Indian Railways is operating two pairs of special trains between Rani Kamlapati and Jabalpur to Gaya for the Pitru Paksha Mela 2026. These special services will run in September and October 2026 to assist millions of pilgrims traveling to Gaya for Pind Daan and religious rituals during the primary Shradh period. The Shradh period runs from September 27 to October 10, 2026, following the Purnima Shradh on September 26. Reservations for these services have already commenced to help passengers plan their journeys smoothly.
The Rani Kamlapati-Gaya special train numbered 01661 will depart from Rani Kamlapati at 3:20 PM on September 27, October 2, and October 7, 2026, reaching Gaya Junction at 2:30 PM the following day. The return service numbered 01662 will leave Gaya at 3:30 PM on September 30, October 5, and October 10, 2026, arriving at Rani Kamlapati at 4:15 PM the next day. Similarly,
the Jabalpur-Gaya special numbered 01701 will depart Jabalpur at 2:00 PM on September 29, October 4, and October 9, 2026, arriving at Gaya at 2:30 PM the next day. Its return journey numbered 01702 will depart Gaya at 4:00 PM on October 2, October 7, and October 12, 2026, reaching Jabalpur at 2:30 PM the next day. East Central Railway CPRO Saraswati Chandra confirmed these arrangements, and Senior DCM Saurabh Kataria has urged travelers to book early.
Each special train will be composed of 2 AC II-tier, 4 AC III-tier, 12 sleeper, and 4 general coaches to accommodate the heavy rush of passengers. These trains will serve multiple important stations including Anugraha Narayan Road, Dehri-on-Sone, Sasaram, Bhabua Road, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction, Mirzapur, Prayagraj Chheoki, Satna, Maihar, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Pipariya, Itarsi, and Narmadapuram. Additionally, the Jabalpur-Gaya service will stop at Sihora Road. On September 2, 2026, new General Manager Dimpy Garg reviewed preparations for the mela, prioritizing passenger amenities, security, and crowd management at Gaya Junction.
Beyond regular rail transport, IRCTC has announced special spiritual tourism packages including Bharat Gaurav special trains. The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation has also launched 46 packages ranging from 11,000 to 23,000 rupees, which include online Pind Daan services. Detailed information and assistance are readily available via the Rail Madad 139 service, the RailVan app, and online booking portals.
