Among the religious festivity and the suitability of weather, one may feel like traveling to distant places. What about visiting religious places with comfort and all facilities where one doesn’t have to care for accommodation, sightseeing, and booking tickets. Now there is good news for travelers who want to visit religious places as the Indian Railways has taken a great initiative in this regard. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has started the ‘Shri Ramayan Yatra’ deluxe AC train for the devotees which will take them to all significant places related to the life of Shri Ram.

The Indian Railways has taken this initiative under the central government’s ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ program intending to promote religious tourism. It was launched last year with sleeper class but now this year, it is going to make prestigious come back in November. The tour will begin on November 07^th and will cover sacred places for the duration of 16 nights/17 days. The train is equipped with modern amenities and equipment, the passengers will be provided lunch and dinner on board.

The journey will commence from Safdarjung Railway Station, New Delhi with two types of accommodation- 1AC/ 2AC Class. The package includes 8 nights stay in a deluxe category accommodation, onboard meals (veg), meals in good hotels upon offboarding, sightseeing transportation, travel insurance for all passengers, security, and all applicable taxes.  

The security features in the train include CCTV cameras and security guards in each coach. In light of covid19, it has been mandatory for all passengers to get vaccinated beforehand and follow all covid related protocols. The luggage will be disinfected before onboarding.

The tour itinerary is -New Delhi – Ayodhya- Sitamadhi-Janakpur-Varanasi- Prayag- Chitrakoot-Nasik-Hampi-Rameshwaram- Delhi. The train itinerary is- Delhi Safdarjung- Ayodhya-Sitamadhi-Varanasi-Manikpur JN- Nasik Road- Hospate-Rameshwaram-Delhi Safdarjung.

During the journey, these places will be covered– In Ayodhya- Ram Janmbhoomi temple, Hanuman Garhi, Saryu Ghat will be covered. In Nandigram, Bharat-Hanuman temple and Bharat Kund; in Janakpur, Ram-Janaki mandir; Sitamadhi, Janaki mandir, and Punaura Dham; in Varanasi -Tulsi Manas temple, Sankat Mochan temple and Vishwanath temple; in Prayag- Bharadwaj Ashram, Ganga-Yamuna Sangam, Hanuman temple; in Shringaverpur- Sharing Rishi samadhi and Shanta Devi temple, Ram Chaura; in Chitrakoot- Gupt Godavari, Ramghat, Bharat Milap temple, Sati Anusuiya temple; in Nasik- Trayanbakeshwar temple, Panchvati, Sita Gufa, Kalaram temple; in Hampi- Anjanadri Hill, Rishimukh Parvat, Sugreev cave, Chintamani temple. Matyavanth Raghunath temple; and in Rameshwaram, it will cover Shiva temple and Dhanushkodi.

The entire tour costs Rs 82950 per person, and the passengers will be traveling approximately 7,500 Km. There is also a cancellation policy with applicable deductions in case someone is unable to travel. Upon cancellation before 15 days of the departure date (excluding the departure date) Rs 250 will be deducted, cancellation before 8-14 days, 25% of the package cost; before 4-7 days, 50% of the package cost and less than 4 days, 10% of the package cost. This initiative, taken by the government and IRCTC is very convenient for devotees.