Railways to introduce Sri Ramayana Express Nov 14 from Delhi to Rameshwaram

Indian Railways is planning to introduce a unique pilgrim train on the Ramayana circuit to cover the major destinations related to the Hindu epic. According to news reports, the train may start its operations beginning November 14, 2018, from New Delhi. It will make its first halt in Ayodhya and the final halt in Rameshwaram, before the pilgrims could be flown to Colombo in Sri Lanka. Overall, the trip will last for 16 days.

The total capacity of the train will be 800 persons. Pilgrims keen on making a trip to Sri Lanka can take a flight to Colombo from Chennai. News has it that the train shall be named Sri Ramayana Express, and the trip would cost INR 15,120 per passenger.Read More Tracing the Sita-Rama Journey

“There will be on-board train meals. There will be night stay and wash and change in dharamshalas at the places of visit. We will also cover all transfers and sightseeing and IRCTC tour managers will travel along with the passengers for necessary assistance,” an IRCTC official was quoted as saying.

The train will begin its journey from Delhi’s Safdarjung station, and then stop at Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, who is the hero of Hindu epic, Ramayana . In Ayodhya, the pilgrims can alight to visit prominent shrines including the Kanak Bhawan Temple, Hanuman Garhi and Ramkot.
The train will pass through the circuit, halting at Nandigram, Janakpur, Sitamarhi, Prayag, Varanasi, Chitrakoot, Shringaverpur, Nasik, Hampi and, finally, at Rameshwaram. The train will be stopped at the railhead located in the aforementioned places or at the nearest railhead. The railways will take charge of road trips from the station to the site of pilgrimage.

Travellers willing to visit Sri Lanka, which also forms a significant part of the Ramayana circuit , will be sent to Chennai through train service; from Chennai, they will be flown to Colombo. In Sri Lanka, the pilgrims will visit Ramboda, Nuwara Eliya and Chilaw.
The railway officials are expecting a good profit from the Ramayana circuit. “We see good revenue on this circuit. Right now, date of first train has been announced and after seeing the response, we will decide whether to run the train once or twice in a year,” Rajni Hasija, Director (Tourism), IRCTC, told the press.