11-Day Bharat Gaurav Train Journey: Explore India’s Major Pilgrimage Cities

For travellers who prefer their pilgrimage journeys organised down to the last transfer, Indian Railways has announced a new Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train itinerary covering some of India’s most important religious destinations. Starting from Indore on September 15, the 10-night, 11-day journey will take passengers to Puri, Gangasagar, Kolkata, Gaya, Varanasi and Ayodhya before returning to Indore on September 25, 2026.

The tour is being offered under the Dekho Apna Desh initiative, with the package designed to combine train travel, accommodation, meals, sightseeing and transfers. Depending on the category selected, passengers can travel in Sleeper, 3AC or 2AC, making the journey accessible to different budgets and comfort preferences.

A Journey Across Temples

The journey begins in Indore, with boarding also available at Ujjain, Shujalpur, Sehore, Rani Kamlapati and Itarsi. The train then continues overnight, with passengers able to board at Narsinghpur, Jabalpur and Katni South on the second day.

On the third day, the train reaches Malatipatpur/Sakhi Gopal Railway Station in Odisha. From here, passengers will be transferred by road to their accommodation before visiting the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The group spends the night in Puri before departing for Kolkata the following day.

The fifth day takes travellers onwards to Gangasagar, one of West Bengal’s important pilgrimage destinations, following their arrival in Kolkata. After an overnight stay, passengers return to Kolkata by road on the sixth day to visit Kali Mandir before boarding the train for Gaya in the evening.

From Gaya To Ayodhya

Gaya is next on the itinerary, with the seventh day dedicated to a visit to the Vishnupad Temple. The train then leaves for Varanasi, where passengers arrive on the eighth day and head to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The night is spent in Varanasi, giving travellers some time in one of India's most significant spiritual cities.

The final major stop is Ayodhya. On the ninth day, passengers travel from Varanasi to Ayodhya by train before visiting the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The train then begins its return journey towards Indore in the evening.

The tenth day includes deboarding options at Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Itarsi, Rani Kamlapati, Sehore and Shujalpur. On the eleventh and final day, passengers can disembark at Ujjain and Indore.

Three Ways To Travel

The Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train package starts at INR 19,600 per person for the Economy category, which includes Sleeper-class train travel, non-AC accommodation and non-AC transport. The Standard package costs INR 31,850 per person and includes 3AC train travel, AC accommodation and non-AC transport. For those seeking greater comfort, the Comfort package is priced at INR 41,900 per person and includes 2AC train travel, AC accommodation and AC transport.

Across all three categories, the package covers confirmed train tickets, vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner, two litres of drinking water per passenger per day, sightseeing and transfers. A tour escort will accompany the group, while security personnel will be stationed in each coach. Travel insurance and applicable taxes are also included.

With several major pilgrimage centres packed into a single itinerary, the Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train offers an organised way to cover a substantial stretch of India's spiritual landscape without having to coordinate separate trains, hotels and local transfers at every stop. For travellers looking to undertake a multi-city pilgrimage this September, it is essentially a journey where much of the logistics are taken care of before the train even leaves Indore.

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