South Central Railways Bharat Gaurav Trains
South Central Railway to Introduce Bharat Gaurav Trains
Theme based trains can be run by private players covering important historical, cultural heritage and pilgrimage destinations
As per the directions given by the Ministry of Railways, South Central Railway is ready to introduce theme-based tourist circuit trains namely “Bharat Gaurav” Trains, which will be operated by private players. These trains are introduced with a view to showcase the India’s rich cultural heritage, magnificent historical places and important pilgrimage destinations to the people of India, in particular and the world in general, which will help in boosting the tourism sector in India besides providing a hassle free transportation facility to the rail users.
Any Private entity including individual, Partnership Firm, Company, Joint Ventures, etc can participate in this initiative. To give flexibility, the Private players have been given the option of deciding their business model for operating Bharat Gaurav Trains including themes, routes, itinerary, tariff and other attributes connected with the model.
Any interested participant can register through online facility at www. Indianrailways.gov.in, which will be processed within time-bound span of 10 working days. The Registered Service Providers have the option placing the demand for rakes as per their requirement (minimum of 14 coaches and maximum of 20 Coaches). For utilisation of Railways Infrastructure and Rolling Stock, the Service Provider would be charged for Right to Use Charges, Fixed and Variable Haulage Charges, Stabling Charges as per clear-cut policy guidelines. These trains will be treated on par with Mail/express Trains.
In fact, in addition to giving flexibility of deciding their own Business Model, the Service Provider will also have the right towards Branding of Trains as well as making Third Party Advertising both inside and outside of the Coaches. Minor modification to the interior of the Coaches is also permitted within the safety protocols. In case of any further queries, interested Service Provider may contact Shri. R. Sudarshan, Chief Commercial Manager (Passenger Services), SCR at Rail Nilayam or email to: bharatgauravtrainsscr@gmail.com .
All requests by the Service Provider would be processed in a time-bound manner for early resumption of Service. In fact, a Customer Support Unit has been established at SCR Zonal Headquarters level for Easing the Engagement with the Customers and to support the interested Service Provider with issues like timely response timely allotment of Coaches, Maintaining the condition of Coaches, etc.
Shri. Gajanan Mallya, General Manager, SCR appeals to the Service Providers to utilise the opportunity to take up the task of running the theme based tourist circuit trains “Bharat Gaurav”, as it will be a win-win situation to all – Railways, Private Participants as well as the Customers. He observed that SCR has many locations over its network which has rich cultural heritage, magnificent historical places and important pilgrimage destinations which can be connected by the Bharat Gaurav Trains for Passengers benefit.
Source: https://scr.indianrailways.gov.in/
Here’s the most accurate and current update on South Central Railway’s (SCR) Bharat Gaurav Tourist Trains as of mid-2025. IRCTC operates them from Secunderabad, covering various pilgrimage and heritage circuits:
Contents
🚂 Bharat Gaurav Trains Operated by SCR
1. Punya Kshetra Yatra (Puri – Gaya – Varanasi – Ayodhya – Prayagraj)
- Flagged off March 2025, the first SCR-origin Bharat Gaurav train for North India. Covered important pilgrimage circuits including Puri, Konark, Gaya, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Prayagraj. Operated out of Secunderabad with high occupancy.
2. Divya Dakshin Yatra with Jyotirlinga
- Launched January 23, 2025 from Secunderabad, covering Tiruvannamalai, Rameswaram, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Trivandrum, Trichy, and Thanjavur. Mixed composition of Sleeper, 3AC, and 2AC coaches for disciples from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
3. Sabarimala Yatra Tourist Train
- Announced October 2025, departing from Secunderabad. It includes stops at Nalgonda, Guntur, Nellore, Renigunta, Tirupati, and Chittoor, before proceeding to Sabarimala and Chottanikkara Devi Temple in Kerala.
4. Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra Train
- Launched June 2025, originating from Secunderabad. Served pilgrims traveling to Vaishno Devi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh, with consistent 100% occupancy reported.
🆕 New Bharat Gaurav Train in SCR
Punya Kshetra Yatra (Ayodhya–Kashi) Starting July 9, 2025
- A 9‑day, Secunderabad‑origin Bharat Gaurav train covering Ayodhya, Gaya, Varanasi, and Prayagraj.
- Offers a mix of Sleeper, 3AC, and 2AC accommodations.
📝 Additional Bharat Gaurav Trains with SCR Involvement
- Devbhoomi with Kedarnath Darshan Swami Yatra – Flag off from Nagpur in June 2025, includes long-distance route via Bhopal & Haridwar with bus+helicopter transfers to Kedarnath/Badrinath. SCR not directly origin but relevant.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train – Launched June 2025 from Mumbai CSMT commemorating Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation. Visiting Maharashtra forts and Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga.
📊 Summary Table: SCR-Origin Bharat Gaurav Trains
| Train/Yatra Name | Departure From | Route Highlights | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punya Kshetra Yatra (2023, 2025) | Secunderabad | Puri → Gaya → Varanasi → Ayodhya → Prayagraj | ~8–9 nights |
| Divya Dakshin Yatra | Secunderabad | Tiruvannamalai → Rameshwaram → Madurai → Kanyakumari → Kerala | ~9 days |
| Sabarimala Yatra | Secunderabad | Stops include Tirupati, Chittoor, Sabarimala, Chottanikkara | ~8–9 days |
| Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra | Secunderabad | Vaishno Devi → Haridwar → Rishikesh via North India circuit | ~8–9 nights |
💡 Why These Trains Are Popular
- Fully themed Bharat Gaurav trains with infotainment, CCTV, and pantry cars.
- Combined with overnight coach travel + bus sightseeing, providing hassle-free pilgrimages from Telangana/Andhra zones.
- Focus on spiritual tourism with curated circuits makes them high occupancy favorites.
ℹ️ Planning Tips and Considerations
- IRCTC booking opens via its portal; most trips start from Secunderabad, with intermediate boarding from Kazipet, Warangal, Khammam, Vijayawada, Nellore and others.
- Darshan bookings (e.g., Tirupati) often need separate online registration.
- Special discounts (e.g. for Karnataka residents) may apply in some circuits like Karnataka’s own Bharat Gaurav train.
✅ Want Help With…
- Specific dates, class selection, or boarding point options near Ranchi?
- Clarifying itinerary details or fare structures for a particular yatra?
- Or perhaps interest in a custom travel package combining IRCTC and regular transit?
I’d be happy to assist you further!