Train journeys are one of the best ways to explore India. Whether it’s the Mandovi Express that takes passengers through the emerald-green vistas of the Western Ghats or the Darjeeling toy train that chugs
its way through the scenic Himalayan mountains, there are a wide variety of options for those looking to travel the country. An interesting fact regarding the Indian Railways is that many of the trains are named after cities or political leaders. However, not every train follows this naming convention.
There is a train in India that’s named not after a famous personality or a place, but one of Hindi literature’s iconic poems? Yes, we are talking about the Kamayani Express, which runs from Maharashtra to Uttar Pradesh.
An Instagram video highlighted the unique name of the train and asked viewers if they knew of more such trains named after literary works.
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Kamayani Express: Route, Timings And More
The train runs daily from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai to Balia in Uttar Pradesh. It covers a total of 1,773 km in 32 hours. The Kamayani Express departs from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 1:50 pm. It crosses stations like Itarsi, Bhopal, Prayagraj and Varanasi to reach Balia at 10:35 pm the next day. The train contains Sleeper, AC 3-Tier and AC 2-Tier coaches and functions as a lifeline between the western and northern parts of the country.
The Kamayani Express is named after a famous work by Hindi poet Jai Shankar Prasad. The Kamayani is a long allegorical epic poem that is centred around the development of human culture, Hindustan Times reported. The poem features characters Manu, Ida and Shraddha, who are found in the Vedas.
Other Trains Named After Literary Works
Apart from the Kamayani Express, there are several trains named after famous Indian literary works. One of them is the Godan Express, named after Munshi Premchand’s iconic novel, which runs between Mumbai and Gorakhpur.
Not just that, the Gitanjali Express, which connects Mumbai and Kolkata, is named after Rabindranath Tagore’s collection of poems that won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
The Ganadevta Express is named after Tarashankar Bandopadhyay’s novel, which explores rural life during colonial rule. The train operates between Howrah and Balurghat.
Running between Kolkata and Saharsa, the Hate Bazare Express is named after Bengali writer Banaphool’s famous novel of the same name.
