minister-flags-off-bharat-gaurav-train-for-nepal-yatra

Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday flagged off the Bharat Gaurav deluxe tourist train from Nizamuddin station, carrying 110 passengers on a 10-day cultural and religious tour across India and Nepal.

 

The air-conditioned train, themed "Bharat Nepal Maitri Yatra", will take passengers to three religious cities in India – Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Sitamarhi – before a road trip to Janakpur and a flight to Kathmandu for visits to religious sites in Nepal.

 

Launched by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in 2021-22, the Bharat Gaurav scheme offers themed tour packages. To date, 291 such tours have been organised, with themes based on the Ramayana, Buddhism, and Jainism, connecting pilgrims to sites associated with Lord Rama, Lord Buddha, and Lord Mahavir.

 

"The Bharat Gaurav Yatra started with the Ramayana circuit and became very popular," Vaishnaw said, adding that many yatras have since been held to help travellers experience India’s cultural heritage.

 

Vaishnaw, who visited the train’s coaches and interacted with passengers, said one tourist mentioned it was his 15th journey with his wife on the Bharat Gaurav Yatra. He praised the IRCTC for integrating various aspects of the tour, including accommodation, meals, and visits to religious and tourist sites.

 

Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar highlighted the train’s facilities, which include first, second, and third-class AC accommodation, two fine-dining restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles, and foot massagers.

 

Northern Railway, in a press statement, noted that the "Bharat-Nepal Yatra will further strengthen cultural ties and enhance people-to-people contact between India and Nepal."

 

The nine-night, 10-day itinerary includes visits to significant spiritual locations such as the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Hanuman Garhi, and Ram ki Paidi in Ayodhya; the Ganga aarti and Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi; and the Janaki Temple and Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi.

 

 In Nepal, the tour covers Janaki Temple, Ram Sita Vivah Mandap, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and other sites in Kathmandu and Pokhara.