Now have Darshan of seven Jyotirlingas; Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train to embark on religious pilgrimage, note the dates and details
Moradabad: The Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train, operated by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), is all set to embark on a religious pilgrimage covering seven Jyotirlingas and the sacred sites of South India.
On Friday, during a press conference held at the Moradabad Railway Division headquarters, IRCTC representatives shared details regarding their upcoming religious tourism initiatives. The representatives explained that this enterprise—operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Railways—functions as an extended arm of Indian Railways; it is committed to promoting both domestic and international tourism, as well as enhancing catering and hospitality services. In line with this commitment, the corporation is organizing two special religious tours via the 'Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train,' commencing from 'Yog Nagari' Rishikesh.
First tour from June 12 to June 23
The first tour, dedicated to the Darshan (sacred viewing) of the 'Seven Jyotirlingas,' will operate from June 12 to June 23. During this 11-night, 12-day journey, pilgrims will be taken to visit the Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar temples in Ujjain; the Dwarkadhish Temple, Bet Dwarka, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, and Somnath Jyotirlinga in Gujarat; as well as Trimbakeshwar, Panchavati, and the Kalaram Temple in Nashik; the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga; and the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga in Sambhaji Nagar.
The train features designated boarding and deboarding stops at Yog Nagari Rishikesh, Haridwar, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Orai, Veerangana Laxmibai (Jhansi), and Lalitpur Junctions. The package fares have been fixed at Rs 24,100 per person for the Sleeper Class, Rs 40,890 for the 3rd AC Class, and Rs 54,390 for the 2nd AC Class.
Second tour covering major pilgrimage sites across South India from June 29
The second tour, covering major pilgrimage sites across 'South India,' is scheduled to take place from June 29 to July 10. Under this 11-night and 12-day itinerary, travelers will be taken to visit the Tirupati Balaji Temple, the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, local sightseeing spots in Kanyakumari, and the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga (Markapur).
The designated boarding and de-boarding stations for this journey are Yog Nagari Rishikesh, Haridwar, Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Lucknow, Raebareli, Pratapgarh (MBDP), Prayagraj, and Manikpur. The fares for this South India tour have been set at Rs 24,350 per person for Sleeper Class, Rs 41,800 for 3rd AC, and Rs 55,750 for 2nd AC.
Packages include vegetarian meals and provision of buses for local sightseeing
IRCTC has clarified that these packages include not only train travel but also vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and the provision of AC and non-AC buses for local sightseeing. For the convenience of travelers, options for LTC (Leave Travel Concession) and EMIs are also available.
Air tour packages to international destinations
Furthermore, the organization operates air tour packages to international destinations such as Bhutan, Singapore, Nepal, and Vietnam, as well as various rail and air tour packages to major domestic destinations including Kashmir, Ladakh, the Andaman Islands, and the Char Dham circuit.
Bookings on a 'first-come, first-served' basis
Bookings for all these tours can be made on a 'first-come, first-served' basis either at the IRCTC office located in Lucknow or through their official website. For further information, interested individuals may contact the helpline numbers issued by the department: 9236391908, 8287930908, and 9717649141.