IRCTC’s Shri Jagannath Yatra tourist train initiative to start on January 25

Under the Railways’ ambitious Bharat Gaurav initiative, the Shri Jagannath Yatra tourist train will embark on its maiden journey on January 25, covering prominent pilgrimage and heritage destinations of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, the IRCTC said.

Besides Puri’s Jagannath Temple, the tour includes a visit to the ancient holy city of Varanasi, Gaya and the Baidyanath Dham temple in Jharkhand’s Deoghar. The Railways is providing approximately 33 per cent concession for the tour.

Fitted with a modern state-of-the-art AC rake, the tourist train will start from Delhi’s Safdarjung railway station on January 25 and return on February 1. Tourists will have options to board or de-board the train at Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Tundla, Etawah, Kanpur and Lucknow stations.

“IRCTC Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train launch is in line with the Government of India initiative ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ to promote domestic tourism. Indian Railways is providing approximately 33 per cent concession for the promotion of rail tourism under the Bharat Gaurav Train scheme. Packages offered are at an economical rate starting from ₹17,655/- per person,” a statement from IRCTC said.

The seven-night-eight-day tour will have its first stop at Varanasi, where tourists will visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple, the corridor connecting it with the ghats of the Ganga and witness the ‘aarti’ performed on the banks of the river.

The train will then reach Jasidih railway station in Jharkhand from where the tourist will proceed to visit the Baidyanath Dham temple. It will then travel to Puri where a two-night stay will be arranged in hotels. In Odisha, tourists will visit the Jagannath Temple and the Golden beach of Puri, the Sun Temple at Konark and temples in Bhubaneswar.

Gaya will be the last destination where a visit to the Vishnupad Temple will be covered. The train will return to Delhi on the eighth day of its journey on February 1.

The fully air-conditioned tourist train will comprise 11 AC three-tier coaches, a pantry car and two sleeper coaches.

Freshly cooked vegetarian meals will be served on board. The train has also been fitted with an infotainment system for the entertainment of the passengers as well as for public announcements. Enhanced security features of CCTV cameras and guards will be deployed in each coach, the IRCTC said.

It will be an all-inclusive tour package covering train journey in AC three-tier, night stay at AC hotels, veg-only meals, transfer and sight-seeing in buses, travel Insurance and services of a guide.

“All necessary health precautionary measures will be taken care of and IRCTC will make efforts to provide a safe and memorable experience to the guests,” it said.