Shri Ramayana Express train to be flagged off today, 'retraces the epic journey of Lord Rama'

Representational image

NEW DELHI: In a major boost to the country's pilgrimage circuit, the Rail Ministry will flag off a special tourist train - Shri Ramayana Express. The special train will cover all important destinations associated with the life of Lord Ram in 16 days all-inclusive tour package which is spread both in India as well as Sri Lanka. 

Named as 'Shri Ramayana Yatra', the circuit will have two travel components - one each in India and Sri Lanka. After leaving Delhi, the train will make its first stop in Ayodhya followed by Hanuman Garhi, Ramkot and Kanak Bhawan temple.

The train will then cover the important destinations of Ramayana circuit such as Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Varanasi, Prayag, Shringverpur, Chitrakoot, Nasik, Hampi and Rameshwaram. 

“A Shri Ramayana Express will be flagged off on 14 November 2018 from Delhi. The train will cover all important destinations associated with the life of Lord Ram in a 16-day all-inclusive tour package which is spread both in India as well as Sri Lanka,” the Indian Railways said in a statement earlier.

Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal too tweeted on Tuesday that the special train will retrace the “epic journey of Lord Rama”. 

प्रभु श्रीराम के जीवन से संबंधित तीर्थस्थलों के दर्शन के लिये रेलवे श्री रामायण एक्सप्रेस ट्रेन चलाने जा रही है, इससे श्रीराम के जीवन से संबंधित विभिन्न तीर्थस्थानों के दर्शन किये जा सकते हैं, बुकिंग के लिये वेबसाइट देखें :https://t.co/SgH8bVZ5si pic.twitter.com/K3Bs5s8z8a

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) July 11, 2018

Goyal also shared a video highlighting the mythological significance of the train.   

भगवान श्री राम में आस्था रखने वाले करोड़ों श्रद्धालुओं के लिए खुशखबरी, आज से शुरू होने जा रही स्पेशल टूरिस्ट ट्रेन "श्री रामायण एक्सप्रेस" अयोध्या, चित्रकूट, रामेश्वरम जैसे उन तमाम महत्‍वपूर्ण जगहों पर जाएगी जिनका संबंध भगवान श्री राम और रामायण से है। pic.twitter.com/RFcW67CLNI

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) November 14, 2018

Indian Railways stated that the passengers opting for Sri Lanka leg of the Ramayana Yatra package can take a flight to Colombo from Chennai. 

The train will have a seating capacity for 800 passengers. 

The Sri Lanka leg of the tour will be charged separately. 

The passengers opting for Sri Lanka leg of the Ramayana Yatra package can take a flight to Colombo from Chennai. IRCTC presently offers 5-night/6-day Sri Lanka tour package at a cost starting from Rs 36,970 per person.

The tour package is inclusive of meals, accommodation and other facilities in dharmashalas, and transfers, sight-seeing arrangements and tour manager, stated IRCTC.