The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced two new Bharat Gaurav special tourist trains tailored for religious pilgrimages during the auspicious Sawan month. These curated tours offer travelers a seamless way to visit iconic South Indian temples and sacred Jyotirlinga sites, with the added benefit of flexible EMI payment plans ranging from nine months to three years, alongside Leave Travel Concession (LTC) eligibility.
Key highlights of the new service include:
- EMI options: Passengers can pay for tour packages in installments from 9 months up to 3 years.
- Comprehensive packages: Fares include rail travel, vegetarian meals, hotel stays, sightseeing, and travel insurance.
- Convenient boarding: Trains will stop at multiple stations including Gorakhpur, Ayodhya Cantt, Lucknow, and Kanpur Central.
- Booking: Reservations are open on a first-come, first-served basis via irctctourism.com.
South India Religious Tour Details
The first itinerary, the “South India Religious Tour,” is scheduled to run from July 31 to August 11. This 12-day journey covers major spiritual destinations such as the Tirupati Balaji Temple, Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, Kanyakumari, and the Mallikarjun Jyotirlinga. The fare structure is set at 23,560 rupees for Economy, 39,100 rupees for Standard (3AC), and 51,760 rupees for Comfort (2AC).
Jyotirlinga and Dwarkadhish Darshan
The second tour, titled “Jyotirlinga and Dwarkadhish Darshan,” will operate from August 17 to August 26. This 10-day pilgrimage includes visits to Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Nageshwar, and Somnath Jyotirlingas, alongside the Dwarkadhish Temple and the Statue of Unity. Pricing for this tour is 18,380 rupees for Economy, 29,570 rupees for Standard (3AC), and 38,870 rupees for Comfort (2AC).
Boarding and Passenger Facilities
IRCTC officials confirmed that these trains will facilitate passengers across a wide network, with boarding and deboarding points available at Gorakhpur, Mankapur, Ayodhya Cantt, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj Sangam, Raebareli, Lucknow, Kanpur Central, Orai, Virangana Lakshmibai Jhansi, and Lalitpur. Beyond transportation, the packages are designed for comfort, featuring health check-ups, medicine provisions, and guided sightseeing via AC or non-AC buses depending on the selected class. Interested travelers are encouraged to book early through the official IRCTC portal to secure their spots for these popular Sawan month journeys.