IRCTC has, in association with the State Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE), announced two special pilgrimage tours under the Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train Scheme exclusively for residents of Karnataka.
Kashi Darshana
The first tour, Kashi Darshana, is a nine-day journey from August 31 to September 8, covering religious destinations, including Varanasi (Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Tulsi Mandir and Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir), Ayodhya (Ram Mandir and Hanuman Garhi), Gaya and Bodh Gaya (Vishnupad Temple and Mahabodhi Temple), and Prayagraj (Triveni Sangam and Hanuman Temple).
The total package cost per person is ₹22,500 with a special subsidy of ₹7,500 provided by the State Government for passengers domiciled in Karnataka, reducing the effective cost to ₹15,000.
Boarding points for this tour include SMVT Bengaluru, Yesvantpur, Tumakuru, Birur, Davanagere, Haveri, Hubballi and Belagavi.
Dakshina Yatra
The second tour, Dakshina Yatra, is a six-day journey from September 11 covering prominent temples in south India, including Kanyakumari (Bhagavathi Temple and Vivekananda Rock Memorial), Thiruvananthapuram (Padmanabhaswamy Temple), Rameswaram (Ramanathaswamy Temple), and Madurai (Meenakshi Temple).
The package cost is ₹15,000 per person, with a special subsidy of ₹5,000 from the State Government for passengers domiciled in Karnataka, reducing the price to ₹10,000.
Boarding points for this tour include Belagavi, Hubballi, Haveri, Davanagere, Birur, Tumakuru and SMVT Bengaluru.
Train composition
Both tours will be operated using the Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train in AC III Tier Class, offering comfortable travel with the following inclusions:
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Accommodation in non-air-conditioned rooms on a twin/triple sharing basis
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Wash and change facilities in non-AC rooms
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All vegetarian meals
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Non-AC bus transfers and sightseeing
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Tour escort for each coach
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Travel insurance
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IRCTC tour manager
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Onboard security
For reservations and detailed information, passengers can contact IRCTC offices in Bengaluru (9003140710, 8595931290, 8595931291, 8595931292), Mysuru (8595931294) and Hubballi (8595931293).
Alternatively, passengers can visit the IRCTC website.
Published – July 30, 2025 10:50 am IST
