The Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains initiative was launched by Indian Railways to introduce the concept of running tourist trains on circuits based on themes. In addition to other trains, the railways are planning to start another Bharat Gaurav train from Mumbai’s CSMT. Here are the details about its timings, halting points and more!
Bharat Gaurav Train To be Flagged Off From Mumbai’s CSMT
Beginning on November 17, Indian Railways will operate the Bharat Gaurav train for visitors, which will travel through Mumbai, Pune, Solapur, Guntala, Rengunta, Rameshwaram, Madurai, Kannadiga, and Kochuveli. November 25 is when the train will return to CSMT.
The IRCTC-operated Bharat Gaurav train will depart from CSMT at 4.50 am on November 17 and arrive back at 4.15 pm on November 25. The train will follow a round itinerary. According to an official, the following places have halt stops for boarding or deboarding: Thane, Kalyan, Karjat, Lonavala, Pune, Daund, Kurduwadi, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Renigunta (to Rameshwaram, Madurai via Melpakkam to Kudalnagar), Kanyakumari, and Kochuveli.
According to Shivraj Manaspure, chief spokesperson for Central Railway, these theme-based trains are intended to highlight the rich cultural and religious legacy of Bharat to both domestic and foreign visitors. He continued, that this IRCTC tourist train will be an all-inclusive tour package comprising train fare, meals, accommodation and transportation. It offers three options: Economy, Comfort and Deluxe.
Also Read: IRCTC Introduces A Bharat Gaurav Special Train For 5 Jyotirlinga Yatra
50 Bharat Gaurav trains have been run by Southern Railway to different tourist and pilgrimage locations with great success. These services, which are run by private companies with the help of the railways, have reached well-known locations like Goa, Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, and Shirdi. The total amount of money made from these services is ₹34 crore. The Railways intends to use the potential of the tourism industry by operating further theme-based trains for pilgrims and visitors in light of the success of current trains.
Theme-Based Trains For Tourism
Earlier, the Ministry of Railways with IRCTC were to start a Bharat Gaurav Train called ‘North East Discovery’. This would help in promoting tourism for North East states. The ministry announced that on November 16, 2023, the specifically designed tour aboard the Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist train will set off from Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station.
It had several amenities, including dining areas, a mini-library, shower cubicles, sensor-based lavatory operations, restaurants, and a flameless kitchen. Three categories of accommodations are available on the train: AC I, AC II, and AC III. Additional security measures on the train include CCTV cameras, electronic safes, and assigned security personnel for every carriage.
The train will travel over 15 days through the following destinations: Dimapur and Kohima in Nagaland; Unakoti, Agartala, and Udaipur in Tripura; Guwahati, Sivasagar, Jorhat, and Kaziranga in Assam; and Shillong and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya.
In September, the ministry started a round trip Bharat Gaurav service from Kudal Nagar railway station to Hyderabad, Ajanta, Ellora, Mumbai, and Goa. Visitors would be transported to the Salar Jung Museum, Charminar, and Golconda Fort for sightseeing. They will go to Ramoji Film City as well. They can travel to Ajantha and Ellora.
Also Read: IRCTC West Zone To Launch 10 Bharat Gaurav Tour Packages From March. Get, Set, Travel!
Tourists can visit the Gateway of India, Juhu Beach, Hanging Gardens, Marine Drive, and Bandra Bridge while in Mumbai.
Cover Image Courtesy: G Kishan Reddy/ X (Formerly, Twitter)
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First Published: November 16, 2023 11:04 AM