Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train Flagged Off From Safdarjung Station For “Garvi Gujarat” Tour

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday (28 February) flagged off the Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train, for an 8-day “Garvi Gujarat” tour, from Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station.

Accommodating 156 tourists onboard, the state-of-the art Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train consists of four first AC coaches, two second AC coaches, one well equipped pantry car and two rail restaurants.

The first stoppage of this train has been kept at Kevadiya wherein the 'Statue of Unity' will be the centre of attraction. The entire train will cover a distance of 3,500 km approximately, during the course of 8 days journey.

The visit of World’s tallest statue — Statue of Unity, Champaner Archaeological Park which is a UNESCO world heritage site, Adhlej Step Well, Akshardham Temple at Ahmedabad, Sabarmati Ashram, Modhera Sun Temple and the Rani ki Vao, another UNESCO site at Patan — are the major heritage treasures included in the tour itinerary.

Besides, the visit of Somnath Jyotirlinga, Nageshwar Jyotirlinga, Dwarkadheesh Temple and Beyt Dwarka are the religious sites covered in the tour.

There will be provision for a two-night stay in the hotels, one each at Kevadiya and Ahmedabad respectively, while the visit of places at Somnath and Dwarka will be covered in the day halt at the destination.

The special tourist train operated by IRCTC can accommodate 156 tourists onboard. It departed from Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station.

Boarding and deboarding facility is provided at Gurugram, Rewari, Ringas, Phullera and Ajmer Railway Stations for convenience of tourists.

This train tour package has been designed on the lines of the Government scheme of “Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat”, conceptualized on the life of the great freedom fighter Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.

Bharat Gaurav policy was launched on 23 November 2021 to realise the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world.

Core strength of the professionals of the tourism sector are being leveraged to develop/identify tourist circuits and run theme-based trains to tap the vast tourism potential of India.

The tourist train has a host of astounding features including two fine dining restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles in coaches, sensor based washroom functions, foot massager etc.

The train has enhanced security features of CCTV cameras and security guards for each coach and is also equipped with an infotainment system in the entire train.

Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train launch is in line with the Government of India initiative “Dekho Apna Desh” to promote domestic tourism.

Till date 16 Bharat Gaurav circuits have been established and this Garvi Gujarat Yatra is the seventeenth circuit on the lines of the “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” scheme, to showcase the heritage of vibrant Gujarat.  

According to the plan, there are 10 more circuits in the offing.