Indian Railways Announces Three More Trains For Ramayana Circuit, Following Overwhelming Response

Indian Railways will be launching three new Ramayana Express trains from Jaipur, Madurai and Rajkot to meet the rising demand from passengers, Hindustan Times has reported. The train covers locations associated with the Hindu epic Ramayana. It makes stops at Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Varanasi, Prayag, Shringaverpur, Chitrakoot, Nasik, Hampi and Rameshwaram, or the nearest railway stations to these locations.

The new trains have been started after the first one from New Delhi to Chennai received a good response. The train will leave on 14 November. Officials told Hindustan Times that special trains usually have an occupancy rate of 50 to 60 per cent. But the Ramayana Express seats were sold out within 15 days after it was announced on 7 July.

“There was always demand for travel for Ayodhya, but no travel company was able to offer a package where they will show every place related with Lord Ram. Some individual tried but it was either hectic or costly. This is a very good move by railways and will always give them profit as religious tourism always attract big crowd,” said, Secretary of Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality, Subhash Goyal told Hindustan Times.

The new train from Madurai will also start on 14 November. The ticket from Madurai will cost Rs 15,830 per passenger while the cost for the train from Delhi is Rs 15,120. Ramayana Express trains will have sleeper class coaches. Travellers interested in Sri Lanka-leg of the tour can opt to travel to Colombo from Chennai by flight.