Railways likely to launch new Ramayana-themed train after Holi

Indian Railways is likely to launch its next edition of the Ramayana Express, which takes pilgrims to locations associated with Lord Ram, after March 10, a senior official said on Friday (February 14). The train, which will have Ramayana-themed decorations and bhajans playing on board, will give passengers the feel of being on a temple on wheels, he said.

Railway Board Chairman V K Yadav said its annual schedule will be released in the coming week. “The train will originate from different locations — north, south, east and west — so that people from across the country can avail its services. The exterior and the interior of the train will be Ramayana-themed. We can have bhajans playing on board,” he said in a press briefing.

Related news: Evolutionary logic and history contradict belief Rama was born in Ayodhya

Yadav said IRCTC is planning the schedule and packages, and “we are hoping to run the train after Holi”. Earlier, the Railways ran a special train named after Lord Ram, covering the destinations associated with the mythological character. This train called the ‘Shri Ramayana Express’, which can carry 800 passengers, started its service from November 14.

While the Shri Ramayana Express covered important destinations of the Ramayana circuit such as Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Varanasi, Prayag, Shringverpur, Chitrakoot, Nasik, Hampi, Ayodhya and Rameshwaram, the itinerary of the new Ramayana train is yet to be revealed.

(With inputs from agencies)