A special train named as Shri Ramayan Yatra train has been launched under “Dekho Apna Desh” initiative by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) from Delhi's Safdarjung station to promote religious tourism in the country. The train will cover seven destinations related to Lord Ram in the next 17 days.

The IRCTC has planned a series of Shri Ramayana Yatra Tours and other trains with different packages will also be launched soon.

Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya is the first destination of Shri Ramayana Yatra train followed by Bihar’s Sitamarhi to Rameshwaram as its last destination.

The tour will be completed in 17 days. First destination of this train tour will be in Ayodhya where tourist will visit Shri Ram Janmbhumi temple and Hanuman temple and additionally Bharat Mandir at Nandigram. The next destination will be Sitamarhi in Bihar and visit Sita Ji's birthplace and Ram-Janki Temple in Janakpur, covered by road.

Then, the train will move to Varanasi, and tourists will visit temples at Varanasi, Prayag, Shringverpur and Chitrakoot by road. Night stay will be provided at Varanasi, Prayag and Chitrakoot. Then the train will arrive at Nasik wherein the visit of Trayambakeshwar temple and Panchvati will be covered.

After Nasik, the next destination will be Hampi which is the ancient Kishkindha city. Rameshwaram will be the last destination of this train tour after which the train will return to Delhi on the 17th day of its journey. Guests will be travelling roughly 7500 Kms in this entire tour.

All passengers were on board in the two categories of train both second AC and first AC. The IRCTC said that it has planned the train tour packages utilising its Pilgrim Special Tourist Trains and Deluxe Tourist Trains duly understanding the requirement of the budget and premium segment tourists.

"Package Price covers Train Journey in AC classes, Accommodation in AC Hotels, all meals (VEG ONLY), all transfer and sight-seeing in AC Vehicles, travel insurance and services of IRCTC Tour Managers etc. All necessary health precautions measures will be taken care of by providing safe and healthy travel during the tour," it added.

While the AC-II class configuration is priced at Rs 82,950 per person, the first AC would cost a whopping Rs 1,02,095. Both the classes together can accommodate 156 persons.

The deluxe AC tourist train boasts of several luxury features including fine dining restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles in coaches, sensor-based washroom functions and foot massager.

According to IRCTC’s senior official Achyut Singh, who is also the in-charge of this special train, for safety of valuables, the passengers have been provided with separate lockers. The train has CCTV cameras and security for the belongings of those on board. There are two coaches for dining for the passengers.

The second trip of Shri Ramayana Yatra will commence in December and the booking for the same has already begun.

Another train Shri Ramayana Yatra Express-Madurai will depart on November 16. Booking has started for this train on the official website of IRCTC.

Shri Ramayana Yatra Express-Madurai will be budget-segment train comprising of sleeper class coaches. There is also the 16 nights / 17 days package of the Shri Ramayana Yatra Express-Sri Ganganagar and the train will depart on November 25.

The train will start from Sri Ganganagar with boarding and de-boarding points at Abohar- Malout, Bhatinda, Barnala, Patiala, Rajpura, Ambala Cantt., Kurukshethra, Karnal, Panipat, Delhi Cantt, Gurgaon, Rewari, Alwar, Jaipur, Agra Fort, Itawah and Kanpur.

It will cover Ayodhya, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Chitrakoot, Nasik, Hampi and Rameswaram, Kanchipuran and will return to Sri Ganganagar.

Besides Ramayana Yatra, the IRCTC has also planned Rampath Yatra Special Tourist train, which will depart on 27 November

Image courtesy: ANI