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Wanderlust

Bharat Gaurav Train's 7 Jyotirlinga Pilgrimage: Discover Divine Destinations!

The holy month of Shravan is upon us, a time for Hindus to intensify their devotion and seek blessings. This year, why not embark on a unique and enriching pilgrimage with IRCTC's Bharat Gaurav Train for an exclusive 7 Jyotirlinga Yatra? This specially curated tour, departing from Rajkot on August 3rd, 2024, takes you on a spiritual odyssey to visit all seven revered Jyotirlinga shrines. Jyotirlingas represent the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva. Visiting these 7 Jyotirlinga shrines during Shravan, a month particularly dedicated to Lord Shiva, is believed to bring immense spiritual merit and blessings. IRCTC Tourism’s meticulously planned itinerary ensures a hassle-free and enriching experience. Your journey begins in Rajkot, Gujarat, and then unfolds across various breathtaking locations.  With IRCTC Tourism's Jyotirlinga Tour Package, you can start a journey that will change your life by experiencing the serenity and spirituality of some of India's holiest sites. These vacation packages feature multiple Jyotirlingas, each with its mythology and enchanted aura, and are intended for those seeking spiritual enlightenment and a closer relationship with the divine. Through expediting the reservation process and guaranteeing a high-quality travel experience, IRCTC has facilitated pilgrims' ability to explore sacred sites in comfort. Here’s a glimpse of the sacred sites you’ll encounter: Mahakaleshwar, in Madhya Pradesh, reigns as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, revered as the “Great Destroyer of Time.” Omkareshwar, an island town shaped like the holy “Om” symbol, nestles on the banks of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh. Here, devotees can pay their respects at both Omkareshwar and Mamaleshwar Jyotirlingas. Trimbakeshwar, nestled in the Sahyadri mountains of Maharashtra, boasts the source of the Godavari River and one of the Jyotirlingas. Bhimashankar, another revered Jyotirlinga, emerges amidst the serene and picturesque setting of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra. Grishneshwar, near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, stands out as a unique Jyotirlinga enshrined within a basalt rock structure. Parli Vaijnath, situated in Parli, Maharashtra, holds equal significance as a Jyotirlinga dedicated to Lord Shiva, though lesser known. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, located in Andhra Pradesh, intertwines with the mythological story of Sati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Stunning and Elemental Beauty of Shrines Awaits Your Presence ~  (Source: Google Images)  During this yatra, IRCTC Tourism takes care of everything, so you can concentrate entirely on your spiritual trip. The smooth rail ride guarantees a hassle-free trip, and scheduled accommodations and details of local transportation are also taken care of. Confirmed train tickets (from Non-AC Sleeper, 3AC Sleeper Class, or 2AC Sleeper Class) and cozy lodging are included in the package. A guided tour of the Jyotirlinga shrines is what to anticipate, and it will guarantee that you learn about the background and significance of each site. Life is a train ride, and at the many stations along the route, people important to us debark, never to get aboard again, until, by the end of the journey, we sit in a passenger car where most of the seats are empty. ~ Dean Koontz  

29 May 2024
Wanderlust

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Unity in Spirit: Celebrating India's Harmony on an Epic 8-State Yatra!

Over 1,000 devotees are on a transformative journey spanning 11,000 km across eight Indian states, visiting 12 Jyotirlinga temples, three sacred Dhams, and the Tirupati Balaji temple. Two specially designed trains, Kailash Bharat Gaurav and Chitrakoot Bharat Gaurav, facilitate the spiritual pilgrimage. The trains are adorned with vibrant vinyl wraps showcasing scenes from the sacred destinations, creating a visual spectacle resonating with the spiritual essence of the yatra. The yatra began on 22 July 2023, from Bettiah in Bihar with devotees visiting the majestic Kedarnath at an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet, and continued to revered places like Vishwanath Jyotirlinga, Baidyanath Jyotirlinga, Jagannath Puri, Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga, and Tirupati Balaji temple. The inclusive approach allows devotees to join directly at any place, fostering unity among participants from different regions and backgrounds in line with "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat" – celebrating cultural harmony during India's 75th independence anniversary. Throughout the journey, devotees are spiritually and physically nourished with three meals as prasad, offered as an act of devotion. Undertaking the pilgrimage during the sacred month of Saavan amplifies the spiritual experience, making it a remarkable achievement for all pilgrims. The yatra culminates on 19 August 2023 in Delhi, where the devoted travelers return transformed, having experienced the ethereal beauty and divinity of India's sacred landscapes. IRCTC's unwavering dedication to providing top-notch services ensures this once-in-a-lifetime experience will be etched in the hearts of all pilgrims.

25 Jul 2023
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Flying to the Divine: Online Booking for Helicopter Services to Kedarnath Dham now Open!

Get ready for an exciting pilgrimage to Kedarnath Dham as the gates are set to open on 25 April. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is all set to start online booking of helicopter services for the temple. According to a recent report by TOI, the trial run of the services was completed by 31 March and bookings will likely open from 1 April. The DGCA has issued guidelines for respective Shrine Boards and District Administration to ensure safe and smooth helicopter operations. IRCTC recently signed an MoU with Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) for a period of 5 years to provide helicopter ticket booking services to pilgrims of Shri Kedarnath Dham. As per the official website notice, "Helicopter services for 2023 Shri Kedarnath Dham Yatra will be booked through IRCTC heliyatra website." However, before booking the helicopter services, pilgrims must first register with the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board to visit the holy shrine of Kedarnath. Registration can be done through the Tourist Care Uttarakhand App or via WhatsApp by typing Yatra and sending it to the mobile number 91 8394833833. The Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand is one of India's most popular Hindu pilgrimages, encompassing four holy sites - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri - nestled high up in the Himalayas. The doors of Kedarnath Dham will open on April 25, Badrinath Dham on April 27, and the Gangotri Temple Committee will open the temple doors from Akshaya Tritiya on April 22. According to the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council, a total of 6.34 lakh devotees have registered for the Char Dham Yatra, with 2.41 lakh registrations for Kedarnath Dham. So, get ready to embark on a divine journey to Kedarnath Dham and book your helicopter services through IRCTC heliyatra website.

1 Apr 2023
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Know More About the Country’s First Private Train ‘Tejas’

India’s first ‘private’ train run by IRCTC has started it’s commercial operations when it was flagged off from Lucknow by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the first week of October. The Lucknow – Delhi train will be the fastest on this route as it will reach Delhi 25 minutes earlier than Shatabdi which was until now the fastest train on this route. New Features The new IRCTC Tejas has a plane like feel with hospitable crew members, food, push-button feature in seats and infotainment service. The train has tea and coffee vending machines. One novel feature is the introduction of ramps so as to bridge the gap between the train and the platform facilitating passengers to alight easily. It is the first train to pay for any delay on an hourly basis. Passengers will also be provided with free insurance of Rs 25 lakhs. Number of Stops and Frequency The Tejas Express will have only two halts- Kanpur and Ghaziabad. The timings are so convenient that one can reach Delhi in the afternoon and return to Lucknow on the same day. It will run on all days of the week except Tuesday. With the success of this train, the Railways intend to hand over more of its operations to IRCTC and make way for private operators to run trains in India.

7 Oct 2019
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Indian Railways to Handover Operations to Private Players on Key Routes

The Indian Railway board is holding discussions to allow private players to control more trains on key routes. Talks include the decision to hand over operations of more trains on important routes with better services and amenities for passengers. The Indian Railways has earlier decided to grant operations of two of its luxurious Tejas Express trains to Indian Rail Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) between Lucknow-New Delhi and Mumbai-Ahmedabad. Meeting Of Railway officials The national transporter called a meeting on September 27 to discuss about the introduction of private operations of passenger trains to provide world-class services. Principal Executive Director of Coaching of the Railway Board, A. Madhusudan Reddy said that through a participative bid process, private operators would be identified to run private passenger day or overnight trains connecting important cities. It was also necessary to identify the routes and the number of services that can be run. Modern passenger trains would be inducted to operate on paths allocated to them on payment of haulage charges by private operators. Proposed Routes The Railways have identified certain key routes where private operators can ply the trains. They include long-distance or overnight journey trains on the routes of Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Lucknow, Delhi-Jammu/Katra, Delhi-Howrah, Secunderabad-Hyderabad, Secunderabad-Delhi, Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Chennai, Howrah-Chennai and Howrah-Mumbai. With the introduction of private operators to run trains, passengers can now expect world-class services and amenities.    

24 Sep 2019
Good News

Mumbai’s water vending machines to quench thirst of commuters

Mumbaikars can now have access to clean drinking water at cheap rates as water vending machines have been installed at railway stations across Mumbai. The machines are an initiative by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) that aims to provide purified drinking water at low rates at railway stations.  The rate card denotes that if one is carrying an empty bottle, one needs to pay Rs 1 for 300 ml water, Rs 3 for 500 ml, and Rs 5 for 1 litre. If one needs a bottle as well, the rates are Rs 2, Rs 5 and 8 respectively. There is also an attendant at most kiosks, throughout the day who helps people understand how to operate the machine.  However, at night, one has to operate the machine by oneself. A vendor near the kiosk said that people are making good use of this facility and during peak hours, commuters have to queue up to get water. The rush at the kiosk shows that the machine is a hit with the people. He admitted that because of the kiosk, his sale of soft drinks has come down. One happy commuter after filling her one litre bottle said that earlier she had to pay Rs 15 for a one litre bottle of water, but now she can have the same for just Rs 5. People avail of this facility even at night. It was found that overall during a 24-hour period, nearly 500 litres of water has been dispensed with.  

14 Jun 2017
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