives 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat' and 'Dekho Apna Desh'. The journey, spanning 8 nights and 9 days, will start at New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway station and will cover iconic destinations like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mathura, Vrindavan, Vaishno Devi, and Ayodhya. The package costs Rs 29,500 and Rs 17,900 per person for AC class and economy/sleeper class respectively.
"... the journeys undertaken on these trains are on the diverse circuits which are offered in the form of tour packages wherein services like off-board travel and excursions by buses, stay at hotels, tour guides, meals, travel insurance, etc. are provided along with comfortable train journey and allied onboard services." – IRCTC
Visit sacred cities across North India on the Uttar Bharat With Ramlala Darshan (EZBG16) tour starting from New Jalpaiguri on 18.05.24.
— IRCTC Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train (@IR_BharatGaurav) April 8, 2024
Book now on https://t.co/xrCbEe8fyP@incredibleindia @tourismgoi @RailMinIndia @mygovindia @uptourismgov @UTDBofficial @JandKTourism pic.twitter.com/vQz3zoHqBk
(Credit: IRCTC Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train)
As we eagerly await the Bharat Gaurav trains to succeed, let's have a look at some of the other Indian trains that also offer spiritual tours.
The Jyotirlinga Darshan Yatra train was launched by the IRCTC in 2021, offering devotees a meticulously planned tour covering several sacred places of North India.
There are 12 Jyotirlinga temples in India, however, this train covers only four – Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Somnath, and Nageshwar. The other eight Jyotirlinga temples are--Mallikarjuna in Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh); Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga (Tamil Nadu), Kedarnath (Uttarakhand), Bhimashankar (Maharashtra), Vishwanath (Varanasi), Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra), Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga (Aurangabad), and Vaidyanath or Baijnath in Deogarh (Jharkhand).
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The special train starts its journey at Prayagraj and traverses places like Prayag, Pratapgarh, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Lucknow, Kanpur, Etawah, Bhind, Gwalior, and Jhansi among others. It covers the Dwarkadhish Mandir in Dwarka, the Bhent Dwarka Mandir, and the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, along with the Statue of Unity in Baroda and the City Palace in Rajasthan.
Established in 1982, the Palace on Wheels is the epitome of luxury and is renowned as one of the world's most luxurious train services. The train is widely known for its luxury cabins, modern amenities, and stellar hospitality, offering passengers an unparalleled experience! And a few months ago, the train redefined its itinerary and launched a six-day pilgrimage through some of India’s holiest cities.
The journey commences in New Delhi and goes through Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura, and Vrindavan before culminating in Ayodhya. It serves only vegetarian cuisine abstaining from onion and garlic.
The South India Darshan Tourist Train is the most popular train service when it comes to traveling to the major temples in South India. The train departs from Jaipur and takes its passengers through the southern regions of India over 12 days. The key destinations include Rameswaram, Madurai, Tirupati Balaji, and Mallikarjuna among others. It offers an immersive experience of South India's rich culture and spirituality.
There are two categories, Standard and Comfort, with fares starting at Rs 30,550 and Rs 35,860 per person, respectively. Besides the major temples in South India, it also allows its passengers to explore some major scenic locations as well.
The Bharat Gaurav Special Tourist Train is expected to bring a revolution in India's domestic tourism. Let's now wait and see how it evolves along the way.
