Indian Railways is all set to launch the Bharat Gaurav tourist train from Secunderabad, Telangana, for those interested in visiting pilgrimage destinations in Odisha, Bihar and UP. The nine-day tour, ‘Punya Kshetra Yatra’, will begin on March 18, 2023, from the Secunderabad railway station.
This will be the first such train from the city and will be flagged off by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
The Bharat Gaurav trains and their circuits have been launched under the central government’s ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ scheme. The aim of the scheme is to promote domestic tourism through theme-based circuit trains. More such routes have been planned that will take you to Amritsar, Bhatinda, Prayagraj, Varanasi and even Kathmandu in Nepal. The next Bharat Gaurav train will start on April 18.
Continue reading as we tell you everything about this tourist train’s itinerary, ticket cost and facilities.
Travel itinerary
Set aside a total of eight nights and nine days for your journey to some of the most important spiritual destinations in the country. The train will take you through Puri and Konark in Odisha; Gaya in Bihar; Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh before returning back to Secunderabad. During the tour, one can visit Jagannath Temple in Puri, the Sun Temple in Konark, the Ganga aarti in Varanasi and the evening aarti by the Sarayu River in Ayodhya. Passengers are allowed to board and deboard from Secunderabad, Kazipet, Khammam, Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Simachalam and Vijayanagaram.
Inside the Bharat Gaurav train
With a total capacity of 600 to 700 passengers, the train has sleeper non-AC as well as AC III tier and II tier coaches. You can expect infotainment systems along with CCTV cameras and unarmed security in the common areas of every coach. There’s also a pantry car from where your freshly made meals will be served onboard. The menu comprises regional Indian cuisines in the form of preset meals.
Package details
The train package is available in three categories – Economy, Standard and Comfort where the prices vary depending upon the room selection of single or a multi-sharing room. Single-room packages start at INR 15,300 and can be booked here. Other inclusions in the package are – the cost of the train journey along with vegetarian-only meals, excursions by buses, stay at hotels, tour guides, travel insurance as well as allied onboard services. Entry charges at the monuments are not included in the package.
(Hero and feature image credit:IRCTC/Twitter)
Related: Indian Railways To Launch Bharat Gaurav Train For Northeast Tour; Here Are The Details
A post-graduate in journalism and mass communication, Ayushi is a digital writer who has worked with several Indian media organisations, including Times Internet Limited and Zee Media Corporation Limited, in the news, lifestyle and entertainment space. When she's not on her desk, she can be found dancing, trying new restaurants or packing her bags to explore a new destination.
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