The iconic “Shri Ramayana Yatra” by the Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train is set to commence on March 30, 2026, from Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station, offering devotees a unique pilgrimage experience
across destinations associated with the life of Lord Ram.
The special 16 nights and 17 days journey has been designed by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to promote pilgrimage tourism and highlight the cultural heritage linked to the Ramayana.
The initiative is part of Indian Railways’ broader effort to promote domestic tourism under the Government of India’s “Dekho Apna Desh” and “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” programmes.
The tour will cover several sacred sites across India and Nepal, including Ayodhya, Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Janakpur (Nepal), Buxar, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Shringverpur, Chitrakoot, Nashik, Hampi and Rameshwaram, before returning to Delhi. During the journey, tourists will travel nearly 7,560 kilometres.
The first stop will be Ayodhya, where travellers will visit Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Hanuman Garhi and Ram Ki Paidi at Saryu Ghat. The next destination will be Nandigram, followed by Sitamarhi in Bihar, from where tourists will travel by road to Janakpur in Nepal, believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita.
The itinerary also includes Buxar, where visitors will see Ramrekha Ghat and Rameshwarnath Temple, and Varanasi, where the tour will cover the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Tulsi Mandir, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple and the Ganga Aarti.
Pilgrims will also travel by road to Prayagraj, Shringverpur and Chitrakoot, where overnight stays will be arranged.
The train will then proceed to Nashik, where Trimbakeshwar Temple and the Panchvati area will be covered. The next destination will be Hampi, believed to be the ancient kingdom of Kishkindha from the Ramayana. Visitors will explore Anjaneya Hill, Vitthala Temple and Virupaksha Temple.
The final major stop will be Rameshwaram, where tourists will visit the Ramanathaswamy Temple and Dhanushkodi before the train returns to Delhi on the 17th day.
The state-of-the-art Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train offers several modern amenities including two restaurants, a contemporary kitchen, shower cubicles in coaches, sensor-based washrooms and foot massagers. The fully air-conditioned train will accommodate around 150 tourists across AC First Class, AC Second Class and AC Third Class categories.
Additional safety and comfort features include CCTV surveillance and security guards for each coach.
Tourists can board or deboard the train at Delhi, Ghaziabad, Aligarh, Tundla, Etawah, Kanpur and Lucknow railway stations.
IRCTC has priced the package at ₹1,14,100 per person for AC 3-tier, ₹1,51,225 for AC 2-tier and ₹1,64,940 for AC First Class. The package includes train travel, accommodation in three-star hotels, vegetarian meals, sightseeing in AC coaches, travel insurance and services of IRCTC tour managers.
To make the package more accessible, IRCTC is also offering a part-payment facility, allowing travellers to book the tour by paying 25 per cent of the package cost initially.
The special pilgrimage train is expected to attract devotees and tourists eager to explore the spiritual and cultural trail of the Ramayana across the Indian subcontinent.
