Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday (September 20) inaugurated a Bharat Gaurav deluxe tourist train from Nizamuddin station, carrying 110 tourists on a 10-day journey to various cultural and religious sites in India and Nepal.
The train, themed “Bharat Nepal Maitri Yatra,” will transport tourists to three religious cities in India—Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Sitamarhi—before embarking on a road tour to Janakpur and a flight to Kathmandu to visit additional sacred locations in Nepal.
What is Bharat Gaurav scheme?
Launched in 2021-22 by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) under the Ministry of Railways, the Bharat Gaurav scheme aims to offer theme-based travel packages. Indian Railways has already organised 291 such train tours centered on various religious and cultural themes, including those related to the Ramayana, Buddhism, and Jainism.
During the event, Vaishnaw noted that the Bharat Gaurav Yatra began with the popular Ramayana circuit, leading to many subsequent yatras designed to immerse travelers in India’s rich culture. He met with tourists on board, learning that one couple was on their 15th tour together.
IRCTC enhances travel experience with integrated packages
Vaishnaw praised the IRCTC for successfully integrating various travel components, including hotel accommodations and visits to tourist and religious sites. Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar highlighted the train’s amenities, which include first, second, and third AC accommodations, two fine-dining restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles, and foot massagers.
The Northern Railway elaborated that the Bharat-Nepal Yatra aims to strengthen cultural ties and enhance people-to-people connections between India and Nepal. The unique nine-night, 10-day journey begins at Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station, focusing on key spiritual destinations.
Full itinerary of Bharat Gaurav deluxe tourist train
The itinerary features visits to the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Hanuman Garhi, and Ram ki Paidi (Sarayu ghat) in Ayodhya; Ganga aarti, Kashi Vishwanath, Tulsi Manas, and Sankat Mochan temples in Varanasi; and Janaki Temple and Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi. In Nepal, travelers will visit the Janaki Temple, Ram Sita Vivah Mandap, Dhanushdham, and Parashuram Kund in Janakpur; as well as Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Patan Durbar Square, and Budhanilkantha (sleeping Lord Vishnu) in Kathmandu, along with Bindyabasini Temple, Devi’s Falls, and Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave in Pokhara.