Ayodhya: After the success of Ramayana Express, the Rampath Yatra Express was flagged off from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on November 27. The aim of this express is to promote pilgrimage tourism.
The new special train will tour six pilgrim destinations associated with Lord Ram. These include Nandigram, Shringverpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot and Ayodhya, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) group general manager (West) Rahul Himalian told news agency ANI.
“The full-circuit Ramayana Yatra adds Hampi, Nashik and Rameshwaram,” he added.
The train will have AC class as well as sleeper coaches.The full package costs ₹14,490, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, stay, transport, and a guide. Interested passengers can book their train tickets on www.irctctourism.com.
“The launch of this train is aimed at promoting pilgrimage tourism, covering pilgrim sites in a tour of seven days and eight nights. It’ll run with sleeper class and AC-3 tier,” the divisional railway manager (DRM) of Pune division Renu Sharma said while speaking to ANI.
The train will first reach Ayodhya from where it will go to Nandigram, Varanasi, then to Prayag, Shringverpur and finally to Chitrakoot. The passengers can board and de-board in train from Pune, Lonavala, Panvel, Kalyan, Nashik, Manmad, Chalisgaon, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Khandwa and Itarsi. Earlier, the IRCTC had started two Ramayana Yatra trains, including one AC and one ordinary train. The railways have received an impressive response to both trains.
The Indian Railways has also announced a new segment of special trains dedicated to the tourism sector and a set of around 190 theme-based trains called Bharat Gaurav trains. The fare of these trains would be decided by tour operators but the railways will ensure that there is no abnormality in the prices.
The Indian Railways also recently resumed its catering service, serving hot cooked meals on train journeys as Covid-19 cases dropped significantly in the country. The announcement came just a few days after the Union civil aviation ministry announced the resumption of meals on domestic flights.
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