Patna: In a significant move to promote religious tourism, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is set to launch the Ramayana Yatra train from 25 July. The 17-day journey will take pilgrims across some of the most revered sites associated with the life of Lord Rama, from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh to Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
Departing from Delhi’s Safdarjung station, the special tourist train will offer a spiritual circuit that includes stops in Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Sitamarhi, Janakpur (Nepal), Shringaverpur, Nashik, Hampi, and finally Rameswaram. The train journey will last 16 nights and 17 days, with onboard vegetarian meals—tea, breakfast, lunch, and dinner—provided throughout.
The first stop on the route is Ayodhya, where passengers will visit the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, Hanuman Garhi, and Ram Ki Paidi. The itinerary then includes Nandigram’s Bharat-Hanuman Temple and Bharat Kund, followed by a cross-border trip to Janakpur in Nepal, home to the Ram-Janaki Temple, Dhanush Dham, and Parshuram Kund.
The tour continues through Bihar’s Sitamarhi and Buxar, featuring sites like the Janaki Temple, Punaura Dham, Ram Rekha Ghat, and Rameshwar Nath Temple. In Varanasi, pilgrims will attend the Ganga Aarti and visit Tulsi Manas, Sankat Mochan, and Kashi Vishwanath temples.
Further destinations include the Sita Samadhi Sthal in Sitamarhi (Uttar Pradesh), Triveni Sangam and Bharadwaj Ashram in Prayagraj, and the Shringa Rishi Temple in Shringaverpur. Chitrakoot will offer visits to Gupt Godavari, Ram Ghat, and the Sati Anusuya Temple.
The train will then proceed to Nashik and Panchavati, where pilgrims will explore the Tryambakeshwar Temple, Sita Cave, and Kalaram Temple. In Hampi, the focus will shift to Anjanadri Hill, Virupaksha Temple, and Vitthala Temple. The journey concludes in Rameswaram with visits to the Ramanathaswamy Temple and Dhanushkodi.
