On Monday, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) announced the launch of the Bharat Gaurav Train, which would promote rail tourism. These trains travel on a variety of circuits that are offered in the form of tour packages that include off-board travel and excursions by bus, hotel stays, tour guides, meals, travel insurance, and other amenities in addition to a comfortable train journey and allied onboard services.

The project will provide passengers with a unique 33% discount on travel prices. The journey will begin on March 27, 2025, with the train departing from Bettiah station in the Samastipur Railway Division.

The primary boarding stations for this train will be Sugauli, Raxaul, Bairginia, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Pataliputra, Ara, Buxar, and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction.

This affordable train will transport pilgrims to key religious sites at a cheap cost. The ‘Dekho Apna Desh‘ project aims to give pilgrims with a high-quality experience while also boosting rail tourism. Railway officials have approved well-planned routes and services for devotees.

“It is an excellent opportunity for travelers to discover India’s rich spiritual legacy. “It is a divine journey at an affordable price,” remarked Rajesh Kumar, IRCTC’s Joint General Manager.

The Bharat Gaurav Train, introduced under IRCTC’s ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ plan, would carry passengers on a spiritual journey to key holy sites in South India.

According to the itinerary, pilgrims will visit Tirupati for Shri Balaji Darshan, Rameswaram for Shri Ramanathaswamy Temple, Madurai for Meenakshi Amman Temple, Kanyakumari for Kanyakumari Temple and Vivekananda Rock, and Srisailam for Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga.

The journey will begin on March 27, 2025, and terminate on April 7, 2025, at the Samastipur railway station. The Indian railway has a fixed economy class (Sleeper) fare of Rs 22,520 per person and a Comfort Class (3 AC) fare of Rs 38,310.

Passengers will stay in air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned hotels based on their category, with vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and morning and evening tea) and bottled water provided. They will also receive AC and non-AC buses for touring.

“Bharat Gaurav Train will provide an economical and pleasant experiencbie to pilgrims while giving a new dimension to rail tourism. Security guards, cleaning staff and tour escort will provide a unique and comfortable journey for the passengers,” Kumar reported.