Motihari/Patna : A Bharat Gaurav tourist train will depart from Bettiah on September 1 for an 8-night, 9-day pilgrimage tour covering five Jyotirlingas, the Shri Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi and the Ellora Caves.
The tour has been announced by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) under the Dekho Apna Desh and Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiatives. The train will also pick up passengers from several major stations along its route through Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Which Religious Sites Will the Train Cover?
According to IRCTC, the tour will cover five Jyotirlingas located across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The itinerary includes:
- Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain
- Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain
- Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga in Nashik
- Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
- Shri Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi
- Ellora Caves in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Sanjeev Kumar, chief supervisor at IRCTC, said the tour has been planned to combine visits to major religious and historical destinations within a single package.
12-Coach Tourist Train
The Bharat Gaurav train will have 12 coaches, according to IRCTC.
The rake will include three 3-AC coaches, two 2-AC coaches, seven Sleeper Class coaches and a pantry car. Catering facilities will be available for passengers during the journey.
The package also includes accommodation and local transportation, with facilities varying according to the travel class selected.
Where Can Passengers Board?
Passengers will be able to board and deboard at several stations along the route.
The scheduled stations include Raxaul, Bettiah, Sugauli, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Hajipur, Patliputra, Ara, Buxar, Dildarnagar, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction and Prayagraj Chheoki.
This allows passengers from several districts of Bihar and neighbouring areas to join the pilgrimage without travelling to Bettiah first.
How Much Does the Tour Cost?
IRCTC has announced different fares depending on the accommodation and train class.
The Sleeper Class package costs Rs 18,160 per passenger. It includes Sleeper Class train travel, non-AC hotel accommodation, vegetarian meals and local sightseeing in non-AC vehicles.
The 3AC Standard package costs Rs 32,550 per passenger and includes 3AC train travel, AC hotel accommodation, vegetarian meals and sightseeing in AC vehicles.
The 2AC package costs Rs 39,425 per passenger, according to the information provided by IRCTC.
How to Book the Bharat Gaurav Tour
Passengers interested in the pilgrimage tour can book through the official IRCTC tourism platform.
IRCTC tourism staff member Mukesh Kumar said passengers can also seek information through the helpline numbers 8595937731 and 8595937732.
For bookings in Motihari, passengers can also contact IRCTC consultant and former station superintendent Dilip Kumar, according to IRCTC officials.
When Does the Journey Begin?
The Bharat Gaurav tourist train is scheduled to depart from Bettiah on September 1 and will run for eight nights and nine days.
The tour is designed to provide passengers with access to five Jyotirlingas, the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple and the Ellora Caves through a single organised railway package
