Ramayana is perhaps the one Indian epic, which may inspire even a normal person to travel around. The reason being, its protagonist, Lord Rama, travelled the length and breadth of India and abroad, from mountain to forest, from forest to sea for various purposes. Whenever the series is played on television, it always attracts viewership. Many devotees wish to visit the same places that Lord Rama, his wife Sita and brother Laxmana had set foot, while undertaking an exile in the forest for 14 years. To meet the wishes of these people, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has come up with an 18-day Shri Ramayana Yatra, which will take pilgrims to the places associated with the life of Lord Rama.

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About Shri Ramayan Yatra or Ramayana Circuit

The pilgrimage, or Shri Ramayan Yatra, is set to take place on 21 June 2022, and one can book the tickets on the IRCTC’s website (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation). The 18-day-long pilgrimage, which will start from Safdarjung Railway Station, will cover prominent places that include Ayodhya, Janakpur (Nepal), Sitamarhi, Buxar, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Shringverpur, Chitrakoot, Nashik, Hampi, Rameshwaram, Kanchipuram and Bhadrachalam (also known as Ayodhya of South India). Interestingly, this is the first time that a tourist train will go from India to Nepal, and connect two religious cities of Ayodhya and Janakpur. Other than Delhi, people could also board the train from Aligarh, Tundla, Kanpur and Lucknow.

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About the train and booking

The Ramayana circuit will take place in a special train ~Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train ~ on 21 June 2022. The train will have 11 third AC class coaches that can accommodate around 600 passengers. An IRCTC senior official informed that the pilgrimage will cost Rs. 62,370 per passenger and will include food, stay in hotel and guide services at the points of visit.  To give a pilgrimage feeling inside the train, the interior of the train will be based on the Ramayana epic. Currently, a railway official said, around 285 bookings have already been made from various parts of the country. The highest bookings are from Maharashtra at 61, followed by 55 from Uttar Pradesh. The train will cover around 8,000 kilometers. The IRCTC has also tied up with Paytm and Razorpay payment gateways for providing EMI options to the passengers. It will give a 5% discount on total fare to the first 50% passengers.  The train will run on the Ramayan circuit identified under Swadesh Darshan scheme, covering prominent places that include Ayodhya, Janakpur (Nepal), Sitamarhi, Buxar, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Shringverpur, Chitrakoot, Nashik, Hampi, Rameshwaram, Kanchipuram and Bhadrachalam (also known as Ayodhya of South India).

Quick information:

Journey name: Shri Ramayan Yatra or Ramayan Circuit

Date of Journey: 21 June 2022

Where to book: IRCTC portal (Click here)

Cost of booking: Rs. 62,370 per passenger (includes food, stay in hotel and guide services at the points of visit)

Train name: Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train

Discount: 5% discount on total fare will be given to the first 50% of passengers and also EMI options

Boarding points: Delhi, Aligarh, Tundla, Kanpur and Lucknow (Cost of ticket will be uniform irrespective of the station a passenger boards)

Train will cover: Ayodhya, Janakpur (Nepal), Sitamarhi, Buxar, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Shringverpur, Chitrakoot, Nashik, Hampi, Rameshwaram, Kanchipuram and Bhadrachalam

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