"Tourists will experience rich cultural heritage shared by India, Nepal": Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates Bharat Gaurav Train

New Delhi [India], September 20 : Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the Bharat Gaurav Train for Bharat-Nepal Yatra at the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi on Friday and said that tourists will be able to experience the rich cultural heritage shared by India and Nepal.
Addressing the media here on Friday, Railway Minister Vaishnaw said, "Bharat Gaurav Yatra trains are being added one after the other as part of PM Narendra Modi's resolve to make people experience Indian culture via railways, in the form of Bharat Gaurav Yatra. Tourists will now be able to experience the best of India and Nepal's shared cultural heritage."
"This train will cover Ayodhya, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Kashi Vishwanath, and Pashupatinath in its package. All arrangements for lodging and travel will be borne by the Indian Railways," said Vaishnaw.
Adding further, he said, "So far the most popular yatra trains are Sri Ramayan Yatra, Sri Jagannath Yatra, Buddha Yatra, Mahavir Yatra, Guru Kirpa Yatra, Jyotirlinga Bhakti Yatra, Ambedkar Yatra, Char Dham Yatra, Punya Kashi Yatra, Northeast Discovery, Uttar Bharat Yatra, and Dakshin Bharat Yatra, among others."
The Union Government launched the "Bharat Gaurav Trains" initiative under the "Dekho Apna Desh" scheme in November 2021 to encourage domestic tourism.
These theme-based trains aim to highlight India's rich cultural heritage and showcase its significant historical sites to both domestic and international travellers.
In January 2022, the first train under the Indian Railways' 'Bharat Gaurav' scheme was inaugurated, departing from Coimbatore North railway station in Tamil Nadu to Sainagar Shirdi in Maharashtra.
These trains begin and end at the same station, travelling along routes that feature multiple tourist destinations.
The service provider ensures that tourists visit all destinations on the itinerary and only board or disembark at their designated stations.
Earlier on September 16, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail between Gujarat's Ahmedabad and Bhuj.
He also flagged off several Vande Bharat trains on routes--Nagpur to Secunderabad, Kolhapur to Pune, Agra Cantt to Banaras, Durg to Visakhapatnam, Pune to Hubballi, and the first 20-coach Vande Bharat train from Varanasi to Delhi.
Further, he launched the Single Window IT System (SWITS) of the International Financial Services Centres Authority.
PM Modi said that during this time of festivities, India's festival of development is also underway, with projects in the sectors of rail, road and metro worth around Rs 8,500 crore inaugurated and foundation stones laid.
Terming the inauguration of Namo Bharat Raid Rail as a new star-studded in Gujarat's honour, the Prime Minister said that it will prove to be a new milestone in India's urban connectivity.
PM Modi noted that thousands of families are entering their new homes today, while the first installment for thousands of other families has also been released.
He said with belief that these families would spend the upcoming festive period of Navratri, Dussehra, Durga Puja, Dhanteras, and Diwali in their new homes with the same fervour.